Drummer Boys at Fort Hamilton

AndyHall

Colonel
Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Original caption: Anthony's stereoscopic views. No. 1471, Three drummer boys (now at Ft. Hamilton) who have been in 9 battles of the rebellion. Library of Congress.

The insignia indicate all three are attached to Co. H, 12th Infantry Regiment -- but which state is unknown; can't make it out on the drum.

drummers.gif
 
Original caption: Anthony's stereoscopic views. No. 1471, Three drummer boys (now at Ft. Hamilton) who have been in 9 battles of the rebellion. Library of Congress.

The insignia indicate all three are attached to Co. H, 12th Infantry Regiment -- but which state is unknown; can't make it out on the drum.

Andy,

I spent one night at Fort Hamilton, NY, when I was on my first overseas assignment to Turkey with the Army.

At the time, the fort was the US Army School for Chaplains, way back in 1972. :smile:

Unionblue
 
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Boy on the right doesn't look happy....

Or, that young man was suffering an injury. Looking at his left foot (right foot if looking at the photo) it looks hyper-extended or 'rolled' inward. And, I've seen boys put their 'serious' man face on like that too. Perhaps he wanted to look business like or 'fierce.'

They are now a part of history and one day someone who is a relative might come and give us the identity of these three young men with a very important job in the life of the Army--from First Call to Tattoo, directing the motion of the Army or summons of the officers--the 'signal system' of the day by bugle, drum, the flag signal system and at night--flares, lantern or torch. All important cogs in the bigger wheel. :thumbsup:

M. E. Wolf
 
Or, that young man was suffering an injury. Looking at his left foot (right foot if looking at the photo) it looks hyper-extended or 'rolled' inward. And, I've seen boys put their 'serious' man face on like that too. Perhaps he wanted to look business like or 'fierce.'

They are now a part of history and one day someone who is a relative might come and give us the identity of these three young men with a very important job in the life of the Army--from First Call to Tattoo, directing the motion of the Army or summons of the officers--the 'signal system' of the day by bugle, drum, the flag signal system and at night--flares, lantern or torch. All important cogs in the bigger wheel. :thumbsup:

M. E. Wolf

You are right! Something appears to be wrong with his foot!
 
Is that the regular Army? If so, the date of the image is likely either before March 5, 1862 or after November 2, 1864.

12th Regiment, US Infantry (Regular Army)

Overview: Organized by direction of the President May 4, 1861, and confirmed by Act of Congress July 29, 1861. Organized at Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Harbor. Moved to Washington, D.C., March 5, 1862. Attached to Sykes' Regular Infantry, Reserve Brigade, Army Potomac, to May, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to August, 1863. Dept. of the East to September, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to March, 1864. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to November, 1864. Dept. of the East to July, 1865.​
Service: Moved to the Virginia Peninsula March, 1862. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Mechanicsville June 26; Gaines' Hill June 27; Turkey Bridge June 30; Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing till August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville August 16-28. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 28-September 2. Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19-20. At Sharpsburg, Md., till October 29. Kearneysville and Shepherdstown October 16-17. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Moved to New York August 16-19. (Cos. "F" and "H," 2nd Battalion, in N.Y. riots July, 1863.) Duty at New York till September 14. Rejoined army at Culpeper, Va., September 22. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Rapidan Campaign, battles of the Wilderness, May 5-7; Spottsylvania Court House May 8-21; North Anna River May 22-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16 to November 2. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Reserve). Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Poplar Springs Church, Peeble's Farm, September 29-October 2. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run October 27-28. Moved to New York November 2-6. 1st Battalion on duty at Elmira, N.Y., and 2nd Battalion at Fort Hamilton. N.Y. Harbor, till July, 1865.​
Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 118 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 190 Enlisted men by disease. Total 319.​
 
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