Page 16 - Civil War Curriculum Book

Each company in an infantry regiment had a musician who was usually a
drummer. They were relied upon to play drum beats to call the soldiers into
formation and for other events. Drums got the soldiers up in the morning,
signaled them to report for morning roll call, sick call, and guard duty.
Drummers also played at night to signal lights out or "taps". The most
important use of drums was on the battlefield where they were used to
communicate orders from the commanding officers and signal troop
movement. Civil War drums were made of wood that had been cut
into thin layers, steamed, and formed into a round shell. The outside of a Union drum was
often painted and featured a large eagle displaying its wings with the stars and stripes
flowing around it. Confederate drums were not quite as fancy, many just having a plain
wood finish. The heads of the drum were made from calfskin and stretched tight by ropes.

A fifer often accompanied drummers. The fife was a high-pitched
instrument, similar to a piccolo, and usually made of rosewood. This hollow wooden
instrument was played by blowing wind over one hole and controlling the pitch with
fingers placed over other holes along the length of the tube. Fancier fifes had brass
fittings and engravings on them. Like drummers, the fifers were also part of the
regiment's band

who were detailed as musicians. Not all drummers, fifers and bandsmen were allowed to
go into battle. When fighting appeared imminent, musicians were often ordered to the rear to
assist surgeons and care for the wounded. Some brigade bands did accompany their
commanders onto the field and played patriotic songs while under the battle raged all
around them. Can you imagine the type of courage it took to play your instrument while
bullets and shells flew thick and fast all around you? Cavalry regiments did not use drums
and fifes. Instead, they used bugles to sound the different calls in camp and on the march.
The bugler was considered a cavalry regiment's musician. Cavalrymen became so familiar
with their own musician and his bugle calls, that they could often distinguish his calls from
that of another regiment. Like the cavalry, artillery units also used bugles in camp and on the
battlefield. One could tell who was camped where by the sounds of drums or bugles being
played. Soldiers in both armies had their own favorite songs to sing and listen to.
Sometimes they sang while marching to keep up their spirits. Union soldiers liked patriotic
and sentimental songs. The Battle Cry of Freedom was a Union favorite. Some other
popular tunes were The Battle Hymn of the Republic, John Brown's Body, Just Before The
Battle Mother, Dixie's Land, Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground, The Vacant Chair,
and Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! Confederate Soldiers also had patriotic and romantic songs they
enjoyed such as The Bonnie Blue Flag, Maryland, My Maryland, Lorena, and a southern
version of The Battle Cry of Freedom