"The music of the Army...

"
An Abbreviated Study of the Ages of Drummers and Fifers in the
Continental Army
John U. Rees

Originally published in The Brigade Dispatch, in two parts: vol. XXIV, no. 4 (Autumn 1993),
2-8; vol. XXV, no. 1 (Winter 1994), 2-12. Abridged version of this article published in
Percussive Notes, Journal of the Percussive Arts Society (August 2005), 64-66.

Capt. Charles Willson Peale’s company, 2nd Battalion Philadelphia Associators,

Princeton battlefield. Fifers and drummers in this unit wore reversed colors, as
evidenced in this deserter advertisement: “Philadelphia, April. 13, 1776 … Ran
away from the subscriber, on the evening of the fifth instant, an English servant
boy, named JOHN MITFORD, about fifteen years of age … He had on, when he
went away, a scarlet coatee with white metal buttons, and brown collar, such as
fifers of the Philadelphia second battalion commonly wear …“ Pennsylvania
Evening Post, 13 April 1776. (Aaron Walker, fifer; Daryian Kelton, drummer)
___________________

Foreword. This work was my first demographic study of Continental soldiers. I began
research for it around 1989 and basically formulated my methodology from whole cloth.
The end result was somewhat crude based on a relatively small sample. Still, I think the
work still has some merit, and as such I offer this updated version.
 “Each morning we… had to play and beat the Reveille”
An Overview of Military Music.

Military music was essential to the Revolutionary armies, contributing greatly to

discipline and order both in camp and on the battlefield. Specialized drum and fife signals
called musicians or officers to assemble and detachments to gather wood, or informed the
men when it was time to receive rations. Music provided a cadence to regulate the
marching rate, and transmitted or supplemented officers’ commands in battle.
General George Washington early on recognized the value of well-trained musicians,
as emphasized in 4 June 1777 general orders: “The music of the army being in general
very bad; it is expected, that the drum and fife Majors exert themselves to improve it …
Nothing is more agreeable, and ornamental, than good music; every officer, for the credit
of his corps, should take care to provide it.” He then outlined the musically regulated
daily routine. “The revellie to be beaten at day-break -- the troop at 8 o'clock in the
morning, and retreat at sunset.” Two days later, “The morning gun at day-break to be a
signal for the revellie ; and the evening gun at sun-set a signal for the retreat …” To these
calls can be added the end of day “taptoo,” when “All lights must be put out at 9 o'Clock
in the evening, and every man to his tent.”
The routine was altered for an army on the move, General Washington giving details
on 16 August 1777,

1st. When the army is to march, the General (and not the Revellie) is to beat in the
morning.
2nd. At the beating of the General, the officers and soldiers are to dress and prepare
themselves for the march, packing up and loading their baggage.
3rd. At the beating of the troop, they are to strike all their tents and put them in the
wagons …
4th. … at least a quarter of an hour before the time appointed for marching, the
drummers are to beat a march, upon which the troops are to march out and form at the
head of their encampment … Precisely at the hour appointed for marching, the drummers
beat the march a second time, at that part of the line from which the march is to be made
… upon which the troops face or wheel … and instantly begin the march.

Further orders, tinged with criticism, were issued for the march through Philadelphia
later the same month: “The drums and fifes of each brigade are to be collected in the
center of it; and a tune for the quick step played, but with such moderation, that the men
may step to it with ease; and without dancing along, or totally disregarding the music, as
too often has been the case.” Whatever the musical quality, the daily schedule often
changed to fit situational needs.
 An example of massed during the War of the Revolution. This engraving
commemorates an event at the 1781 Coxheath encampment, when the British 6th
Regiment of Foot drummed T. Lamb, Esquire, the mayor of Rye, out of camp.
Gregory J.W. Urwin, Redcoat Images, No. 816, “A VISIT TO CAMP or the ROGUES
MARCH,” circa 1781 (unknown artist), Gerry Embleton Collection
___________________

Several works have discussed battlefield drum signals, most notably Raoul Camus’s
Military Music of the American Revolution, but there is much yet to be learned on their
practical use. William Windham’s Plan of Discipline for the use of the Norfolk Militia ...
(London: 1768) provided twenty drum commands for everything from “Fix bayonets,
marching” to “Form Battalion!” Other manuals followed suit. In actuality, battle and
maneuver signals varied. During Maj. Gen. John Sullivan’s expedition against the
Iroquois in 1779, orders for 4 August stipulated signals for marching in files, advancing
by sections and platoons, closing columns, and displaying into line. By comparison,
Major General Friedrich Wilhelm de Steuben's 1779 Regulations gives only three
different signals for marching forces: for the "Front to halt", "the Front to advance
quicker", and "to march slower." In 1780 British Captain John Peebles, 42nd Regiment,
noted the "General Rules for Manouvring the Batt[alio]n. by the Commanding Officer,"
appended to which are “Signals by Drum”:
 Preparative. to begin firing by Companies, which is to go on as fast
as each is loaded till the first part of the General when
not a shot more is ever to be fired.

