Musician's Uniform

[22ndPvt.Smith]

Ive searched the internet and have failed to come up with any results, what is most appropriate/accurate for a musicians uniform? In period photos ive seen frocks, frocks with musicians trim, and musicians shell jackets. Any suggestions on what was most common?

[federal musician]

Musicians commonly wore the same uniform as that of the unit they are part of. If your unit wears a frock coat, you wear a frock. If they wear a shell jacket, you wear a shell jacket, etc.

In the first year of the war, uniforms varied considerably as they were "designed" by the person who funded the unit and became the commanding officer. In 1862, after the Regimental Bands were discharged and the remaining bands were consolidated into brigade bands, the uniforms returned to the commoner and less flamboyant types of coats.

Field music, which is made up of fifers, buglers and drummers, are not in the same group as bandsmen. The field music sometimes wore the frock coat with the herringbone pattern across the chest. This would not normally be worn by bandsmen.

It all depended on the unit your are in and the time period.


Fran Long
Brigade Brass Band

[Kevin O'Beirne]

To echo Mr. Long: Field music were simply soldiers assigned to a company within the regiment, and hence were issued the same jackets that everyone else in their company received.

Certainly some musicians had the "birdcage" trim on their jacket, but given the price of such jackets and time required for them, it's my understanding that--and I'll freely admit this is not based on my own research--that "birdcage" type jackets were somewhat rare.

[75thbugler]

Also the later in war the less prevalent the birdcage became. You would be best served going with the same uniform as the rest of the unit you are portraying.

[RJSamp]

Am sure one musical instrument player (bugler, fifer, drummer, bandmen) sometime during the ACW had a herringbone 'birdcage' on a sack coat.....

But that wouldn't be PEC.

Frock Coat, Dress Parade, Garrison/Static Camp, Memorial Service....sure go ahead and wear a birdcage.

Artilley or Cavalry, sure a mounted services jacket with bird cage to show off to a 3 star General at a Division Review.....or a Heavy Artillery regiment at a Fort with visiting dignitaries out from Washington City for the day.

Battlefield? Campaign? Battle event? Leave it at home unless the event has a heavy static/wagon/garrison impression. Mill Springs with 8-15 wagons per regiment and Sibley Tents abounding would be one example of a battle event with herringbone bird cages at a Dress Parade.

Bottom Line? You're a Musician...double your skill level and let your performance be your impression. A decent frock coat is $300+, the correct worsted tape (5 yards of it!) sewn on with handsewn button holes was nearly $100.... I'd say skip it...... there's lots of other stuff to buy and learn.....don't be caught by a bird cage...

Besides, it's too great a target for a sharpshooter!

(and Kevin, they weren't rare.....we've got pictures totalling HUNDREDS of musicians wearing them....including the 26th MI bugler at Appamattox Court House.....entire Field Musics for a regiment all with birdcages......Heavy Artillery marching out of a fort with drummers out front with birdcages....Bands with birdcages.....buglers with birdcages.....). But not in battle.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

(and Kevin, they weren't rare.....we've got pictures totalling HUNDREDS of musicians wearing them....including the 26th MI bugler at Appamattox Court House.....entire Field Musics for a regiment all with birdcages......Heavy Artillery marching out of a fort with drummers out front with birdcages....Bands with birdcages.....buglers with birdcages.....). But not in battle.

So, the typical field musician had multiple jackets? I'm not clear on what you're saying: is it that "birdcage" trim on a jacket was common, or is it that it wasn't?

Any info (statistics) on how often these types of jackets were actually issued?

If a typical infantry regmient had about 20 field musicians plus a principal musician (temporarily ignoring regimental bands to mid-1862 and brigade bands throughout the war), there would have been tens of thousands of musicians scattered among thousands of regiments on the Federal side alone. That's a lot of "birdcages" required to make them "common".

