Drummer+Boys



I. What are Drummer Boys They would pick boys that were too young to do the actual fighting but who knew the importance of a good drummer. They would play important rhythms for the fighters when there was too much smoke in the air to see where they were going. Some of them would be killed by accident. Without a drummer to establish communications and keep order among the units in the field, many companies would have ended in failer. Drummers could always be seen near a high ranking officer because at any time he might be needed to alert the troops of an upcoming movement or operations.

II. History Julius Langbein was a 16 year old drummer boy during the Civil War Battle of South Mills. He would go on to receive the Medal of Honor for risking his life to save an officer in the midst of the battle. Another person who was the drummer boy was named Orion Howe. He was a drum and fife player. A fife is sort of like a flute. He was only 14 years old! He was very young to be a fighter so he was a drummer boy who was very brave.

III. The Job This was a very hard job they would not get enough sleep and would have to wake up often. And they would not be well rested at all! They would be tired the whole time and they would only do it for the pride of going off to the war way too young to do the actual fighting and if they would survive, they would get to say they helped fight the war.

IIII. The Uniform The Drummer Boy was dressed with a full length musician’s uniform.

IIIII. The Drums The Drums they used was usually made out of wood and brass.