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- Jan 16, 2015
Fifers are seldom mentioned by participants in the Gettysburg campaign. Drummers, buglers and even brass band musicians are referenced more frequently. At the beginning of the war a regiment might have a fifer accompanying several individual companies, as was the case in our colonial past, but by mid-1863 it was uncommon to find a single fifer on the rolls of an infantry regiment. Notable exceptions were the impressive drum corps attached to the 40th New York and 148th Pennsylvania, each utilizing several fifers.
The bugle was capable of projecting itself above the din of a Civil War battle, and therefore was still relevant on the field of strife. On the other hand, brass bands were increasingly popular on the march to boost morale and pride within earshot of brigades that had steadily diminished in size. The fife seems to have been losing ground in both spheres, perhaps indicating its ancient military heritage was coming to an end.
Fifers, like band musicians, typically served in the field hospitals during and after a major battle. Here are some identified fifers that I have uncovered in my research over the years:
USA
William Taylor, Company E, 2nd Wisconsin, the "Oshkosh Volunteers." "Billy" Taylor served in the Adams County courthouse, which initially sheltered several hundred wounded from both armies. On July 4, at least 250 wounded remained. When Corporal William H. Boyd from the same company was transported from Herbst woods to the courthouse on or about July 5, Billy Taylor tended to him. Taylor assisted by running a feather, covered with antiseptic, through Boyd's upper thigh, which may have enabled Boyd to relate the story 48 years later. (Oshkosh Northwestern, April 27, 1911)
Henry Besancon, 104th New York. Fifer Besancon was part of the regiment's drum corps. He maintained a diary with interesting observations. For example, on June 30 he mentioned that the "boys find a distillery and a good many get drunk and fight." As darkness descended on the night of July 1, Besancon and his fellow musicians supported a field hospital established at the stone ("granite") school house on the lane skirting Power's hill, about midway between the Taneytown road and Baltimore pike. They were joined there by Surgeon George Schuyler Rugg of the 104th, and members of the 16th Maine's brass band. Being exposed to incoming artillery fire on the late afternoon of July 2, the field hospital and its patients were relocated eastward. On July 3, he saw Maj. Gen. Dan Sickles being carried past on his way to the rear. Besancon worked all day on July 5, carrying wounded on stretchers to and from the amputating room, which he referred to as "sickening work." On July 7, he was detailed to assist the Confederate wounded who were gathered together in a separate tent. He was still working at the hospital as of July 12. (Diary of Henry Besancon, Special Collections, Duke University Libraries, Durham, North Carolina)
C. A. Sherman, 143rd Pennsylvania, possibly present. (Journal of Avery Harris, 143rd Pennsylvania)
Nathaniel Beerly, Company B, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1, 1863. (The Story of Our Regiment, A History of the 148th Pennsylvania)
Lawrence B. Bathurst, Company C, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1. (Ibid)
Thaddeus L. Rumbarger, Company C, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1. (Ibid)
Johnston Hamilton, Company D, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1. (Ibid)
Matthias Rider, Company I, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1. (Ibid)
Abram C. Courson, Company K, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1. (Ibid)
Morgan Dunn, 140th Pennsylvania, possibly present. (History of the 140th Pennsylvania)
Five unidentified fifers in the drum corps of the 40th New York, as of September 30, 1863. (Member of 40th New York, letter from Sulphur Springs, Virginia, Sep 30, 1863; History of the Fortieth "Mozart" Regiment New York Vols. by Floyd – in late 1861 the drum corps counted six fifers)
Fifer(s) of Carr's brigade, as of June 6, 1863. (A Minor War History, by Martin A. Haynes, 2nd New Hampshire)
Fifers and drummers of Vincent's brigade played "Ain't You Glad to Get Out o' the Wilderness" as the men crossed over the Pennsylvania line on their northward march. (C. E. Sprague, 44th New York)
CSA
George Robert Palmer, Company C, 55th Virginia. Enlisted as the company's fifer on July 18, 1861, Palmer remained a musician and was left behind to care for the wounded at Gettysburg. He was captured on July 5 as the Federals pursued the retreating Confederate army, and was sent to the prison at Fort Delaware. On August 10, Palmer was transferred to Chester General Hospital in Pennsylvania for medical treatment. On October 4, he was moved to Hammond General Hospital at Point Lookout, where he died from chronic diarrhea in December 1863. (Compiled Service Record of George R. Palmer)
Joshua C. Harrell, Company K, 15th Alabama, regimental fifer in the drum corps. (CSR; The War Between the Union and the Confederacy by William Calvin Oates)
Michael Degnan, Company K, 5th Louisiana, regimental fifer, probably present. (CSR)
Otway P. Ferrell, Company F, 10th Virginia, regimental fifer, present. (CSR)
George N. Matthews, Company E, 16th Mississippi, regimental fifer, present. (CSR)
Calvin C. Miller, Company B, 37th North Carolina, regimental fifer, present. (CSR)
The bugle was capable of projecting itself above the din of a Civil War battle, and therefore was still relevant on the field of strife. On the other hand, brass bands were increasingly popular on the march to boost morale and pride within earshot of brigades that had steadily diminished in size. The fife seems to have been losing ground in both spheres, perhaps indicating its ancient military heritage was coming to an end.