[John Legg]

Field Music of the Civil war (http://www.1stnmvi.com/field_music_of_the_civil_war.htm)

"UNIFORMS

Uniforms of regimental musicians were the same as those of the other soldiers, but with additional trim, with the exception that Field Music were the only ones in the infantry allowed to wear jackets (roundabouts). That’s why you see the singular field music jackets in photos while all the infantry are wearing sack coats or frock coats. The trim is worn on the frocks or roundabouts, never on a sack coat.

The regulations stating:

1456. For all musicians -- the same as for other enlisted men of their respective corps, with the addition of a facing of lace three-eighths of an inch wide on the front of the coat or jacket, made in the following manner; bars of three-eighths of an inch worsted lace placed on a line with each button six and one-half inches wide at the bottom, and thence gradually expanding upward to the last button, counting from the waist up, and contracting from thence to the bottom of the collar, where it will be six and one-half inches wide, with a strip of the same lace following the bars at their outer extremity -- the whole presenting something of what is called the herring-bone form; the color of the lace facing to correspond with the color of the trimming of the corps.

1457. For fatigue purposes -- a sack coat of dark blue flannel extending half-way down the thigh, and made loose, without sleeve or body lining, falling collar, inside pocket on the left side, four coat buttons down the front.

1458. For recruits -- the sack coat will be made with sleeve and body lining, the latter of flannel.

1506. For all Sergeant Majors, Quartermaster Sergeants, Ordnance Sergeants, Hospital Stewards, First Sergeants, Principal or Chief Musicians and Chief Buglers – red worsted sash, with worsted bullion fringe ends; to go twice around the waist, and to tie behind the left hip, pendent part not to extend more than eighteen inches below the tie.

1558. To indicate service -- all non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, who have served faithfully for the term of five years, will wear... ...a diagonal half-chevron... A band [a regimental brass band] will wear the uniform of the regiment or corps to which it belongs. The commanding officer may, at the expense of the corps, sanctioned by the Council of Administration, make such additions in ornaments as he may judge proper.



Field musicians wore the basic uniform of their unit, and did not usually carry weapons except for a useless light sword which is not mentioned in the 1861 regulations; conventionally, it was similar to but 4" shorter than the NCO sword and is designated by historians as being an 1841 model. Belts were decorated with special buckles (also not mentioned in the 1861 regs) denoting the lyre which was the symbol of musical service; lyre hat badges were also manufactured (also not mentioned). Some renditions only show musicians with badges of their service branch (hunting horn for infantry, crossed cannons for artillery, and crossed sabres for cavalry); with the regimental number and company letter. One I could find in which I'm sure the hat lyre's are worn, is a picture of the West Point band.

On campaign, a musician would put aside such official trappings in favor of a plain fatigue cap and blouse. Many historians imply that musicians wore coats without lace to avoid becoming a conspicuous target for sharpshooters. I don't know about that, but I do know that if I were wearing a large, brightly painted object, hung from my neck with a white strap (a drum), or carrying a shiny brass horn, a little bit of light blue lace wouldn't bother me much. This theory might apply better to fifers, who were used as orderlies to run messages to the various companies. I think, in time, most of the dress coats wore out and were simply replaced with fatigues. I would like to also relate that standing in the middle of a battle (even a mock one at that) with nothing but drumsticks in my hands is one of the strangest sensations I have ever experienced. A man with a weapon can imagine he has some sort of defense. It must have been sheer horror to the mere boys who really experienced it and I think one can see it in their eyes in later war pictures."

I believe Kevin, That the Bridcage Trim might of been a Rare thing. Yes there has been photo evidence that it has been around, but no not Every musician had the trim. If i can find a pic i have of a Field Music group from NY. There is ONE member with a Bird Cage trim. I cant seem to remember if they were wearing Fatigue Blouses or Frocks.

Hope this helps

John

[RJSamp]

I guess Kevin/John it depends on your definition of 'rare'....rare as Brigadier Generals in the Army of the Potomac?

