Strike Up the Band!

[DBF]

Do You Know these Interesting facts about Military Bands in the Civil War?

Illustration of a Zouave company
"When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
(Public Domain)​

1. Chandler's Band of Portland Maine (a civilian band at the start of the war) was known as the 1st Regiment of Artillery Band and is the 1st recognized band of the Civil War. They were at Fort Sumter when the 1st shots were heard just before sunrise on April 12th 1861. During the battle they were busy filling cartridge bags with gun powder and carrying ammunition. They played for the Union as they marched off the island and onto the Baltic. Formed in 1833, it still exists today and is believed to be the nation's second oldest professional band in continuous service. {2}
2. On April 19, 1861 the 6th Massachusetts Regiment Band became the 1st band to suffer casualties. While traveling through Baltimore, Maryland, they began to march through the streets when a mob attacked killing 4 members and injuring 30. If not for the local Union sympathizers hiding them in their homes, the numbers would have been higher.
3. Three weeks after President Lincoln had called for 75,000 troops, he realized a need for more so he called up 40,000 three-year-enlistees and 40 additional regimental bands. They were under the direction of the states from which they came from.
4. By the end of 1861, the Union Army had 618 bands and more than 28,000 musicians.
5. It was at this time that members of the band were required to perform some combat duties, but were more commonly used as members of the medical staff being employed as stretcher bearers and hospital orderlies.

Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore
December 25, 1829 – September 24, 1892
(Public Domain)​

1. Irish born, Patrick Gilmore, was the conductor of the Boston Brigade Band and when the war began it became the 24th Massachusetts Regiment.
2. Patrick Gilmore, writing under the name "Louis Lambert" wrote the lyrics to "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". It was said it was written for his sister Annie as she waited for her her fiancé, Union Light Artillery Captain John O'Rourke, although there is some question as to this statement as they were not married until 1875 (a very long engagement indeed).
3. General Nathaniel P. Banks created Gilmore Bandmaster-general for Louisiana.

Fourth Regiment Band
(Public Domain)​

1. In response to a Congressional inquiry, the Paymaster General of the Army reported the following pay scales for musicians: (all monetary amounts are per month) "First-Class $ 34.00; Second-Class $ 20.00; Third-Class $ 17.00; Drum Major $105.50." {1}
2. On January 31, 1862, the out-going Secretary of War Simon Cameron reported "the average cost of maintaining an artillery or cavalry band was $9,161.30 and the cost of maintaining the larger infantry band was $13,139.40. It was also reported 26 of 30 Regular Army regiments and 213 of 465 volunteer regiments had bands. The War Department spent $4,000,000.00 on bands with 618 bands in service, a ratio of one musician to every 41 soldiers. Congress concluded bands were too expensive and could be disposed without injury to the service. During the inquiry, 50 Union bands staged a Sunday concert at the White House. This concert undoubtedly added fuel to the debate about the cost of regimental Bands." {1}
3. As a result from "9": "On July 17, 1862, Congress passed Public Law 165. Public Law 165 abolished regimental bands in the volunteer army and provided for the mustering out of all musicians within 30 days of passage. Public law only applied to bands in the volunteer service and not to bands in the Regular Army. Congress replaced the regimental bands with brigade bands (one band for every four regiments). Provisions were made allowing musicians in regimental bands to transfer to the brigade bands. The pay of the bandleader was reduced from $105.50 a month to $45.00 a month with the rank privileges of a quartermaster sergeant. Congress also reduced the authorized number of musicians in each band from 24 to 16. The Act reduced the number of bands to approximately 60 and the number of musicians to about 2500." {1}
4. Units that remained under state control continued to thrive. They did not have to follow Congressional mandates. Militia bands were composed of 35-50 musicians and as more militia until joined the conflict they began recruiting more "trained" musicians and their musical ability and its' enjoyment had improved greatly.
5. Most bands used all brass instruments as they were the best for outdoor use. The largest bands were able to incorporate more woodwinds into their ensemble.
6. In addition for keeping and maintaining the morale of their soldiers, Union bands also performed in concerts, parades funerals and even executions.
7. General Philip Sheridan was perhaps one of the Union army's biggest fan of music. His musicians had the best equipment and uniforms in exchange for the band playing at the front during battles. Many times Sheridan would shout "play the gayest tunes in their books - play them loud and keep on playing them and never mind if a bullet goes through a trombone or even a trombonist, now and then." {1}
8. General Horace Porter witnessed Sheridan's bands performance when he "encountered one of Sheridan's bands, under heavy fire, playing Nellie Bly as cheerily as if it were furnishing music for a country picnic." {1}
9. At war's end Sheridan would proclaim: "Music has done its share, and more than its share, in winning this war." {1}

