a Memphis drum manufactory

[33rdaladrummer]

MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL [MEMPHIS, TN], May 12, 1861, p. 2, c. 9Southern MilitaryDrum Manufactory.Having now established a large manufactory, I can furnish Drums of all kinds, made expressly for military use, with mettal [sic] shells. Send in your orders and they will be promptly attended to

E. A. Benson's Music Store.No. 2[?]8 Main street,
Memphis, Tenn.

http://www.uttyler.edu/vbetts/memphis%20appeal%20mar-jy%2061.htm

I found this interesting, having seen a number of brass-shelled drums in museums documented to have been used by Confederates.

[Joe Walker]

Re: a Memphis drum manufactory

The Texas Civil War Museum in Ft Worth has a metal (either copper or brass) drum on display. It is marked "Memphis Novelty Works" and begs the question if this company sold out to or became a contractor for the MNWs.

Joe Walker
Waco Guards
(docent for TCWM)

[PenPusher]

Re: a Memphis drum manufactory

E.A. Benson also supplied bugles as per the following link:-

http://www.footnote.com/image/30381123/Benson%7cTennessee/#30381123

[TheColorBearer]

Re: a Memphis drum manufactory

Makes you wonder about a brass drum when they were pulling all the bells out of the church towers to use for munitions.

[markj]

Re: a Memphis drum manufactory

Among the lengthy list of manufacturers mentioned in the attached 1862 DeBow's Review article is the firm of "Brands & Kerner," of Columbus GA, which was reportedly manufacturing various types, and sizeable quantities, of military drums and fifes.

However, my personal favorite in this list is "J. Russell & Co.," which thoughtfully provided "Lager beer, as wanted" to the troops.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: a Memphis drum manufactory

Mark,

It never ceases to amaze me when you dig up stuff like this. I believe you have posted references to "kettle drums" and "kettle drummers" before, and I wondered if they were talking about metal-shelled snare drums. I think the more modern kettle drum means tympani, but I am willing to bet these are snare drums because of the brass Confederate drums I have seen in museums and on the net. My favorite metal-shelled drum has to be the 7th? Mississippi bass drum, made from a biscuit tin? held together with big iron hooks and crudely-constructed hoops. I can't find the link right now, so I will have to post it later.

[Hardtack Herring]

Re: a Memphis drum manufactory

There is a great Civil War Brass Shell Drum on ebay right now. It is a very good reproduction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Civil-War-Era-Drum_W0QQitemZ150284265238QQihZ005QQcategoryZ13961QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[markj]

Re: a Memphis drum manufactory

Hi Will,

Yes, I think you're correct: "kettle drums" was almost certainly used as a generic reference to snare-type drums. I may have already posted the attached 32nd Tennessee requisition form I found, but I'm including it again "just in case."

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

Mark,

It never ceases to amaze me when you dig up stuff like this. I believe you have posted references to "kettle drums" and "kettle drummers" before, and I wondered if they were talking about metal-shelled snare drums. I think the more modern kettle drum means tympani, but I am willing to bet these are snare drums because of the brass Confederate drums I have seen in museums and on the net. My favorite metal-shelled drum has to be the 7th? Mississippi bass drum, made from a biscuit tin? held together with big iron hooks and crudely-constructed hoops. I can't find the link right now, so I will have to post it later.

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: a Memphis drum manufactory

Here's the Mississippi drum.

. The rarest Confederate Drum in existence being the Regimental Drum of the 7th Mississippi - The Franklin Beauregards - Homemade with a tin shell and crude wooden hoops put together with iron rivets. The vellum drum heads are in perfect condition and the regimental designation is hand-painted in large red letters on either side of the drum “Co. E-7th Miss-CSA”. The 7th Mississippi Infantry, was raised in Franklin County, Mississippi May, 1861 and were known as the “Franklin Beauregards”, it joined the Army of Tennessee and served under General James R. Chalmers’. They were the very first unit to charge through the Union camp on April 6th, 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh. The 7th Mississippi returned to Tennessee and commanded a prominent role during the Battle of Murfreesboro on December 31, 1862, Chalmers’ Brigade was on the right flank of Gen. Leonidas Polk’s Corps, there the 7th Mississippi was at the center of the fighting at “Hell’s Half Acre” where they lost 12 killed, 97 wounded and 4 missing. Still more battles were to come including Chickamauga where the barefoot Mississippians savagely attacked Union positions near the Glenn House chasing them to Missionary Ridge. The “Immortal 7th” as they came to be called, then fought against Sherman’s troops as he marched through Georgia and they later joined Gen. Hood at Franklin, Tennessee where they drove away Federal forces along the Harpeth River on October 30, 1864. The Battle of Nashville soon erupted and they again were called on to valiantly defend Southern soil. General Stephen D. Lee took command of the rear guard and led them back into Columbus, Mississippi. Shortly thereafter the bulk of the 7th Mississippi surrendered on April 26, 1865 at Greensboro, North Carolina while the remainder with General Richard Taylor, surrendered on May 4, 1865 in Meridian, Mississippi.
An extremely rare Confederate Regimental drum, 1 of only 4 known to exist, and the only one which is regimentally marked. The history of this drum is quite clear. It was discovered in 1967 by the original owner of the Old Country Store Museum in Jackson, Tennessee, who acquired it from a family near Corinth, Mississippi along with other Confederate artifacts including a haversack and a Confederate slouchhat. Needless to say, it is an important Confederate rarity and a unique exhibit piece. It has a leather harness shoulder strap still attached and while the original red paint has faded to a medium brown, it is a most attractive and a historically important Confederate rarity. (Size 21 inches around, 8 inches deep, accompanied by Les Jensen Letter of Authenticity as well as notarized family provenance.)

Catalog: 119 - "(Cat 119) The Generals" Price. . . . . $ 27,500.00