Silver German fife

[modelf85]

I was wondering if there were any present day fife companies that make the german silver fifes that Daniel Emmett gives reference to in "The Drummers and Fifers Guide" and I once saw and original in the Echoes of Glory book, "The Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy".


Please Reply,

Hampton Cokeley

[markj]

Re: Silver German fife

I personally don't know of any firms that make them, much less make them for affordable prices and in a period style. That doesn't mean nobody is doing this: I'm just not aware of any makers after doing a Web search.

"Silver" fifes were certainly used during the war. Here are links to accounts that might be of interest:

Company I, 17th Illinois Volunteer Infantry:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~txkaufma/business/peeryhf.htm

http://www.cc.utah.edu/~pdp7277/fielding.html

Company A, 30th Illinois Volunteer Infantry:

http://home.comcast.net/~30il/

Company A, 17th (or 70th?) Indiana Volunteer Infantry:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~txkaufma/business/peeryhf.htm (scroll down a little ways to "Cyrus Oran Sackett")

Here's a letter that discusses the presentation of the fife to C. O. Sackett:

http://freepages.books.rootsweb.com/~teking/sackett_docs/letters2/alex03.html

I have also found a letter written by a man in Company H, 10th Indiana Volunteer Infantry to a Lafayette, Indiana paper stating that, after the Battle of Mill Springs KY (19 Jan 62), he discovered a "silver flute worth $30" in the abandoned Confederate encampment at Beech Grove, a few miles from the battle site. This "flute" probably belonged to a fifer who served in a Tennessee or Mississippi regiment.

In fact, our local (Tippecanoe County IN) historical society holds a fife identified to Musician Christopher Columbus Newman, Company G, 10th & 58th Indiana Volunteer Infantry (served Sep 61 - Jun 65). It is probably made from ebony, has german silver ferrules, and shows signs of field repair (a cracked section is held together by tightly bound and glued string). The fife itself has no manufacturer's marks but looks rather similar to "Firth, Pond & Co." instruments.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[modelf85]

Re: Silver German fife

Thanks for the information and just FYI the fife I am refering to in echoes of glory was from the 44th Tennessee.



Thanks.
Hampton Cokeley