alleged confederate drum

[33rdaladrummer]

ebay Item number: 190182995519

"You can still see remnants of cotton seed inside of the roping"

What?!?

Cotton rope on a drum will stretch, stretch, then stretch some more. I seriously doubt that is cotton...must have been grown in Parsippany, NJ.

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: alleged confederate drum

Winning bid: $900.23. I asked the seller what "museum" this drum came from and it turned out to be a "relic shop" in Gettysburg. Not surprising

The drum supposedly belonged to Fredrick Ashburn, Co.A, 1st Virginia.

I did a google search and quickly came up with the roster, and there is no Fredrick Ashburn listed. In fact, it appears that the drum corps was organized before the war, and the musicians did not belong to any company. There was no drummer from Co. A.

Drum Corps

Pohle, C. R. M., Drum - Major
Berry, Alexander
Bladen, J.
Bolton, W.
Branon, Frank
Burch, George
Doyle, Benjamin
Eubank, George
Harris, Fred
Johnson, James W.
McDonough, Thomas
O'Keefe, James H.
Salomon, H.
Shumaker, Joseph
Strang, J. L. R.
Street, Willis
Sweeny, W. F.

http://www.1stvirginiaregt.org/History.html

This list was aparently taken from the War History of the Old First Virginia Infantry Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia by Charles T. Loehr - 1884

which has been scanned into google books

http://books.google.com/books?id=IChCAAAAIAAJ&printsec=titlepage#PPP3,M1

Here is a photo of Drum Major Pohle

http://books.google.com/books?id=o7x_o5A-538C&pg=PA109&dq=pohle+first+virginia

I like the caption:

"The Army of Northern Virginia did not find bands and bearskin hats preferable
to food, and both the former soon disappeared, while the supply of the latter became only intermittent."

[roundshot]

Re: alleged confederate drum

Don't forget the 1st Virginia Battalion (Regulars), also called the Irish Battalion. There was a William F.(Frederick?) Ashburn on their roster. I don't have means to research further but just food for thought.

[Dignann]

Re: alleged confederate drum

According to Robert J. Driver and Kevin C. Ruffner's history of the 1st Battalion Virginia Infantry, the fellow on their roster is:

Ashburn, William E.: Drummer, Co. A. Enlisted Chesterfield Co., November 1, 1864. Present through February 1865. Surrendered Appomattox C.H., April 9, 1865.

Perhaps the tag on the drum has the units switched. Perhaps Ashwood served in the 1st Battalion Virginia Local Defense.

Eric

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: alleged confederate drum

http://www.footnote.com/document.php?doc=9136683&title=

Looks like the National Archives has a record for William F. Ashburn, a musician in Co. A, 1st Battalion Virginia Infantry.

Maybe I dismissed this one too quickly. I suppose I'm skeptical after seeing so many post-war drums and fifes being pawned off as "originals".

[roundshot]

Re: alleged confederate drum

Yes, we've all had our "Ashburn-ed" once or twice, so your skepticism is understood.

[Bagman]

Re: alleged confederate drum

Wil,

I know exactly how you feel. There may be a chance to recover on this one though. I happen to have an original Marine Corps drum. Like the 1st Va drum that got away from you, it came out of a relic shop in Gettysburg. I was going to list it on E-Bay with a $700 reserve. I can provide photos on request if interested.

Jeff Christman
Liberty Hall Fifes & Drums
SWB

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: alleged confederate drum

Sure, Jeff. Why don't you just post them here...so we all can see what a good deal you got.

[Bagman]

Re: alleged confederate drum

Wil........

Ever the skeptic, you won't believe this, but the drum has already been spoken for and the price was bid up considerably by a Marine collector. Should another one come my way, I'll get the word out to you as soon as possible for an authenticity opinion.

Merry Christmas
Jeff Christman
LHF&D
SWB

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: alleged confederate drum

It looked at lot like this one, didn't it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/CIVIL-WAR-WOODEN-TOY-SOLDIER-SET-IN-TIN-DRUM-CAN-14CT_W0QQitemZ230203466691QQihZ013QQcategoryZ1197QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m118

[Hardtack Herring]

Re: alleged confederate drum

Jeff,

You have to be kidding!

If you purchased this drum I will be over in 3 days to check it out. Have supper ready!

[Bagman]

Re: alleged confederate drum

Wil........Paul,

Jealous, jealous, jealous!!! As you both know, among the Field Music, there was an old Army expression:

"Little drum....Big drumstick".:wink_smil

Have a great Christmas. See you after the Holidays
_____________
Jeff Christman
LHF&D
SWB