Grenad[ie]rs. March. to advance in Line.

Point of War. to Charge.

To Arms. to form the Batt[alio]n. (whether advancing or

Retreating in Column) upon the leading division.

Double flam. to halt Upon the word forward, in forming, the

Divisions to run up in Order.

Another instrument, the bugle horn (also called the French, hunting, or German post-
horn) was commonly used by light and mounted troops, and especially associated with
the British light infantry. Massachusetts Lieutenant Joseph Hodgekins wrote of the 16
September 1776 Battle of Harlem Heights, “the Enemy Halted Back of an hill and Blood
[blowed] a french Horn which whas for a Reinforcement …” Xavier della Gatta's 1782
painting "The Battle of Germantown" shows a horn-blowing musician at the head of two
files of British light infantry, and the song "A Soldier" (New York, 1778) begins with the
lines:

Hark! hark! the bugle's lofty sound

Which makes the woods and rocks around
Repeat the martial strain,
Proclaims the light-arm'd British troops ...

It is uncertain when American light troops first used horns, but during the June 1778
Monmouth campaign New York Lieutenant Bernardus Swartwout noted,

[25 June] The Horn blowed (a substitute for a drum in the [light] Infantry corps) we
marched about four miles ...
[26 June] At the sound of the horn we marched eight miles and halted …

Bands of music, playing orchestral instruments, were also present with some units,
serving a largely ornamental purpose. Most British regiments had their own bands at one
time or another, several surrendering at Saratoga and Yorktown. Only a few Continental
units followed suit, most notably the 3rd and 4th Artillery, 2nd Virginia, and Webb’s
Additional Regiments.
Proficient field musicians (drummers, fifers, and, for light troops and cavalry, buglers)
were hard to find, as they were expected to learn many tunes, from popular melodies like
"Roslyn Castle" to practical beats such as "Water Call" or "Roast Beef."
Recognizing their special duties, efforts were made to provide musicians regimental
coats with reversed colors based on European practice. In May 1777 the Continental
Clothier General informed 3rd New Jersey Colonel Elias Dayton “there is 395 Blue coats
faced red on the road from Boston … which I design to furnish your regmt. … I have also
… sent you 12 Red Coats fac'd with blue of the clothing taken from the enemy for your
drums & fifes.” This variation was not always possible, as some units wore un-dyed linen
hunting shirts, while in autumn 1778 Washington’s army was issued French-made coats
of blue or brown with red facings, with no distinction for musicians.1
The musicians of the Continental Army have long been relegated to a minor role in
comparison to those soldiers who carried muskets or commanded troops in battle. In
actuality the duties they performed were essential to the army and contributed greatly to
discipline and order both in camp and on the battlefield. The original purpose of this
study was to gain some knowledge of, and if possible ascertain a trend in, the ages of
those soldiers who served as musicians. During the course of the research personal
accounts by the soldiers themselves were gathered which give some further
understanding of the daily lives, duties and role of musicians in the army. These soldiers’
narratives have been appended to the study.

Fifer Nathalie Smallidge, Fort Ticonderoga.

___________
 Drummer Aaron Walker (on the right), Monmouth battlefield.
___________________

“On account of his Youth was generally ordered to the rear..."

Drummer and Fifer Ages.

In addition to the oft-misunderstood nature of the role of musicians in the Continental

