WATN: Alexander Johnson - Glory

WATN: Alexander Johnson - Glory

Use your writing skills to expand on this legendary drummer's story. Prizes exist for the winners.

from @hddeviant in @crliterature

https://www.deviantart.com/hddeviant/journal/WATN-Alexander-Johnson-Glory-1289525484

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Join @CRLiterature in reporting on some of our favorite fictional unknowns by writing fun fan fictions based on popular films and television shows 📽️📺 Ponder pop culture’s most perplexing puzzles as we prompt you to provide fans with a satisfying conclusion to cliffhangers and open-ended mysteries in 250 words or less 🧑‍💻🤩 Get inspired to write about worlds you know and love & you might just pick up some rewards along the way 🏅🏆

The United States of America will be 250 years old this year. While history books often mention famous historical figures like Sacajawea or Calamity Jane or popular fiction mention historical fictions like John Henry or Paul Bunyan, lesser known historical figures or fictions warrant more fanfare. One of these unsung American heroes is Alexander Johnson, the drummer of the 54th Massachusetts infantry Regiment and the first Black musician known to have enlisted in the army of the U.S.A.

A photo, don't know his age but he was 16 when enlisted

We've collected more research on Alexander Johnson that you can find below. Your task is to utilize a piece of this information to add to the growing legend of Alexander Johnson. In a comment below in 250 words or less, in your own words and without the assistance of AI or similar machine learning tools, write a short fan fiction adding to the folk legend of Alexander Johnson. Reveal how he helped other folk heroes of his time, tell tall tales about his drumming ability, or explain how his legend traveled around the globe. Where is Alexander Johnson now?!

Here’s the rules and rewards for this @CRLiterature activity:

• All entries must abide by the DeviantArt Terms of Service, Fair Use rules for submissions, and the group rules for CRLiterature; off topic or inappropriate entries will be removed.

• Share your entry as a comment to this journal for reward considerations.   

• Only submit one (1) comment for this engagement that is your very best work; all entries must be original concepts and human-written, no AI-assisted entries are allowed and will be removed.     

• Comment with your entry by the end of the day on May 23rd 2026 for rewards consideration for this activity.

• You must be a member of @CRLiterature for awards considerations. Joining the group is fast and free from the group homepage.

• Winners selected at the sole discretion of CRLiterature group admin; all decisions are final and non-negotiable. We will select three (3) winners by May 28th 2026 to receive the following rewards::

  • Each winner will receive 250 points and a quartz badge

  • One of the three will receive a hype badge

I can’t wait to see how you inform us all on Where Are They Now?!

@HDdeviant

MY EXAMPLE:

Title: Old Man Johnson's Drums

Old man Johnson never stopped drumming, all about Massachusetts. Every adult or child knew he played the drums in the whole state. He taught countless drummers, mentioning his teachings from Buenos Aires to Cairo to Delhi to Saikyo. But Old Man Johnson was a man, and like all men, his time is finite. Many drums were heard at his funeral, like belophonies of rain on a meditative day. But the funeral ended and everyone lamented Old Man Johnson's drums will be heard no more.  

But , ever since his passing, many say when the most violent acts are committed between peoples in the usa, from the pole the flag hangs from being used as a spear, to forty one shots aimed at the groom to be in his bachelor's party, to the murder of nonviolent people wanting to maintain arms for self-defense at Wounded Knee, the drum of Old Man Johnson can be heard. With drumsticks made of love to peace even in spite of harm or trust to strangers even if proven themselves antagonist, the drum fights to sound over the spirit of war vendetta or revenge at the root of the land from sea to shining sea. And of course, the drums of New Bedford have always failed to bring Statians together, but they never give up hope. Drumming in the face of undeniable terrifying reality, while drumming in front of ever-distant fantasy. Try to hear; the drums warn of the fire that may be. 

MY POST

O

Literature

Old Man Johnson's Drums

Old man Johnson never stopped drumming, all about

NOTE:

Buenos Aires means Good air, capitol of Argentina, land of silver.

Cairo means the conqueror, locally called Masr, which is the islamic name for Egypt, in ancient times called Kemet.

Delhi , uncertain origin, capitol of India.

Saikyo meaning western capitol was a temporary name for Kyoto which means capitol city; Kyoto was earlier named HEian-kyo which means capitol of peace. In parallel to tokyo which means eastern capitol which was originally named Edo which means estuary.

belophonies, plural of belophony, which means good/belo sound/phony

Wounded Knee, in Lakota Čhaŋkpé Ópi Wakpála, where Lakota were massacred by soldiers of the U.S.A.

IF YOU NEED FURTHER INSPIRATION OR INFORMATION CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING

To get summary of service plus discharge

https://battleofolustee.org/pics/alexander_johnson.html

Quotes unverified from Alexander Johnson

We fought from 7 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon, and we succeeded in driving the enemy back. After the battle we got a paper saying that if Fort Wagner was charged within a week it would be taken.

Most of the way we were singing, Col. Shaw and I marching at the head of the regiment. It was getting dark when we crossed the bridge to Morris Island. It was about 6:30 o’clock when we got there. Col. Shaw ordered me to take a message back to the quartermaster at the wharf, who had charge of the commissary. I took the letter by the first boat, as ordered, and when I returned I found the regiment lying down, waiting for orders to charge. The order to charge was given at 7:30 o’clock.

citation

https://kentakepage.com/alexander-h-johnson-the-first-drummer-boy/

Ronreaco Lee portrayed Alexander Johnson as a mute drummer boy in the film Glory (1989)

Memorial Statue of the 54th Infantry Regiment ; Shaw , on horse, is free standing and the Black soldiers + spirit of are in bas relief. It is the first monument in the USA to pay tribute to black soldiers.

Words from a president of Harvard , Charles W. Eliot :

The White Officers taking life and honor in their hands cast in their lot with men of a despised race unproven in war and risked death as inciters of servile insurrection if taken prisoners besides encountering all the common perils of camp march and battle. The Black rank and file volunteered when disaster clouded the Union Cause. Served without pay for eighteen months till given that of white troops. Faced threatened enslavement if captured. Were brave in action. Patient under heavy and dangerous labors. And cheerful amid hardships and privations. Together they gave to the Nation and the World undying proof that Americans of African descent possess the pride, courage and devotion of the patriot soldier. One hundred and eighty thousand such Americans enlisted under the Union Flag in MDCCCLXIII–MDCCCLXV. [1863-1865]

More information on him

https://battleofolustee.org/pics/alexander_johnson.html

Morgan Freeman on Denzel Washington side Andre Browers characters in the film .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0Ct9lTd6x8

Assault on Fort Wagner, in 4 parts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF16tsgwnnk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzlNPZ_vKN4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E73qutRp6gI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWyPc1PH6M8

Another Photo

https://www.masshist.org/database/viewer.php?item_id=267&ft=%2054th%20Regiment

PRIOR WHERE ARE THEY NOW's - the challenges are over, but the fun isn't. Give each a go and continue their stories with 250 words.