U.S. Continental Army Band at Ft. Monroe, these are probably the musicians of the 3rd Pennsylvania
Artillery, which was stationed at Ft. Monroe from 1862-65. On the large side for a regimental band,
this band appears to have more than 20 musicians, including two with clarinets!
Regular Army regimental bands, and bands associated with state militias. The better known of the latter included the 7th New York Regimental Band
led by Claudio Grafulla and the 24th Massachusetts Regimental Band led by Patrick Gilmore. Militia bands were very highly valued by the local militias
as they participated in musters, ceremonies and parades and were useful in recruiting soldiers. As state and local militias were mustered into service
they naturally brought along their bands. Within a few months of the start of the war, Congress authorized the creation of Regimental bands for the
Regular Army. The War Department General Order no. 48 issued on 31 July 1861 entitled 2 field musicians (buglers or fifes and drummers) per
company of soldiers and a band of 16-24 musicians for each regiment. This led to the formation of hundreds of bands and the enlistment of thousands
of musicians whose duties were solely to provide music for the Army. The musicians were considered noncombatants and had few duties outside their
musical ones. These brass bands played a significant role in the life of soldiers. They were the pride of their units and it was acknowledged that they
provided the morale boosting so badly needed. Many letters from soldiers of the time attest to their appreciation of good band music.
difficulties brought on by the war and realizing it could no longer
support so many bands on the Regimental level, abolished Regimental
bands but provided for 16-piece bands at the Brigade level (a Brigade
is made up of four or more Regiments). Some of the bands were
reformed into Brigade bands and the quality of music improved.
Despite the abolition of bands, some Regiments were able to retain
their groups by having the musicians re-enlist as combatants and then
assigning the men to musical duties.
playing for troops on the march, at ceremonies and civic functions; they entertained them in parks and in the concert hall; they provided the music for
their balls and dances. Playing for dress parades and reviews was important in military life as the dress parade provided a test of military efficiency
and training. Some bands actually found themselves in the middle of battle, playing during the fighting! Duties of bandsmen were also expanded to
battlefield chores of serving as stretcher bearers and assisting in medical operations such as amputations. The music played an important part in
the daily lives of soldiers. Tunes like Battle Hymn of The Republic, Rally Round The Flag, and Yankee Doodle inspired patriotic fervor, while We're
Tenting Tonight, Aura Lea, and Home Sweet Home reminded the men of home.
General Robert E. Lee realized the importance of
music to the morale and welfare of his men. He stated
"I don't believe we can have an army without music,"
and although no one is sure how many bandsmen
served with the Confederate Army, music was very
important to the Southern cause. Songs like Dixie,
God Save The South, and Maryland, My Maryland
were as important to the Southern cause as their
counterparts in the North.