Army certain myths about these soldiers have been propagated. Probably the most
familiar portrayal of revolutionary musicians is the nineteenth century painting "The
Spirit of '76" by Archibald M. Willard. Although two older men playing both fife and
drum are shown in this rendering it is probably the image of the adolescent drummer that
has lodged in the minds of most people. Additionally, the use of boys as musicians during
the American Civil War and such popular songs as "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" only
served to add to the popular conception of the universal use of children as musicians. For
some time the idea of proving or disproving the popular idea of the drummer boy in the
Continental Army has been of interest to me. Unfortunately, company and regimental
rolls for the period contain very few personal descriptions of individual soldiers, thus
making the task seem almost impossible. Even when descriptive rolls were made they are
often rendered worthless because the document were undated, making the ages given for
the men impossible to use. Finally, I struck upon idea of gathering names from the muster
rolls and then searching through the pension records as a way of finding musicians’ birth
dates. Admittedly, this remained a hit or miss method of proceeding as is evidenced by
the fact that out of 292 musicians the ages for only 67 (23 percent) were found (exclusive
of the men in the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment). Ages given by soldiers in their pension
applications are still open to some error. Some pension documents contain birth records
for the men, and these were used when available. Most of the files give only a statement
by the applicant attesting to his age at the time of the deposition. Use of these places
much reliance on the reliability of an individual's memory. In spite of all these caveats
the following study, while hardly conclusive, still gives some idea of the average age of
the musicians, as well as some insights into their military services.2
Once the men's ages and services were ascertained there had to be some method of
processing the information that would serve to make it useful. For statistical purposes it
was decided to use the age of each musician at their first known service as a fifer or
drummer. Since it was found that some of these men had switched from the fife to the
drum during their service (an instance of changing from the drum to the fife is not
known) the ages of these men were used twice, once for their first service as a fifer and
once as a drummer. Additionally, two of the men served as company musicians and later
became drum and fife majors; these cases were treated in the same manner.
There are a number of tables included in this work. The primary table shows the
average ages for the total number of musicians examined. There are also four secondary
tables showing the statistics for the New Jersey Regiments, Lamb's Artillery Regiment,
the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment, and a group of musicians from miscellaneous units.
These give some indication of the average ages within those different groupings.
The final result of this study shows a trend that supports the assertion that most of the
army’s musicians were, in fact, quite mature. In the overall grouping the men’s average
age was 18.5 years. When broken down as to the particular instrument played, the
average for drummers was 19 years and for fifers 17 years. Boy musicians, while they did
exist, were the exception rather than the rule. Though it seems the idea of a multitude of
early teenage or pre-teenage musicians in the Continental Army is a false one, the legend
has some basis in fact. There were young musicians who served with the army. Fifer John
Piatt of the 1st New Jersey Regiment was ten years old at the time of his first service in
1776, while Lamb's Artillery Regiment Drummer Benjamin Peck was ten years old at the
time of his 1780 enlistment. There were also a number of musicians who were twelve,
thirteen, or fourteen years old when they first served as musicians with the army.
Among the younger musicians the fife was the preferred instrument. This is born out
not only by the age of those who served as fifers but also by one military manual of the
period and the soldiers’ accounts themselves. Cuthbertson's System for the Interior
Management and Oeconomy of a Battalion of Infantry stated that the "finest children that
can be had should always be chosen for Fifers; and as their duty is not very laborious, it
matters not how young they are taken, when strong enough to fill the Fife, without
endangering their constitutions..." As concerns the drum Cuthbertson stated that a
"handsome set of Drummers, who perform their beatings well, being one of the
ornaments in the shew of a battalion, care must be taken to inlist none, but such as
promise a genteel figure when arrived at maturity; and as few, when past fourteen years
of age, attain any great perfection on the Drum; active, ingenious lads, with supple joints,
and under that age, should be only chosen ..." The author further stipulated that "Boys
much under fourteen, unless they are remarkably stout, are rather an incumbrance to a
regiment (especially on service) as they are in general unable to bear fatigue, or even
carry their Drums on a march..."3

Iron fife excavated at Red Bank battlefield, site of the assault on Fort Mercer, October 22,
1777. Division of Military History and Diplomacy, National Museum of American History,
Catalog #: 58146M, Accession #: 204703; Dimensions: 0.5" H x 14" W x 0.5" D; Specific
History. “This fife from the period of the American Revolution was unearthed on Red Bank
battleground in 1880 near the New Jersey Monument.”
https://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=231&back=1
_______________