I'm willing to wager that in a static camp where dress parades were held daily with a Frock Coat, white gloves, and blackened brogans....that Musician's bird cages were less rare than full bird Colonels. i.e if Regiment's averaged just under 100 % 1 Colonel per Regiment (too allow for Major's and Lt. Col's to be in command).....then birdcages per regiment were OVER 1 per regiment (too allow for more than The Principal Musician of a Drum Corps or a Chief Bugler to wear one). Bands would increase this ratio (second PM as well as many regimental bands were entirely birdcaged). Some regiments had their Fife and Drum corps in bird cages..... also Cavalry and Artillery mounted buglers, as well as Heavy Artillery drummers/musician's often had birdcages for dress occassions. Their's a great picture of red trimmed artillerists coming out of the sally port of an earth works in Washington City.....bird caged drummers. And of course artillery musician's might be per Battery......under the command of a Captain.....which just adds fuel to the wager: More Bird Cages than Colonels.

As the war progressed, less and less birdcages. Take a look at the Grand Review pictures......they put the drum line in a single rank across the front of the column of companies/platoons...and I don't see a ton of bird cages (or white gloves). the famous exception (not at the Grand Review) is the Michigan bugler at Appamatox.....bird cage and a clairon (big belled bugle).

That NY Regiment picture (their are several of the same drum corps) is of the 93rd NYSV. I believe it's in the CBS Record Album/picture book from 1961 (still have both Blue and Gray (and a turntable with Shure cartridge to play them on)!). The birdcaged musician that you point out is their Chief Bugler. Note that he looks older, and bigger than most of the other musician's (including the posing PM/DM).

[119thNYSVdrummer]

The musicians wore the same thing as there unit was issued but in most cases this was a sack coat. musicians usualy did not wear belts also because the belt was used to carry equipment and the musician had no need to carry eqiupment on their belt. If you want to recreate a good musician impression then dont wear any vest especialy not a military one.


T.Montefinise

[22ndPvt.Smith]

Thanks for all the help, much appreciated. Can anyone validate the authenticity of light blue sashes worn by musicians? Ive never heard of this but saw it advertised.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

The musicians wore the same thing as there unit was issued but in most cases this was a sack coat.

For Yanks, a majority of enlisted men wore a fatigue blouse (sack coat); many estimates and studies of quartermaster records put this at about 60 percent wore fatigue blouses. Probably another 35 percent (very general numbers) had dress coats (frock coats), and probably 5 percent or less had another type of jacket. Of course, the "right" jacket to wear depends on the unit and time portrayed.

I'm not in a position to state even generalized figures for Confederate enlisted men.

musicians usualy did not wear belts also because the belt was used to carry equipment and the musician had no need to carry eqiupment on their belt.

Excellent advice. Federal enlisted leather gear was part of the ordnance stores--the same as the rifle musket. Leather gear was pretty much all about the gun and the stuff needed to carry appurtenances for it (bayonet, caps, cartridges). So, no gun = no need to wear leather accoutrements.

If you want to recreate a good musician impression then dont wear any vest especialy not a military one.

I'm not sure I understand the basis for the above statement.

[WoodenNutmeg]

The differences between Federal and Confederate dress for musicians are vast. Understandably, beginning war, to mid-war, to late-war time lines reeked havoc on uniforms for both sides (general wear, usage and supplies), regardless of duties and/or rank. Also, are we talking about performers? Bands? Parade musicians? Field musicians? Drummer boys? The key differences between them all are crucial in providing a solid answer.

As a former member of the now defunct 5th Alabama Field Music, I was drawn to this question and I've decided to throw out some points on Union musicians' dress, pertaining to both parade and field musicians. Certainly at the wars start, a musicians' clothing/uniform varied depending on state, unit, and tradition. We're talking anything from a pair of sky blue trousers and a sack coat all the way up to a custom made and fitted set of matching pants and a finely detailed coat with a musician’s hat.

http://www.tapsbugler.com/images/three_boy_cw_musicians-236x270.jpg

http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/civwar/band7.jpg

http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/civwar/band4.jpg

Federal fife and drum corps, for example, were established by regiments as well as by states for various reasons and purposes. Musicians could be marched out in parade dress only, functioning as part of a marching band and remaining non-obligated to field duties. Musicians could be also be marched out in either unit and/or regimental dress, functioning as a corps or as a small group, both on and off the field, able to therefore be seen at different times in either dress or field attire, depending on their function of duty at the moment. Finally, musicians could be marched out individually or in groups as small as two, dressed in exact regimental attire for the duration of their time in combat, seeing primarily only field service with little parade or formal eventing.