(Public Domain)​

1. Buglers and drummer boys were considered Field Musician. They were not part of the band as their chief obligation was to sound camp and battle calls. Most Field Musicians, although having a musical talent, were unable to read music.
2. By 1863, Army regulations required all drummer boys to be at least 12 years of ago. A drummer boy and bugler could earn as much as $12.00 per month. Unfortunately, drummer boys were often targets for the enemy.
3. Musicians were not immune to casualties during a battle. The 125th Ohio Regimental Band (or Tiger Band) by war's end could only account for 10 of the original 36 members.
4. Military bands did not stop playing on the day of the surrender at Appomattox. On April 21, 1865 a train left Washington headed for Springfield, Illinois. It carried the casket of President Abraham Lincoln. As the train made the 1,600 mile journey, at each stop it was greeted with a Military/or in some cases a civilian band.

Lincoln's Funeral Train at Philadelphia
(Public Domain)

* * *

"When Johnny comes marching home again
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Their choicest pleasures then display,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
And let each one perform some part,
To fill with joy the warrior's heart,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

* * *​

Sources
1. http://vermontcivilwar.org/museum/bandhistory.php
2. http://www.gorham.k12.me.us/~janellem/page%203.html
3. https://music.allpurposeguru.com/2013/08/patrick-gilmore-and-the-massachusetts-24th-regiment/
4. https://www.loc.gov/collections/civil-war-band-music/articles-and-essays/the-american-brass-band-movement/the-civil-war-bands/
5. https://www.wearethemighty.com/music/civil-war-musicians-were-the-armys-first-field-medics
6. https://www.fords.org/blog/post/music-of-the-lincoln-assassination/
7. Wikipedia - Patrick Gilmore/Civil War Bands/Lyrics-When Johnny Comes Marching Home

 

[19thOhio]

Do You Know these Interesting facts about Military Bands in the Civil War?

View attachment 346807
Illustration of a Zouave company
"When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
(Public Domain)​

1. Chandler's Band of Portland Maine (a civilian band at the start of the war) was known as the 1st Regiment of Artillery Band and is the 1st recognized band of the Civil War. They were at Fort Sumter when the 1st shots were heard just before sunrise on April 12th 1861. During the battle they were busy filling cartridge bags with gun powder and carrying ammunition. They played for the Union as they marched off the island and onto the Baltic. Formed in 1833, it still exists today and is believed to be the nation's second oldest professional band in continuous service. {2}
2. On April 19, 1861 the 6th Massachusetts Regiment Band became the 1st band to suffer casualties. While traveling through Baltimore, Maryland, they began to march through the streets when a mob attacked killing 4 members and injuring 30. If not for the local Union sympathizers hiding them in their homes, the numbers would have been higher.
3. Three weeks after President Lincoln had called for 75,000 troops, he realized a need for more so he called up 40,000 three-year-enlistees and 40 additional regimental bands. They were under the direction of the states from which they came from.
4. By the end of 1861, the Union Army had 618 bands and more than 28,000 musicians.
5. It was at this time that members of the band were required to perform some combat duties, but were more commonly used as members of the medical staff being employed as stretcher bearers and hospital orderlies.

