Soldier Life: The Drummer

Hello everyone! Today, I have the new installment of our series on the Soldier's Life. As I said before, it can be hard to dig up information on certain topics of the Civil War and while this may come as a bit of a surprise, Drummers are one of the hardest to access information on. Over many months of reading articles, snippets from books and talking to historians and reenactors who make this their life study, I have compiled what I learned here in one article. I hope other researchers find this helpful. So let's get started!

1. Drummers were not always boys. We have it in our mind that every drummer in the past was your typically adorable little fellow who loved pulling a good joke on his older comrades. While generally this is true, there were many adult drummers as well. I actually have one in my family! Back to the general age, most were between 9 and 17, though 12 was the “accepted age” and most 16-17-year-olds usually went ahead and took up arms with the other soldiers, at least in the South. That being said, I have read of drummers in their 60's and I believe there may have been one older than that come to think of it...
   
2. Who were the drummers? Drummers came from all walks of life, usually tagging along with their father or an older brother (like Nate Bowers in my book, “The Land of Cotton”) or orphaned (like Burdy in my book, “Our Heritage to Save”). Many ran away from home to have an adventure. They no doubt thought of the glory and excitement of battle, only to find it far different from what they expected.
   
3. What did they do? Drummers had to practice daily to get all the drumming calls correct. They had to know reveille, march, charge and retreat, in addition to the various camp calls. There was breakfast call, tattoo (used prior to Taps being written), parade inspection calls and multiple calls to summon different ranks of men at the officer's bidding. But drumming wasn't their only duty. They were given many tasks around camp such as hauling water, stacking wood, running errands, tending horses, helping with the cooking and their unofficial job of pulling pranks!
   
4. Drummers on the Battlefield. There is a lively debate about whether or not drummers actually served on the battlefield. Some go so far as to say that the image of the brave soldier, beating his drum through the smoke, shot and shell is completely false. I do not claim to be a historian by any means, but their argument has holes...big ones. The bugle and drum were not chosen because they seemed more military-like than a guitar and violin. They were chose because...they are loud. Loud enough to be heard over shouting, cannon fire and musketry. They were chosen because they are easily identified in chaos. True, the drummers did not march in the front lines. That would be ridiculous. They'd be shot in an instant. But they did indeed relay pertinent information from the officers to the men. There is no other way the officers could have communicated to their men otherwise. I read in one soldier's account that drummers were pinpointed at times, because if you lose your drummer, you lose your chain of command. But just like in camp, they didn't just drum on the battlefield. Each company had at least one drummer. Their second musician could be another drummer or a bugler. In battle, not as many were needed, so those who were not needed would assist injured men off the battlefield. They had to be pretty strong little fellows! Also, they would carry water and ammunition back and forth as needed.
   
   

And now, for something a little fun. To add some flavor to this article, I decided to have an interview with one of my characters, Meryl “Burdy” Boyles. For those who have read “Our Heritage to Save” I'm sure you are well acquainted with this little sidekick. For those who haven't, well, let this be your introduction and encouragement to read his story:)

Ryana Lynn: Burdy, first off would you mind telling us how you got your nickname?

Burdy: Well, when I came to the 2nd Va. Regiment to try out as a drummer, I knew if I were going to stay, I'd have to make the fellows like me. So I did everything I could to get on their good side. I ran errands, tidied up tents and field desks, tended horses and brought up wood, even when it wasn't my turn to do it. My first friend in the regiment, Sgt. Richard Mason told me one night that I was a burden bearer, like the Bible verse that says “Bear ye one anothers burdens.” They called me Burden Bearer at first, then shortened it to Burdy. Now, I only get called my real name if it's something official...or if I'm in trouble.

Ryana Lynn: Where are you from originally?

Burdy: I was born in Kansas near a place called Osawatomie. After my Pa died, Ma took me back east to Virginia to live with my grandparents.

Ryana Lynn: Do you have any siblings?

Burdy: Nope, I'm an only child, but I feel like I've got a great big family now that I'm with the company...though I would like to have a sister sometimes...

Ryana Lynn: Haha, I'm sure you do! What is your favorite part of being a drummer?

Burdy: The campfire! Every night that we can, we gather around the campfire, talk, sing, discuss Bible passages together and just relax. It's times like that that make me really feel like I have a family I can call my own.

Ryana Lynn: What do you dislike the most about being a drummer?

Burdy: Practicing the call for retreat. So far, I've not used it, and I never want to. Besides, Southerners don't even know what that word means!

Ryana Lynn: Quite true! Thank you for your time, Burdy!

Burdy: My pleasure!

Well, that's all for now! Thank you for spending a little bit of your day will us here at Life of Heritage! Have a great weekend!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22