Any exceptions to the above are practical and justifiable, but the overview itself is certainly sound.

Confederate musicians and their dress, however, is a whole different can of worms...

http://www.fortbranchcivilwarsite.com/images/re-enactment/confederate/400p-fife-drum1-c.jpg

...how much time do you have?

[RJSamp]

Third picture down, with the shako's......first time I've seen sashes with NO BELTS.

Cool.

RJ Samp

[RJSamp]

Federal fife and drum corps, for example, were established by regiments as well as by states for various reasons and purposes.


I actually don't know what you are trying to say here. Volunteer regiments were mustered into Federal Service by State......the purpose of each regiment's Field Music's was to serve the Regiment as prescribed by the Regulations. Am sure there were plenty of other Fife and Drum Corps, but this discussion is centered around Militia, Volunteer, and Regular Army field music's (Fifers, Drummers, Buglers, and the leaders: Principal Musician's, Drum Major, Fife Major, et al).


Musicians could be marched out in parade dress only, functioning as part of a marching band and remaining non-obligated to field duties.


Fife and Drum corps musician's rarely played along with the band. I don't know of any field musicians that were non-obligated to camp and/or field duties. do you have examples? They dressed according to the duties of the day....and what they had available.


Musicians could be also be marched out in either unit and/or regimental dress, functioning as a corps or as a small group, both on and off the field, able to therefore be seen at different times in either dress or field attire, depending on their function of duty at the moment.


What's the difference between unit and/or regimental dress? What's the difference between a corps and a small group?
They dressed according to the duties of the day....and what they had available.


Finally, musicians could be marched out individually or in groups as small as two, dressed in exact regimental attire for the duration of their time in combat, seeing primarily only field service with little parade or formal eventing.


Normally the field music's formed as a whole for camp duty. Guard mount calls for the company's musician's (who in total form the regimental field music's) to accompany the guard to the formation itself (the Parade) and then to the guard shack/hut/reserve/picket post where they were the duty musician's for the day. The band (or field music's in their absence) plays for Guard Mount, on the Parade's right flank.

Basically Field Musician's had two uniform's, the same as their rifle carrying counterparts. If the Dress uniform's had been pulled out of storage, then rectangular belt buckles, sashes, a musician's sword, white gloves, a frock coat, a bird cage, brass, etc. might have been available. Sometimes, Field Musician's Dress uniform's varied from the regimental dress uniform.....to the point of being flashy. I've seen pictures of Field Music's that are pretty gussied up....feathers, brass, belts, swords, bird cages, etc.... although the general look of the field music's was generally 'uniform', I've seen pictures where the principal Drummer, Fifer, PM wore something distinctive to set them off from the others.....Chevrons, a birdcage, a sword, etc. Of course the PM had his mace/baton/giant twirling stick with all of it's fancy stuff.

[WoodenNutmeg]

I actually don't know what you are trying to say here. Volunteer regiments were mustered into Federal Service by State......the purpose of each regiment's Field Music's was to serve the Regiment as prescribed by the Regulations. Am sure there were plenty of other Fife and Drum Corps, but this discussion is centered around Militia, Volunteer, and Regular Army field music's (Fifers, Drummers, Buglers, and the leaders: Principal Musician's, Drum Major, Fife Major, et al).

Frankly, I'm not sure what you are trying to say here. It appears to me that you just basically reiterated what I had originally written, with minor exceptions. Regiments were not exclusive proprietors over all fife and drum corps during the war. Prior to war even being declared in 1861, states like Connecticut and Massachusetts had numerous fife and drum corps established, some dating back as early as the 17th century! Guilford, CT, for instance, hosted one of the first drum corps musters ever to be held in the Colonies prior to the Revolution in 1776. Some of these pre-Civil War drum corps, beginning in 1861, were indeed commissioned, by states, for state, regional, and national parade as well as for entertainment related events.