View attachment 346808

Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore
December 25, 1829 – September 24, 1892
(Public Domain)​

1. Irish born, Patrick Gilmore, was the conductor of the Boston Brigade Band and when the war began it became the 24th Massachusetts Regiment.
2. Patrick Gilmore, writing under the name "Louis Lambert" wrote the lyrics to "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". It was said it was written for his sister Annie as she waited for her her fiancé, Union Light Artillery Captain John O'Rourke, although there is some question as to this statement as they were not married until 1875 (a very long engagement indeed).
3. General Nathaniel P. Banks created Gilmore Bandmaster-general for Louisiana.

View attachment 346809

Fourth Regiment Band
(Public Domain)​

1. In response to a Congressional inquiry, the Paymaster General of the Army reported the following pay scales for musicians: (all monetary amounts are per month) "First-Class $ 34.00; Second-Class $ 20.00; Third-Class $ 17.00; Drum Major $105.50." {1}
2. On January 31, 1862, the out-going Secretary of War Simon Cameron reported "the average cost of maintaining an artillery or cavalry band was $9,161.30 and the cost of maintaining the larger infantry band was $13,139.40. It was also reported 26 of 30 Regular Army regiments and 213 of 465 volunteer regiments had bands. The War Department spent $4,000,000.00 on bands with 618 bands in service, a ratio of one musician to every 41 soldiers. Congress concluded bands were too expensive and could be disposed without injury to the service. During the inquiry, 50 Union bands staged a Sunday concert at the White House. This concert undoubtedly added fuel to the debate about the cost of regimental Bands." {1}
3. As a result from "9": "On July 17, 1862, Congress passed Public Law 165. Public Law 165 abolished regimental bands in the volunteer army and provided for the mustering out of all musicians within 30 days of passage. Public law only applied to bands in the volunteer service and not to bands in the Regular Army. Congress replaced the regimental bands with brigade bands (one band for every four regiments). Provisions were made allowing musicians in regimental bands to transfer to the brigade bands. The pay of the bandleader was reduced from $105.50 a month to $45.00 a month with the rank privileges of a quartermaster sergeant. Congress also reduced the authorized number of musicians in each band from 24 to 16. The Act reduced the number of bands to approximately 60 and the number of musicians to about 2500." {1}
4. Units that remained under state control continued to thrive. They did not have to follow Congressional mandates. Militia bands were composed of 35-50 musicians and as more militia until joined the conflict they began recruiting more "trained" musicians and their musical ability and its' enjoyment had improved greatly.
5. Most bands used all brass instruments as they were the best for outdoor use. The largest bands were able to incorporate more woodwinds into their ensemble.
6. In addition for keeping and maintaining the morale of their soldiers, Union bands also performed in concerts, parades funerals and even executions.
7. General Philip Sheridan was perhaps one of the Union army's biggest fan of music. His musicians had the best equipment and uniforms in exchange for the band playing at the front during battles. Many times Sheridan would shout "play the gayest tunes in their books - play them loud and keep on playing them and never mind if a bullet goes through a trombone or even a trombonist, now and then." {1}
8. General Horace Porter witnessed Sheridan's bands performance when he "encountered one of Sheridan's bands, under heavy fire, playing Nellie Bly as cheerily as if it were furnishing music for a country picnic." {1}
9. At war's end Sheridan would proclaim: "Music has done its share, and more than its share, in winning this war." {1}

View attachment 346810
(Public Domain)​

1. Buglers and drummer boys were considered Field Musician. They were not part of the band as their chief obligation was to sound camp and battle calls. Most Field Musicians, although having a musical talent, were unable to read music.
2. By 1863, Army regulations required all drummer boys to be at least 12 years of ago. A drummer boy and bugler could earn as much as $12.00 per month. Unfortunately, drummer boys were often targets for the enemy.
3. Musicians were not immune to casualties during a battle. The 125th Ohio Regimental Band (or Tiger Band) by war's end could only account for 10 of the original 36 members.
4. Military bands did not stop playing on the day of the surrender at Appomattox. On April 21, 1865 a train left Washington headed for Springfield, Illinois. It carried the casket of President Abraham Lincoln. As the train made the 1,600 mile journey, at each stop it was greeted with a Military/or in some cases a civilian band.