Fifers, like band musicians, typically served in the field hospitals during and after a major battle. Here are some identified fifers that I have uncovered in my research over the years:
USA
William Taylor, Company E, 2nd Wisconsin, the "Oshkosh Volunteers." "Billy" Taylor served in the Adams County courthouse, which initially sheltered several hundred wounded from both armies. On July 4, at least 250 wounded remained. When Corporal William H. Boyd from the same company was transported from Herbst woods to the courthouse on or about July 5, Billy Taylor tended to him. Taylor assisted by running a feather, covered with antiseptic, through Boyd's upper thigh, which may have enabled Boyd to relate the story 48 years later. (Oshkosh Northwestern, April 27, 1911)
Henry Besancon, 104th New York. Fifer Besancon was part of the regiment's drum corps. He maintained a diary with interesting observations. For example, on June 30 he mentioned that the "boys find a distillery and a good many get drunk and fight." As darkness descended on the night of July 1, Besancon and his fellow musicians supported a field hospital established at the stone ("granite") school house on the lane skirting Power's hill, about midway between the Taneytown road and Baltimore pike. They were joined there by Surgeon George Schuyler Rugg of the 104th, and members of the 16th Maine's brass band. Being exposed to incoming artillery fire on the late afternoon of July 2, the field hospital and its patients were relocated eastward. On July 3, he saw Maj. Gen. Dan Sickles being carried past on his way to the rear. Besancon worked all day on July 5, carrying wounded on stretchers to and from the amputating room, which he referred to as "sickening work." On July 7, he was detailed to assist the Confederate wounded who were gathered together in a separate tent. He was still working at the hospital as of July 12. (Diary of Henry Besancon, Special Collections, Duke University Libraries, Durham, North Carolina)
C. A. Sherman, 143rd Pennsylvania, possibly present. (Journal of Avery Harris, 143rd Pennsylvania)
Nathaniel Beerly, Company B, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1, 1863. (The Story of Our Regiment, A History of the 148th Pennsylvania)
Lawrence B. Bathurst, Company C, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1. (Ibid)
Thaddeus L. Rumbarger, Company C, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1. (Ibid)
Johnston Hamilton, Company D, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1. (Ibid)
Matthias Rider, Company I, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1. (Ibid)
Abram C. Courson, Company K, 148th Pennsylvania, fifer in regimental drum corps, present as of August 1. (Ibid)
Morgan Dunn, 140th Pennsylvania, possibly present. (History of the 140th Pennsylvania)
Five unidentified fifers in the drum corps of the 40th New York, as of September 30, 1863. (Member of 40th New York, letter from Sulphur Springs, Virginia, Sep 30, 1863; History of the Fortieth "Mozart" Regiment New York Vols. by Floyd – in late 1861 the drum corps counted six fifers)
Fifer(s) of Carr's brigade, as of June 6, 1863. (A Minor War History, by Martin A. Haynes, 2nd New Hampshire)
Fifers and drummers of Vincent's brigade played "Ain't You Glad to Get Out o' the Wilderness" as the men crossed over the Pennsylvania line on their northward march. (C. E. Sprague, 44th New York)
CSA
George Robert Palmer, Company C, 55th Virginia. Enlisted as the company's fifer on July 18, 1861, Palmer remained a musician and was left behind to care for the wounded at Gettysburg. He was captured on July 5 as the Federals pursued the retreating Confederate army, and was sent to the prison at Fort Delaware. On August 10, Palmer was transferred to Chester General Hospital in Pennsylvania for medical treatment. On October 4, he was moved to Hammond General Hospital at Point Lookout, where he died from chronic diarrhea in December 1863. (Compiled Service Record of George R. Palmer)
Joshua C. Harrell, Company K, 15th Alabama, regimental fifer in the drum corps. (CSR; The War Between the Union and the Confederacy by William Calvin Oates)
Michael Degnan, Company K, 5th Louisiana, regimental fifer, probably present. (CSR)
Otway P. Ferrell, Company F, 10th Virginia, regimental fifer, present. (CSR)
George N. Matthews, Company E, 16th Mississippi, regimental fifer, present. (CSR)
Calvin C. Miller, Company B, 37th North Carolina, regimental fifer, present. (CSR)
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