Music and Musket: Bands and Bandsmen of the American Civil War

This volume begins with a brief account of the development of the American brass band movement and the musical legacy of earlier wars. The majority of the volume focuses mainly on the role of military bands during the Civil War, from the war's dramatic opening at Fort Sumter to its conclusion at Appomattox. In the volume, the author discusses in detail the contributions of military bands and bandsmen to the recruiting effort of both sides; analyzes the organization of military bands; and examines the activities of bands at the front, at the rear, and on the home front. In addition, he covers the role of field musicians and documents the tragic story of the drummer boys of the Civil War.