Thomas Wright a young teenager starts his Diary in July 1858 America. Northern Kentucky, Mason county near the Town of Dover and Lees Creak. across the Ohio River the town of Ripley Ohio. Hot bed of Abolitionist movement. between befriending a slave...
This part, will show you the drummer, Bugler and Guidon how they played an important role, for the soldiers. During the controlled chaos of battle, sometimes uncontrolled chaos.
The Drummer
You may think he just kept time for marching or drill. These mostly young teenagers. Had to learn certain drum rolls, that told soldiers what to do in camp or the battlefield. Since the beginning of Armies, they used drums for communication.
To rally troops to the field, scare the enemy. During the American Revolution, both sides used drummers although much older than civil war drummers. They marched along side the troops into battle, with nothing more than drum sticks.
Civil War drummers were younger but had to play more advanced than their predecessors. Each drummer was required to play variations of 26 rudiment beats. The rudiment that meant attack was a long drum roll, they used a mixture of flams and rolls. Additional requirements, included the double stroke roll, paradiddles, flamadiddles, flam accents, ruffs, single and double drags, sextuplets.
Many drummers attended schools of practice at Governors Island, New York Harbor, and Newport Barracks, Kentucky. The majority learned in the field. They had texts that aided in learning, one was Bruce Emmett's, The Drummers' and Fifers' Guide 1862.
They did have age limits, seems 15 years old was the norm, some the ages of 11 to 12. They also overlooked the age limit on some accounts. With the parent's permission. Some Drummers were the sons of men killed in action or just followed the father to, war. Some enlisted hearing the stories of the Brave Drummer Boys. They were looked upon by the soldiers as mascots.
The most famous Drummer was Johnny Clem, also known as Johnny Shiloh. Clem was present at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863, where he according to reports wielded a rifle and shot a Confederate officer. He retired in 1915 at the rank of General.
They didn't follow the men, into the fight like the Revolutionary drummer, these young men were given jobs. Helping the field surgeon holding wounded down, during amputation or carrying off the amputated limbs. So if they weren't drumming communication, they were Surgeon aides.
The Bugler
These older Musicians are more associated with Cavalry troops where the drummer more with the Infantry. After about 1863, both the Infantry and Cavalry used the Bugler, to communicate it could be easily heard over the sounds of battle, and further away. I am sure we've all heard the bugle call charge! Taps, in the Western movies Bugler Boots and Saddles! Recall, forward.
They moved into battle with the men, unlike their counterparts the Drummer. With only a bugle and maybe some kind of sidearm. Some Regiments had a distinct little tune before the call, to keep confusion down. Could you imagine the bugle calls during battle? Each Regiment making calls plus your enemy. This could lead troops in the wrong direction. Retreating while they should be advancing or the other way around. If all else failed you had the Guidon to follow.
The Guidon
They came in many shapes and sizes, each Regiment had one, each platoon and company or Troop carried the Guidon. The Officer Corp used this to track movement on the battlefield also the soldier to follow his company or troop. This along with your Nations Flag should never hit the ground, another man took it and led the way.
The Guidon, was the pride of the Regiment. Normally the most experienced man carried the Guidon. The man that wouldn't falter under fire.
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As you can see the Bugler is much older than the Drummer, plus a few Guidons.
The Guidon like the Bugle or drum, had its draw backs. It could be obscured from view by smoke fog or rain. During advance, it could move out of view due to a hill or tall grass or corn.
I want you to use your imagination now, you are in battle. The muskets are firing cannon fire is exploding around you. You hear the drum roll, to attack, then the bugles as you advance. You are also getting voice commands. The smoke from your advancing fire, plus the enemies. You can't see your Guidon, bugles are sounding to your rear left right and front. All are giving different calls.
Your friends are shouting, falling to the ground. You still can't see your Guidon or distinguish what bugle call is yours. That my friends is the controlled chaos of Battle. Then if you add fear. They may have to charge and take several locations in a day. Then have to turn and retreat. All this through your ears and watching your Guidon.
I hope this gave you some idea what the Drummer and the Bugler did, and what a Guidon is. The Guidon is still used today only in ceremony, it may have streamers hanging from the staff. These are what battles the Regiment fought in. I've seen some the streamers almost cover the Guidon. I thank you for your support.