View attachment 346811

Lincoln's Funeral Train at Philadelphia
(Public Domain)

* * *

"When Johnny comes marching home again
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Their choicest pleasures then display,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
And let each one perform some part,
To fill with joy the warrior's heart,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

* * *​

Sources
1. http://vermontcivilwar.org/museum/bandhistory.php
2. http://www.gorham.k12.me.us/~janellem/page%203.html
3. https://music.allpurposeguru.com/2013/08/patrick-gilmore-and-the-massachusetts-24th-regiment/
4. https://www.loc.gov/collections/civil-war-band-music/articles-and-essays/the-american-brass-band-movement/the-civil-war-bands/
5. https://www.wearethemighty.com/music/civil-war-musicians-were-the-armys-first-field-medics
6. https://www.fords.org/blog/post/music-of-the-lincoln-assassination/
7. Wikipedia - Patrick Gilmore/Civil War Bands/Lyrics-When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Great information and references. See my posts about John Columbus Haines for some Western theater stories about the 19th Ohio and 104th Ohio bands.

 

[Claude Bauer]

Do You Know these Interesting facts about Military Bands in the Civil War?

View attachment 346807
Illustration of a Zouave company
"When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
(Public Domain)​

1. Chandler's Band of Portland Maine (a civilian band at the start of the war) was known as the 1st Regiment of Artillery Band and is the 1st recognized band of the Civil War. They were at Fort Sumter when the 1st shots were heard just before sunrise on April 12th 1861. During the battle they were busy filling cartridge bags with gun powder and carrying ammunition. They played for the Union as they marched off the island and onto the Baltic. Formed in 1833, it still exists today and is believed to be the nation's second oldest professional band in continuous service. {2}
2. On April 19, 1861 the 6th Massachusetts Regiment Band became the 1st band to suffer casualties. While traveling through Baltimore, Maryland, they began to march through the streets when a mob attacked killing 4 members and injuring 30. If not for the local Union sympathizers hiding them in their homes, the numbers would have been higher.
3. Three weeks after President Lincoln had called for 75,000 troops, he realized a need for more so he called up 40,000 three-year-enlistees and 40 additional regimental bands. They were under the direction of the states from which they came from.
4. By the end of 1861, the Union Army had 618 bands and more than 28,000 musicians.
5. It was at this time that members of the band were required to perform some combat duties, but were more commonly used as members of the medical staff being employed as stretcher bearers and hospital orderlies.

View attachment 346808

Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore
December 25, 1829 – September 24, 1892
(Public Domain)​

1. Irish born, Patrick Gilmore, was the conductor of the Boston Brigade Band and when the war began it became the 24th Massachusetts Regiment.
2. Patrick Gilmore, writing under the name "Louis Lambert" wrote the lyrics to "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". It was said it was written for his sister Annie as she waited for her her fiancé, Union Light Artillery Captain John O'Rourke, although there is some question as to this statement as they were not married until 1875 (a very long engagement indeed).
3. General Nathaniel P. Banks created Gilmore Bandmaster-general for Louisiana.

