Drummer boys and Knapsacks

[Clark Badgett]

Re: Drummer boys and Knapsacks

Tim, the I believe the English actually had an issued piece of equipment for the express purpose of helping to keep the drum in place, during the era. I'll go check my files and see soon.

[Radical Unionist]

Re: Drummer boys and Knapsacks

Lets say a musician didn't have to carry a pack, who carried it then? I don't think Uncle Billy would have approved an extra wagon for every so many musicians. It's not as if a drummer plays all day long, since the army is usually at route step.

Does anyone know when the Army stopped using sheep skin leg pads for drummers?

Jeff Boorom
Wide Awake and Pissed

[125th ohio drummer]

Re: Drummer boys and Knapsacks

Can anyone tell me whether drummer boys were required to carry a knapsack and/or haversack in addition to their drum, etc., or were they "taken care of" by the company/regiment?

Thank you.

Bernard Biederman

i invite you to answer that question on my fife and drum corps home page tigerband.stephenscott.com

[Smokey Toes]

Re: Drummer boys and Knapsacks

i invite you to answer that question on my fife and drum corps home page tigerband.stephenscott.com

Travis,
Make sure to sign your posts!!

[RJSamp]

Drummer boys and Knapsacks

"Diary of a Dutch Mudsill" John Henry Otto: basically he called for some music to be played on a long exhausting march (see thread "Drummer and Fifers to the Front")....there were no musicians left in the column to play, they were all either on the wagons or their drums were. The 24th IL, right behind Otto's 21st Wisconsin, had both their Band and Field Music's at hand with instruments.....their Colonel ordered them to start playing....they alternated Band first, Field Music's second.

the 21st Wisconsin's Principal Musician was a 12 year old drummer boy. He was the Brigade darling and never carried a knapsack. The singular reference "Drummer and FiferS to the Front" is a direct reference to the Principal Musician. His age 12ish picture with a private purchase uniform is in the book.

"Hero of Medfield" Biography of Alonzo Kingsbury, Chief Bugler, 1st Mass Inf: my knapsack was carried on the wagon with the Colonel's baggage. I was ordered to stay by his side at all times. (this is decidedly Early War, Kingsbury KIA mid-April 1862 at the Siege of Yorktown).

"Army Letters 1861-1865" Oliver Norton (Chief Bugler 83rd PA, Brigade Bugler (mounted) for Butterfield and Vincent). My belongings were carried in the Colonel's wagon with the rest of the Officer's equipage. I was excused from all duties save sounding the calls. Cavalry buglers carried all of their belongings on their saddle......so did mounted bandsmen, save the instruments which were carried in a wagon (see "Diary of a Cavalry Bugler" William Sargent, who ended up playing Cymbal in the 4th rank of a 4 by 4 mounted band, 1st NE Cavalry). Gustave Schurman (III Corps Bugler for Sickles, had all of his stuff carried in the wagons (recall that in the III Corps Sickles/Corps Staff alone slept in a tent on morning of July 2nd 1863 per Captain Meade (Gen'l Meade's son). as did Oliver Norton when he was Brigade Bugler (no sleeping blanket on the pommel nor shelter half/extra clothing on the cantle).

I think the deal here is that Regimental and higher buglers had to keep up with mounted field grade officer's.....so they were quickly relieved of their knapsack's/bedroll. They had to buy their own watches (Norton owned 3 and regularly traded them/had them repaired) which they carried with them at all times. I have never read that a leg infantry Bugler was ever mounted at the Regimental level....have read of mounted Adjutant's at the Regimental level, but never a bugler.

There are numerous references to band instruments being carried on the wagons.....and when the regimental bands were for the most part (not ALL regimental bands went away or became Brigade Bands, example: the 24th MI regimental band in the Iron Brigade) done away with, the band equipment was carried on the wagons.

Sharpshooter buglers carried their own stuff (and a rifle).

As far as I have read Musician's all carried their own haversacks (lest someone liberate their contents!).

Of course, if your unit impression at an event doesn't include wagons.... you'll just have to carry your stuff!

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: Drummer boys and Knapsacks

This question has certainly been answered, but this link might also serve has helpful: CLICK HERE