Fife and Drum corps musician's rarely played along with the band. I don't know of any field musicians that were non-obligated to camp and/or field duties. do you have examples? They dressed according to the duties of the day....and what they had available.

Fife and drum corps paraded through the streets of New York and Boston in 1861 playing right alongside regimental bands! If this was a rarity, as you have declared, it was probably because large full-scale parades after 1862 were few and far between in comparison. As far as exemptions from camp/field duties, in early 1862, events in Washington DC saw the 93rd New York drum corps off the field, away from their unit, stationed in the the city, playing at numerous "patriotic" events with the Band of the 10th Veteran Reserve Corps.

What's the difference between unit and/or regimental dress? What's the difference between a corps and a small group? They dressed according to the duties of the day....and what they had available.

The difference is that certain regiments had uniform issue guidelines for musicians. Units, in contrast, sometimes had different guidelines. The 93rd New York drum corps, for instance, had different uniforms and guidelines for dress then the 8th New York did.

http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/civwar/band12.jpg
93rd New York

http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/civwar/band14.jpg
8th New York

Basically Field Musician's had two uniform's, the same as their rifle carrying counterparts. If the Dress uniform's had been pulled out of storage, then rectangular belt buckles, sashes, a musician's sword, white gloves, a frock coat, a bird cage, brass, etc. might have been available. Sometimes, Field Musician's Dress uniform's varied from the regimental dress uniform.....to the point of being flashy. I've seen pictures of Field Music's that are pretty gussied up....feathers, brass, belts, swords, bird cages, etc.... although the general look of the field music's was generally 'uniform', I've seen pictures where the principal Drummer, Fifer, PM wore something distinctive to set them off from the others.....Chevrons, a birdcage, a sword, etc. Of course the PM had his mace/baton/giant twirling stick with all of it's fancy stuff.

This I agree with whole heartedly.

[Rob Weaver]

First picture - Look at those awesome dress hats punched up like cowboy hats! I've seen a couple Iron Brigade pictures like that!

[Kevin O'Beirne]

It's with some trepidation that I attempt to participate in this discussion, because RJ constantly tells me how ignorant I am. However, this time I find myself largely agreeing with him.

I have hardly researched the topic, but I am not aware of states maintaining anything called a "fife and drum corps". At least here in the Buffalo, NY area and in the New York City area, when a newly recruited Civil War regiment was leaving home for "the seat of war", and when a regiment returned home for veteran furlough or at the end of their term of service, they were often escorted through the city streets by a band or field music. As I've read--and I hardly claim to be expert on it; rather, I have merely read it over while usually researching something else--these musicians were usually the band or field music from a local militia regiment. It's my impression that, often, such regiments were organized in a manner similar to (not identical to) the volunteer regiments in Federal service.

I am not aware of many instances in the Civil War of their being "drummer boys" (ala Johnny Clem); rather, it's my understanding from the regiments I've studied that the typical field musician was an adult, or at the very least a teenager much older than a "drummer boy" as we see them at so many events. I'm not aware of any "fife and drum corps" in front-line service that was outside the limits of a regiment--although someone more educated on the matter than me can probably say more definitively.

And I certainly agree with RJ that bands and field music were not the same thing.

Band = brass instruments, and maybe a bass drum (I'm sure RJ will correct me on this). A regimental band prior to their general disbandment in the US Army in August 1862 was about 24 bandsmen plus the leader of the band (drum major, etc.); after August '62 there were still brigade bands, each with sixteen bandsmen plus the leader of the band.

Field music = assembled fifers and drummers of a battalion; each infantry company was typically alloted one fifer and one drummer; thus there could be 20 field musicians for a regiment of ten companies.

[WoodenNutmeg]

And I certainly agree with RJ that bands and field music were not the same thing.

Of course bands and field music are not the same thing...who said that they were?

