- Joined
- Jan 8, 2012
I've seen several references to the use of musicians to administer punishment to soldiers in Colonial-era armies, but have not been able to turn up any references for them doing so during the Civil War. Does anyone have any references or sources for this aspect of the musician's duty during the Civil War? I'm thinking that by the Civil War, musicians were no longer involved in administering punishment beyond playing the "Rouge's March" when a soldier was marched out of camp or was en-route to being punished.
Regarding this practice in the Colonial era:
"Often times, the musicians even assisted in the punishment soldiers. A common consequence for soldiers who failed to meet the expectations of their commander was discharge from the army. In many cases, musicians marched the discharged soldier out of camp while playing their music in order to embarrass the guilty soldier. Furthermore, musicians were sometimes required to carry out the punishment of flogging the soldiers as well."
https://msamaryland400.wordpress.com/2018/07/05/marching-to-what-beat-sir-the-musicians-of-washingtons-army/
There's also this from a presentation about musicians in ancient armies:
And this reenactor included this aspect of the musician's duty in a recent music demo about musicians during the Colonial era (he's wearing an F&I uniform): https://www.facebook.com/OldLineFifeandDrum/videos/1122242181308769/
Regarding this practice in the Colonial era:
"Often times, the musicians even assisted in the punishment soldiers. A common consequence for soldiers who failed to meet the expectations of their commander was discharge from the army. In many cases, musicians marched the discharged soldier out of camp while playing their music in order to embarrass the guilty soldier. Furthermore, musicians were sometimes required to carry out the punishment of flogging the soldiers as well."
https://msamaryland400.wordpress.com/2018/07/05/marching-to-what-beat-sir-the-musicians-of-washingtons-army/
There's also this from a presentation about musicians in ancient armies:
Musicians at war: Infantry Company Drummers, 1775-1865
Musicians at war: Infantry Company Drummers, 1775-1865 - Download as a PDF or view online for free
www.slideshare.net
And this reenactor included this aspect of the musician's duty in a recent music demo about musicians during the Colonial era (he's wearing an F&I uniform): https://www.facebook.com/OldLineFifeandDrum/videos/1122242181308769/