View attachment 346809

Fourth Regiment Band
(Public Domain)​

1. In response to a Congressional inquiry, the Paymaster General of the Army reported the following pay scales for musicians: (all monetary amounts are per month) "First-Class $ 34.00; Second-Class $ 20.00; Third-Class $ 17.00; Drum Major $105.50." {1}
2. On January 31, 1862, the out-going Secretary of War Simon Cameron reported "the average cost of maintaining an artillery or cavalry band was $9,161.30 and the cost of maintaining the larger infantry band was $13,139.40. It was also reported 26 of 30 Regular Army regiments and 213 of 465 volunteer regiments had bands. The War Department spent $4,000,000.00 on bands with 618 bands in service, a ratio of one musician to every 41 soldiers. Congress concluded bands were too expensive and could be disposed without injury to the service. During the inquiry, 50 Union bands staged a Sunday concert at the White House. This concert undoubtedly added fuel to the debate about the cost of regimental Bands." {1}
3. As a result from "9": "On July 17, 1862, Congress passed Public Law 165. Public Law 165 abolished regimental bands in the volunteer army and provided for the mustering out of all musicians within 30 days of passage. Public law only applied to bands in the volunteer service and not to bands in the Regular Army. Congress replaced the regimental bands with brigade bands (one band for every four regiments). Provisions were made allowing musicians in regimental bands to transfer to the brigade bands. The pay of the bandleader was reduced from $105.50 a month to $45.00 a month with the rank privileges of a quartermaster sergeant. Congress also reduced the authorized number of musicians in each band from 24 to 16. The Act reduced the number of bands to approximately 60 and the number of musicians to about 2500." {1}
4. Units that remained under state control continued to thrive. They did not have to follow Congressional mandates. Militia bands were composed of 35-50 musicians and as more militia until joined the conflict they began recruiting more "trained" musicians and their musical ability and its' enjoyment had improved greatly.
5. Most bands used all brass instruments as they were the best for outdoor use. The largest bands were able to incorporate more woodwinds into their ensemble.
6. In addition for keeping and maintaining the morale of their soldiers, Union bands also performed in concerts, parades funerals and even executions.
7. General Philip Sheridan was perhaps one of the Union army's biggest fan of music. His musicians had the best equipment and uniforms in exchange for the band playing at the front during battles. Many times Sheridan would shout "play the gayest tunes in their books - play them loud and keep on playing them and never mind if a bullet goes through a trombone or even a trombonist, now and then." {1}
8. General Horace Porter witnessed Sheridan's bands performance when he "encountered one of Sheridan's bands, under heavy fire, playing Nellie Bly as cheerily as if it were furnishing music for a country picnic." {1}
9. At war's end Sheridan would proclaim: "Music has done its share, and more than its share, in winning this war." {1}

View attachment 346810
(Public Domain)​

1. Buglers and drummer boys were considered Field Musician. They were not part of the band as their chief obligation was to sound camp and battle calls. Most Field Musicians, although having a musical talent, were unable to read music.
2. By 1863, Army regulations required all drummer boys to be at least 12 years of ago. A drummer boy and bugler could earn as much as $12.00 per month. Unfortunately, drummer boys were often targets for the enemy.
3. Musicians were not immune to casualties during a battle. The 125th Ohio Regimental Band (or Tiger Band) by war's end could only account for 10 of the original 36 members.
4. Military bands did not stop playing on the day of the surrender at Appomattox. On April 21, 1865 a train left Washington headed for Springfield, Illinois. It carried the casket of President Abraham Lincoln. As the train made the 1,600 mile journey, at each stop it was greeted with a Military/or in some cases a civilian band.

View attachment 346811

Lincoln's Funeral Train at Philadelphia
(Public Domain)

* * *

"When Johnny comes marching home again
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Their choicest pleasures then display,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
And let each one perform some part,
To fill with joy the warrior's heart,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

* * *​

Sources
1. http://vermontcivilwar.org/museum/bandhistory.php
2. http://www.gorham.k12.me.us/~janellem/page%203.html
3. https://music.allpurposeguru.com/2013/08/patrick-gilmore-and-the-massachusetts-24th-regiment/
4. https://www.loc.gov/collections/civil-war-band-music/articles-and-essays/the-american-brass-band-movement/the-civil-war-bands/
5. https://www.wearethemighty.com/music/civil-war-musicians-were-the-armys-first-field-medics
6. https://www.fords.org/blog/post/music-of-the-lincoln-assassination/
7. Wikipedia - Patrick Gilmore/Civil War Bands/Lyrics-When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Great post! Thank you. There's a lot there I can use in living history presentations on music in the Civil War.

