Figure 1.--Civil War soldiers, especially in the first years, spent a great deal of time in camp drilling and preparing for battle. Major battles were followed by extended periods of camp life. This is not a ciontremoprary painted, but pinted after the ar by a former drummer boy who received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Here are drummer boys and buggle boys playing poker. Some of their parents would have been horrified. Artist: Julian Scott.

Boys of course varied in their musical abilities. We suspect that here enthusiam and loudness was nearly as important as musical ability. We know that many adults are totally incapable of learning to play a musical instrument. I know that while I personally enjoy music, I have a tin ear. Of course an advantage here is that the boys were young. Musical training at a youing age probably develops abilitites that might be lost as adults. We do not know of any studies on this, but would be interested in any studies that HBC readers have noted. Once the boys arrived in camp there would be intensive drilling and practice. There was quite a lot to learn besides just mastering the instrument. Drums and buggles were instrument of camp and battlefield comminication thus the boys had to learn quite a number of different rolls and calls. There was plently of time to do this. Especially early in the War there was long periods of camp life between major engagements. McCllean in particular didn't like to use the Army of the Potomac. President Lincom once quipped, "If General Mcclellan doesn;t want to use the Army, perhaps he would lend it to me,"

Musical Abilities

Boys of course varied in their musical abilities. And the boys were not selected for their musical talent. It was a way of using the younger recruits. Older youths were needed for the fighting. We suspect that here enthusiam and loudness was nearly as important as musical ability. We know that many adults are totally incapable of learning to play a musical instrument. I know that while I personally enjoy music, I have a tin ear. Of course an advantage here is that the boys were young. Musical training at a youing age probably develops abilitites that might be lost as adults. We do not know of any studies on this, but would be interested in any studies that HBC readers have noted.

Pre-War Knowledge

Some sources say that many boys and youths could play a drum before enlisting. We are not yet sure of that. Unlike instruments that might be used in civilian life, the drum at least before modern rock music seems primarily a military instrument. But there were militia groups, patriotic celebrations, political campaigns where drums might be used. We will have to wait for further information before deciding on that.

Schools

One source reports that he U.S. Army had formal schools of instruction, like the Schools of Practice at Governor's Island, New York Harbor, and Newport Barracks, Kentucky. We have not found a lotof information on these schools. Apparently a School of Practice was held at Governor's Island (1850s). [Meyers] We get the impression that at these formal schools, youth were trained at or near the formal enlistment age. One report suggestrs that hundreds of young field musicians were trained at this school. While these schools existed, thy could not begin to fill the needs of the Federal Army. As far as we know, there were no formal Confederate misic schools. THus most drummer boys learned through �on the job� training after enlisting.

Drill and Practice

One matter is certain, there was far more of a need for drummers than could be satisfied by those who were competrent drummers bedore the War, so many boys and youths needed to be trained. And there was quite a lot to learn besides just mastering the instrument andkeeping cadence. Drums and buggles were instrument of camp and battlefield communication. In the era before electroinic communication, the various rolls and calls is how the officers communicated with the men both in camp, but most importantly on the battlefield. Once the boys arrived in camp there would be intensive drilling and practice.Voice communication was impossible above the chaos and cacophany of battle. The myriad of different calls and keeping them straight was no simple task. It took considerable effort master all the different drum rolls and buggle calls. This was especially the case of the younger boys. There were training books. The most importnt was the Bruce and Emmettt book. We are not sure just to what extent the boys used them. The drummers of a unit would assemble in camp and go over and over the various rolls and cadence. We assume that this took place daily, if not twice a day while the unit was in camp. It is only through repetitive drill that the drummers could be depended on to perform during the heat of battle. While we have not found a lot of information about the traiming in camp, the one aspect that many sources mention was that the training was tigorous. And as the armies until Grant took command spent a great deal of time in camp, there was plenty of time to train the boys.

Camp Life

There was plently of time to do this. Especially early in the War there was long periods of camp life between major engagements. McCllean in particular didn't like to use the Army of the Potomac. President Lincom once quipped, "If General Mcclellan doesn;t want to use the Army, perhaps he would lend it to me."

Sources

Bruce and Emmettt. The Drummers� and Fifers� Guide.

Meyers, Augustus. Ten Years in the Ranks U.S. Army. Much of what we know about the Governors Island School of Practice comes from the first chapter of Meyers' book, He discusses recruitment and introduction to Army life in the 1850s, what it was like to learn the fife as a boy at Governors Island, daily life at Governors Island, and other fun stories.

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web chronological pages:
[The 1820s] [The 1830s] [The 1840s] [The 1850s] [The 1860s] [The 1870s] [The 1880s] [The 1890s]

Created: 3:41 AM 9/2/2005
Last updated: 7:33 AM 11/12/2015