This particular type of drum was meant to be played ‘at rest.’ Drum based music accompanied almost every aspect of the soldier’s life and was extremely important to a soldier because it increased moral.  In addition to bandsmen playing for dress parades, reviews, etc., their duties also included medical assistance.  Aiding medical personnel included stretcher bearers and, in some cases, assisting a surgeon/doctor as needed.  For the Federal troops, musician enlistment was at its peak in the earlier years of the war.  However, funding for musicians was too costly for the government and General Order 91 was issued in 1862.  The order specified that “all regimental bandsmen be mustered out of service within 30 days.” (54, Garofalo and Elrod, “A Pictorial History of Civil War Era Musical Instruments and Military Bands”) This mandate would reduce the number of bands but not totally eliminate them.  On these terms, men could re-enlist and form brigade bands, which is what happened in most cases following the General Order.

Pictured is an original bass drum from the mid-1800s with a maker’s mark stamped “State Drums made by George Pollard, Hallowell, Maine” which is placed on the inside of the shell.  Pollard was a drum manufacturing company prominent in 1850 to 1870.  The drum is maple bodied and measures 25 ½“ in height and 24” in diameter.  The batter head/counter hoop has a slight detachment from the shell but is in good condition.  The drum hoop is original to the piece with some signs of tear repair.  Tension ropes have most likely been replaced, and there are eight accompanying leather tension ears with two missing. On the shell there is a circle tac pattern around the vent hole that is encased with two parallel tac lines.  Overall the drum is in very good condition.  [mk]

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