“Drummer Boys – Fact or Fiction?” is an interpretive program that will address the subject of drummer boys and the numerous stories that revolve around their part in the Civil War.
From the tales of “The Drummer Boy of Chickamauga” to the legendary “Red Cap,” stories of these young boys and their adventures have captivated readers’ imaginations for a century and a half.
From the beginning of the war, music played a major factor in the morale of the troops. In addition to this important role, individual instruments, such as drums, bugles and fifes, were used as communication devices before, during and after a battle. Young men who were too young to carry a rifle were allowed to enlist as musicians and drummers, with the assumption that they would not be involved with actual combat. This assumption proved to be incorrect as the war progressed.
Join a ranger to explore the history of these juvenile soldiers, civil war musicians, regimental bands and the place of music in the Civil War.
For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at (706) 866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at (423) 821-7786, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/chch.
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