[RJSamp]

Of course bands and field music are not the same thing...who said that they were?

We were all thrown off by your statement:
"Federal fife and drum corps, for example, were established by regiments as well as by states for various reasons and purposes. Musicians could be marched out in parade dress only, functioning as part of a marching band and remaining non-obligated to field duties."

You switched from Fife and Drum corps to Marching Band. I don't know of any fifers that joined up with a Brass Band.....or having 20 drummers throw in their cadences for a waltz played on an Eb Alto saxhorn.

Fifers and drummers did not function as part of the band during the ACW. They are all called Musician's.....which they all are (well Drummers are drummers and Percussionists are Musician's.....).

When the Field Musics AND Band were assembled, they were seperate entities. And generally didn't play along with each other (in concert). Not that they all couldn't play Dead March from Saul or Adeste Fidelis at half speed for a funeral.....

But I don't see Field Music's joining up with marching Bands and playing a lively Galop together.

Similaraly, if a Fife and Drums corps performed a Tattoo.....they might alternate with the Band.....each playing favored tunes.....they might even come together to play My old Kentucky Home or whatever......

But I was under the impression that you were thinking that they were one for all, and all for one.

And they ain't.

And Kevin, I don't think you are ignorant at all. I've learned a ton from you over the years and enjoy reading your research immensely. Like all ajudicated articles however, criticism into methodologies, findings, sources, interpretations is part of the territory. That's the oral part of the Grad or Doctorate dissertation...... now find me that quote where the foot infantry bugler get's to ride along with the Colonel, cuz I'm getting tired of walking at the Regimental level!!!!

[Kevin O'Beirne]

now find me that quote where the foot infantry bugler get's to ride along with the Colonel, cuz I'm getting tired of walking at the Regimental level!!!!

Don't have one, and haven't claimed to have one. Who rode and who walked is documented for certain positions, and in my article it's speculation on others. I hope the wording of the article/chapter indicates which ones are which.

[WoodenNutmeg]

We were all thrown off by your statement: "Federal fife and drum corps, for example, were established by regiments as well as by states for various reasons and purposes. Musicians could be marched out in parade dress only, functioning as part of a marching band and remaining non-obligated to field duties." You switched from Fife and Drum corps to Marching Band.

Ah, OK, I see the confusion now. Yes, I can understand how that statement can appear jumbled.

Please allow me to clarify via your responses...

But I don't see Field Music's joining up with marching Bands and playing a lively Galop together.

I never said they did, because I know they didn't (and so do you).

Similarly, if a Fife and Drums corps performed a Tattoo.....they might alternate with the Band.....each playing favored tunes.....

Now this I did imply as fact, because I know they did (and so do you).

But I was under the impression that you were thinking that they were one for all, and all for one.

No, no, no...my point was that they were separate entities, but that they were also seen together.

I just wanted to make it clear, however (and I think that we can both agree upon this based on your responses), that there were times when both martial bands and fifers and drummers, as separate entities, could be seen together playing, just never playing at the exact same time as one another (though there could be experimental freak incidents that neither one of us has heard about). If I made it out to sound as if they played Dixie simultaneously together out in front of the Davis home, then I apologize.

I hope that's cleared up!

With that, I just realized that I haven't said it already, so please allow me to say thank you for the lively discussion! It's really great to talk about this stuff with someone so relatively well versed on the subject. I think that the influence and importance of martial music gets lost in the history of the war at times, so it's nice to discuss it with such a agreeable gentleman as yourself.

[119thNYSVdrummer]

The musicians most of the time had no sashes but in early war and dress ocasions like parades you could wear a red sash its the same as the nco sash and if you have the sash you are supposed to wear a musicians sword with it but ive never heard of a blue sash?


Thomas

[federal musician]

Couldn't the Officer who founded/funded the Infantry Regiment (or anyone else in charge at an upper level) at its' creation have set the uniform of the band to include a sash, either red or blue?

I thought it could be set the same or differently. So why not sashes, although during the middle to late war period it would be difficult to resupply and more of a dress uniform item.

