Billy Whitlock, banjoist and patriot.

[Old Cremona]

William Whitlock (1813-1878) wasn't a "major player" in the Civil War, but he darn sure was and is a great American. From Lowell H. Schreyer's "The Banjo Entertainers"--

"...another famous banjoist of the early minstrel period, Billy Whitlock, enlisted at an age generally considered advanced for the rigors of army life. When the Civil War started, he had already been out of show business for some six years. Last on stage in 1855 with Dan Rice's Circus, he had worked in the drug department of the Custom House, New York City, for four years before returning to his original trade, printing. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Whitlock, then about 48 years old, became a volunteer on the Union side. However, his military career was brief. Whitlock partially lost the use of his legs through paralysis in 1862 and spent most of the war years at the York, Pa., hospital."

There is a William Whitlock listed as a Musician in the muster rolls of the 42nd Regiment, New York Infantry, I can't be sure, but I think that's him. Anyway, he led a fascinating life. He was a member of the first major minstrel group, the Virginia Minstrels, and one of the absolute top-rated banjo players of the 1840's and 50's. And unlike many minstrels much younger than he, wasn't afraid to march off to war.

[Danny]

Re: Billy Whitlock, banjoist and patriot.

William Whitlock (1813-1878) wasn't a "major player" in the Civil War, but he darn sure was and is a great American. From Lowell H. Schreyer's "The Banjo Entertainers"--

Carl -

Thanks for that. Here's a cross-reference from "Brown's Burnt Cork Biography" (c) 2005. In that document it mentions that William M. Whitlock, called a "banjoist and banjo maker" there, learned from Joe Sweeney and observed plantation blacks himself. He became a volunteer Confederate soldier and became paralyzed in 1862, though surviving til 1878.

I can't explain why Col. Brown lists Whitlock as a Confederate... somebody check the muster rolls.

Anyway from that same source are listed other professional Minstrels who became soldiers in the CW, in alpha order:

- Tommy Bull (William Howe), jig dancer but drummer for the 25th
Missouri volunteers

- Tom Christian (S.B. Siddings) a Christy's minstrel but Corporal in
the 2nd Conn. Battery and blind by 1863 from sickness in the field

- Tom Craig, minstrel but orderly Sgt. 18 mos. in campaigned with 22nd
Massachusetts volunteers

- H.W. Egan, minstrel but soldier killed at Bull Run July 1861

- "Col." Alvin Lloyd, originally with "Sable Harmonist" once challenged
by Dave Wambold who was going to "kick his head off", became a
Confederate "Col." for a short time but galvanized to the Union Army
and shot lame by a Rebel officer who recognized him, and after the war
he was horse-whipped by Dan Bryant in an altercation

- Marshal S. Pike, one of first female impersonators and a song writer,
but as a soldier taken prisoner in 1861 and paroled

- Thamas B. Prendergast, first-class ballad singer but as soldier in
N.Y. 71st stepped into Alexandria, was at Aquia Creek and Bull Run and
recommended for bravery

- John Pemberton Smith, bones player and jig dancer with Joe Sweeney,
not actually a soldier but gutsy enough to perform in the Confederacy
during the war til it "got too hot" and he returned to New York city.

- Well known as a soldier is Sam Sweeney, offically a courier for Jeb Stewart who died during the war, but who was a minstrel banjoist before enlisting

- Thomas Vaughn, banjoist but soldier in the N.Y. 165th (Second Durea
Zuaves), "never quite right after the war"

- Dan Wykes

[tater_cuffie]

Re: Billy Whitlock, banjoist and patriot.

Carl and Danny, thanks for the info. All men bravely gave up their lives for their Country. I find it facsinating to hear about Minstrels in the War. It would be cool to see if there were any documented shows by these men for their pards?
thanks for postin