28th Massachusetts Co. B Field Music Facebook Group
The recreated 28th Massachusetts has an active musical contingent, one that gives life to the Regiment in camp, on campaign, and on parade.
Music played an important role in the life of Civil War armies. From marching music to camp songs, from concerts to “Taps,” music moved the armies through daily activities. Per the Regulations of 1861, each US Army (Federal) infantry regiment was authorized a brass band of 24 members and each infantry company had two musicians. Although the minimum age for enlisting soldiers was 18, boys as young as age 12 were allowed to enlist as musicians. This became an avenue for teenage boys, hungry for adventure, to join the war.
Field musicians marked the activities of daily wartime life, including wake up, lights-out, roll call, and drills. The music also helped organize the movement of the troops (think marching) and even conveyed combat orders to soldiers, who were trained to recognize these commands. Instruments played by field musicians included: The Fife—a high-pitched wooden flute similar to the piccolo; Drums— snare and bass drums that could be strapped to the neck or back to be carried; and the Bugle—similar to the trumpet but without keys or valves.
See the Company B YouTube Channel for some short videos of Co B’s Field Music.