Fran Long
Brigade Brass Band

[RJSamp]

Couldn't the Officer who founded/funded the Infantry Regiment (or anyone else in charge at an upper level) at its' creation have set the uniform of the band to include a sash, either red or blue?

I thought it could be set the same or differently. So why not sashes, although during the middle to late war period it would be difficult to resupply and more of a dress uniform item.

Fran Long
Brigade Brass Band

"Can anyone validate the authenticity of light blue sashes worn by musicians? Ive never heard of this but saw it advertised.
__________________
Pvt.Patrick Smith, Bugler
22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Company D.
"The Henry Wilson Regiment"



1. We need to stop throwing terms around so loosely. 'Musician' even includes drummers for crimminy sakes, and we know that percussionists are musician's, not drummer's (ok Old Joke). Are you speaking of Buglers? Fife and Drum Corps? Bandsmen?

2. BANDSMEN ran the gamut.....for all we know someone will find a picture of the 146th Zouave band out of New York (the 4th Ononondaga) and they'll have a red chevroned Principal Musician with a gold star in the middle of the rockers.....and a gold sash..... and a zouave shell jacket.....( Berain Chandler was his name). So go for it as long as it is uniform (except the leader of course).

In General, Fife and Drum Corps wore what their unit wore (Dress for Dress, Fatigue blouse for all other, etc.).....and Bands were gusseyed up.

3. Have never read about light blue or blue sashes for "Musician's". For a Band, why not? how about a dashing light blue SILK sash around the waist. Green for the Irish? Without a belt? But not Field Musicians.....

4. NCO's were issued a red sash (crimson). I've seen pictures of Bands and Field Music's Musician's (they're not NCO's) wearing red sashes...with or without a belt, with or without birdcages, with or without musician swords, and probably with or without a dress (primarily Frock) coat. So somewhere we'll find a picture of a sack coated fifer with a red sash, belt with square buckle, herringbone bird cage, with a baldric holding a musician's sword (but all of this with a Frock Coat and early war, in garrison camp would make much more sense). Red sashes available from QM stores, blue would not be!

5. Look to the pictures.....if you can't find it, I'd advise against making it up. There are some wild getups in Olsen's Music and Musket's, Elrod's book Bands of the ACW, generally available pictures and model your band after that?

6. Jari (and Heather) have done a truly superb job of outfitting themselves.....it's definitely a cut above for both uniforms! Documented.

As always, what year and what unit you are portraying and battle vs camp should steer your uniform.....

and the gaudiest uniform invites the sharpshooter bullet.....

[hiplainsyank]

Jsut ruminating about Kevin's comment on the age of drummers. While I've seen plenty of adults, I've also seen just as many "boys." Not only in photos like the 93rd NY field musicians (are ANY of them shaving yet???), but in the illustrations of eyewitnesses--although my guess is with artists such as Winslow Homer, their artistic eye led them more often to drawing/painting drummer BOYS instead of older guys. You know, poinancy and all that.
Has anyone ever done any analysis on the age of musicians?

[WoodenNutmeg]

"As a the leader of the musicians in his unit, Chandler would play a ceremonial role as well, leading the band in ceremonies, particularly in parades whenever the occasion arose. One such event was the Grand Review "Victory Parade" at Washington, DC just after the war on May 23, 1865. From this service in the Civil War we have Chandler's Drum Major baton. At a full four feet in length, this wooden and brass baton is wrapped in blue and white woolen cording and has a 7 1/2" massive brass cap. This heavy brass globular device measures 13" in diameter and has seen much field wear. Engraved in a foliate design, it has many dents and scratches and tapers to the wooden staff where it is attached with two screws. A 1" brass cap is attached to the bottom of the baton."

