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Civil War Bands

The brass band of the Civil War played a very important role for both armies. They played at recruitment rallies and their music often helped to encourage young men to enlist. Both the Union and the Confederates used regimental bands. Each artillery or infantry regiment from the Union armies could have one 24 member band. The cavalry could only have 16.

The Confederate armies had fewer bands then the Union armies. This was because there were not enough musicians in the South. Also instruments were very hard to obtain. Metal was in short supply and the best instrument makers were from the North.

In 1864, both the Union and the Confederates were forced to dismiss most of their bands. Most officers felt that the bands that were left still played inspirational music. Their music helped to boost morale of the soldiers. The Confederate bands that remained played music from borrowed songbooks from the North, and captured instruments.

A drummer usually accompanied each regiment. The drummers played drumbeats that would signal the soldiers to get into formation. Drummers also played to wake soldiers up in the morning, roll call, and to signal “lights out” at night. The battlefield however, was the most important place drummers were needed. They were used to convey orders from commanding officers, and to signal movement of the troops.

Another popular instrument during the war was the fife. The fife was a high pitched instrument, made of wood. The fife usually accompanied the drums. Cavalry did not use drums or the fife. Instead they used bugles. Artillery also used bugles on the battlefield.

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Feb 19, 2010, Advertising Disclosure

Advertising Disclosure. This site is my personal site. It accepts advertising and other forms of compensation.

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Dec 5, 2009, Civil War, American Civil War, Reconstruction

The Civil War was a horrific four years for the nation. When it was over, more than 620,000 Americans had died from battle and war-related causes. American had fought against American and in some cases, brother had literally fought against brother.

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Nov 9, 2009, Brass Band, Civil War Music, Civil War Bands

The brass band of the Civil War played a very important role for both armies. They played at recruitment rallies and their music often helped to encourage young men to enlist.

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Nov 9, 2009, Civil War Ships, Civil War Marines, Hunley, Civil War Ironclad ships, USS Monitor

Civil War ships played an important role during the war, more important than most people think

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Nov 9, 2009, Blockade Runner, Civil War Blockade, Civil War Ships

A Blockade runner was a ship that attempted to get through the Union blockade of Southern waters during the Civil War. One of the main goals of the North against the South was to starve them and cut off supplies and transports to and from the South.

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Nov 9, 2009, Belle Isle Prison, Civil War Prison Camps, Civil War Prisoners

Belle Isle Prison is located west of Richmond Virginia. It is a small island located in the James River that was used as a Civil War Prison for captured Union soldiers.

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Nov 5, 2009, Sherman's March, March to the Sea

Sherman's March to the Sea would set the south ablaze. The sea was the goal, the end result, for the Union leader. General Sherman was a rogue if only for a few months, the general of the Union army stationed in the heart of the Confederacy was on a rampage.

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