 

[JOHN42768]

Very interesting and informative, thanks for posting

 

[LoyaltyOfDogs]

At war's end Sheridan would proclaim: "Music has done its share, and more than its share, in winning this war." {1}

Apparently General Sheridan hadn't heard the band of the Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery.

 

[DBF]

I suppose when bands were bad - - they were very bad.

I saw critics claiming that a band playing spoiled their meat and a navy commander declared the band gave his men Dysentery - now a band's music killed the dog. (R.I.P.)

* * *

There's a lot there I can use in living history presentations on music in the Civil War.

Claude - maybe you can answer this question - I wonder how expensive musical instruments were. It seems amazing that there were enough men that were able to afford "brass" instruments and were most self taught?

 

[Claude Bauer]

I suppose when bands were bad - - they were very bad.

I saw critics claiming that a band playing spoiled their meat and a navy commander declared the band gave his men Dysentery - now a band's music killed the dog. (R.I.P.)

* * *


Claude - maybe you can answer this question - I wonder how expensive musical instruments were. It seems amazing that there were enough men that were able to afford "brass" instruments and were most self taught?

I've never researched the price of brass instruments--that's a good question. Fifes weren't that expensive. In 1876, 11 years after the war, you could get a plain maple fife for .20 cents.

Stratton Catalog c. 1876

 

[DBF]

I'm having trouble finding any site to tell me what the going rate was for a brass instrument in the mid-1800's, although I found sites that sell restored instruments. Maybe someone here knows the answer. I remember reading when the youngest Medal of Honor winner, Willie Johnson earned his medal by holding on to his drum and sticks during a rout of the Union Army - the story goes that he didn't dare drop them because he knew his father would get angry at him for losing them.

 

[DBF]

This site gives details into the musical training program. The "School of Practice for U.S.A. Field Musicians" (the name tells you what every musicians needs to do the most - practice). They certainly started with a variety of instruments:

"The U.S. Army School of Music can trace its roots back to the early years of the 19th century. The first record of an organized music school was when eleven men from COL Macomb's 3d Artillery Band were either transferred or went directly to the 6th Infantry Band School on Governor's Island, New York City. They were trained to play flutes, oboes, bassoons, clarinets, French horns, serpents, bass drums, and tambourines. There are also indications that a small number of men were sent from West Point to the school to learn new percussion instrument techniques which differed markedly from the rudimental drumming used for drills and parades.

"During and prior to the Civil War, musical training occurred at the "School of Practice for U.S.A. Field Musicians" at Governor's Island, New York. The earliest reference about the school is found in a book "Ten Years in the Ranks, U.S. Army" written by a young Soldier age 12, Augustus Meyers. He wrote about his experiences at the school.

"The School of Practice studied from "The Drummers and Fife Guide" by George G. Bruce. A board of musicians assembled by the War Department adopted this book as the official text for the school. This manual was used until the end of the Civil War.

Army regulations of 1863 allowed the superintendent of recruiting depots to enlist, as field musicians, boys of twelve years of age and upward who had a natural talent for music. After enlisting, field musicians of the Regular Army could be sent to the School of Practice on Governor's Island, New York. They were billeted opposite from Brooklyn, at the Old South Battery." {*}

I found this post where you link to Augustus Meyers's 1st Chapter and he is a wonderful writer. You will learn all about "sheepskin fiddlers," and "straw blowers", and the most unusual ritual of "blanket court martial."
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/musicians.119532/#post-1235584

He also explained regarding the purchase of instruments:

"At Governor's Island one of the largest expenses was the band whose members were paid extra (according to their ability) over and above their grade of soldier's pay. Their instruments, which the Government did not furnish, had to be purchased, as well as music and a showy uniform. Other expenses were the post bakery, the post garden and school for the boys. From all this the officers received the greater benefit and yet they were not required by army regulations to contribute to the fund." {**}

**His complete book is available from my 2nd source.

*https://www.bands.army.mil/organizations/pages/?unit=ASOM&p=history
**"Ten Years in the Ranks, U.S. Army" by Augustus Meyers

 

[donna]

Interesting thread. Learned a lot.