Provenance: Direct Descent From the Chandler Family

Authentication: Les Jensen

[RWelker]

Drummer George Ulmer, 8th Maine, regarding his uniform.
"I had a tailor make me a very handsome suit of military clothes. He was as ignorant of the regulation style as I was. He only knew the colors and knew that I wanted it nice and handsome. He made it and so covered it over with gold braid and ornaments, that you could not tell whether I was a drum major or a brigadier general.
The first night I was tired out and started for Alexandria (Virginia), arrived at headquarters about midnight, and told the sentry that I must see the colonel. He thought that I had important messages, or was some officer, and escorted me to the colonel's quarters. I woke him up: told him I had reported and wanted a bed. The colonel said, "Is that all you want? Corporal, put this man in the guardhouse."
The next morning I was given a broom and put to work sweeping around camp with about twenty tough-looking customers. The broom did not look well with my uniform, and as soon as an officer noticed me I was summoned before the colonel in command. He asked what I was. I told him I did not know yet- would not know till I reached my regiment. He had a hearty laugh at my apperance; said I ought to be sent to some fair instead of the front."

I found this is a book called Too Young To Die by Dennis Keesee- it, in turn, was taken from George Ulmer's autobiography, Adventures and Reminiscences of a Volunteer or, a Drummer Boy from Maine.

[RJSamp]

"Quote:
"As a the leader of the musicians in his unit, Chandler would play a ceremonial role as well, leading the band in ceremonies, particularly in parades whenever the occasion arose. One such event was the Grand Review "Victory Parade" at Washington, DC just after the war on May 23, 1865. From this service in the Civil War we have Chandler's Drum Major baton. At a full four feet in length, this wooden and brass baton is wrapped in blue and white woolen cording and has a 7 1/2" massive brass cap. This heavy brass globular device measures 13" in diameter and has seen much field wear. Engraved in a foliate design, it has many dents and scratches and tapers to the wooden staff where it is attached with two screws. A 1" brass cap is attached to the bottom of the baton."


Provenance: Direct Descent From the Chandler Family

Authentication: Les Jensen"

It would be good to find a few period references to the word BATON, as it refers to a Drum Major's STAFF.......we tend to use the words Baton, Staff, Mace interchangeably....but they didn't during the ACW. Be on the lookout during your readings!

[33rdaladrummer]

"Quote:

It would be good to find a few period references to the word BATON, as it refers to a Drum Major's STAFF.......we tend to use the words Baton, Staff, Mace interchangeably....but they didn't during the ACW. Be on the lookout during your readings!


From Drum Taps in Dixie, written by a CW veteran drummer:

"Harry Marshall, our
drum major, was one of the handsomest young fellows
that ever led a drum corps down the line on
dress parade; and was as good and pure as handsome.
He handled his baton with a skill and grace
of manner that would have captivated all the pretty
girls of a town if we could have marched
through its principal street. And when it came to
beating a drum he was what the small boys of today
would call a "corker.""

The Africans at home, condensed from the accounts of African travellers By Robert Maxwell Macbrair 1861:

"In his hand he carried an
immense staff, like a drum-major's baton"

Summer Cruise in the Mediterranean on Board an American Frigate By Nathaniel Parker Willis 1853:

"The next exhibition was that of a military band. A drum-
major, with a proper gold-headed stick, wheeled some sixty
fellows with all kinds of instruments under the windows of the
kiosk, and with a whirl of his baton, the harmony commenced. "

Travels Through the Crimea, Turkey, and Egypt By James Webster, 1830

"The troops, about two hundred
or two hundred and fifty in number, marched
well, with a band before them, headed by a drum-
major, who brandished his baton with the usual
air. "

At Home in Paris: And a Trip Through the Vineyards to Spain By Blanchard Jerrold. 1864

"He was to become an institution. In
historiettes, lively and giddying as the baton of his
drum-major"

Adventures with the Connaught rangers, from 1808 to 1814 By William Grattan. 1847

"and from that moment he made up
his mind to pitch drums, drummers, and drum-sticks,
not only from his hands but his thoughts also, and fight
his way to the honourable privilege of carrying the pole
of a colour in place of the mace of a Drum-Major"

[RJSamp]

Thank you!!!

Now if we can add a few quotes from the American Civil War we can get Jari off of my.....Baton!