Some musician’s narratives support the contention that the younger and smaller the
musician the more likely it was he would play the fife rather than the drum. Fifer Samuel
Dewees, being "about or turned of 15, but quite small of my age," was enlisted by his
father into the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. Although he joined the army in 1777 Dewees
spent the first year and a half of his service doing duty in a hospital or as waiter to the
regiment’s colonel. He did not perform the duties of a musician until the summer of
1779, even though he had been wearing a musician’s uniform prior to that and must have
received some sort of training as a fifer. John Piatt, a fifer in the 1st New Jersey, was ten
years old when he enlisted in 1776 and claimed that sometime during his service he was
"taken a prisoner at pluckemin [New Jersey] by the British and released afterwards being
a Youth..."4
 The age of a musician occasionally had other benefits (or possibly embarrassments)
and sometimes affected the duties he performed. James Holmes, a drummer in the 11th
Pennsylvania Regiment, was 13 years old when he joined in 1778. He stated in his
deposition "that he was not in Any engagements not being permitted by his Captain, on
account of his Youth was generally ordered to the rear..." Another musician, James
Kirkpatrick of the 3rd New Jersey, enlisted as a fifer in 1778 at the age of 15. Two years
later he exchanged his fife for a drum, probably due to experience and maturity. Philip
Reamer of Malcom's Additional Regiment and the 11th Pennsylvania had a similar
experience. He enlisted as a fifer at 14 years of age in 1777 and was made a drummer in
1780, while James Purdy of Lamb's Artillery Regiment began as a fifer in 1778 and
changed to the drum the following year. In all, seven musicians in this study played both
the fife and drum during their military service.5
As may well be assumed there are indications that as the war continued the numbers of
younger musicians declined. In 1775 and 1776 terms of enlistment for the Continental
Army soldiers were usually for no more than one year. Beginning in 1777 the army began
enlisting men for three years or the war. Those musicians who had enlisted at age 14 in
1777 were 17 years old by 1780, more mature and still looking ahead to three more years
of service until the war’s end.

During the course of the war the numbers of men enlisted to be musicians declined.
The tables below show that the majority of the men in this sampling (60 percent) enlisted
in 1777 or 1778. Beginning in 1778 and continuing through to the end of the war
regimental quotas for the individual states were periodically reduced and existing
regiments consolidated. These adjustments were due to the chronic problem of supplying
the army with enough recruits to keep regiments at their required strengths. In this
manner the number of musicians needed for the army was reduced, though the attrition
caused by death, desertion, and expired enlistments ensured that periodic shortages of
fifers and drummers occurred until the end of the war.6

First Year of Service for the Musicians Examined

1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782

Number of Men Enlisted 12 23 17 6 4 4 1

Total: 67 Musicians
 Ages of the Musicians During Their First Year of Service

1776 1 - 10 years, 1 - 13 years, 2 - 16 years, 1-18 years, 1-20 years, 2-21

years, 1-23 years, 1-25 years, 1-29 years, 1-35 years
(Average age: 20.5 years)

1777 1 - 12 years, 1 - 13 years, 6 - 14 years, 4-17 years, 4-18 years, 1-19

years, 1-21 years, 1-23 years, 1-26 years, 1-27 years, 1-35 years, 1-
38 years
(Average age: 19 years)

1778 1 - 13 years, 1 - 14 years, 2 - 15 years, 1-16 years, 3-17 years, 4-18

years, 2-19 years, 1-20 years, 1-24 years, 1-27 years
(Average age: 18 years)

1779 1 - 14 years, 1 - 16 years, 1 - 17 years,

1-21 years, 1-26 years, 1 - 28 years
(Average age: 20 years)

1780 1 - 10 years, 1-11 years, 1 - 14 years, 1-15 years

(Average age: 12.5 years)

1781 2 - 16 years, 1 - 20 years, 1 - 21 years

(Average age: 18 years)

1782 1 - 15 years

As a result of the decreasing need for new musicians the following resolution was
announced on January 22, 1782:

General Orders ... The United States in Congress assembled have been pleased to pass the
following resolves.
In Congress December 24, 1781.
Resolved, That in future no recruit shall be inlisted to serve as a drummer or fifer. When
such are wanted, they shall be taken from the soldiers of the corps in such numbers and of
such description as the Commander in Chief or commanding officer of a separate army
shall direct, and be returned back and others drawn out as often as the good of the service
shall make necessary.

On the same date General George Washington wrote to General William Heath that the
resolution of Congress "respecting the Music of the Army... prohibits enlisting any More
under that Denomination, but does not affect those already in service; You will be
pleased therefore to Order Cloathing for them accordingly."7
Four months later, in April 1782, the lieutenant colonel of the 10th Massachusetts
Regiment wrote Heath concerning his efforts to procure musicians: "I mentioned to your
honor the last time I waited on you that the 10th Massts Regt wanted a number of
Drummers & Fifers to compleate their Corps - Mr. Highwell has since been with the Regt
and has recommended some to me for the music though not the whole that were wanting
we want three Drummers and two Fifers but at present can find but one Fifer and two
Drummers who have natural Geniuses for music - the Drummers are Israel Duey and
George Durreycoats the Fifer Saml Collimer they are men of small stature and I believe
will answer the purpose..."8
Of those men noted in the previous letter as having "natural Geniuses for music" the
records for only two have been found. George Derecoat is shown to have served in
Colonel Benjamin Tupper's 10th Regiment for twelve months in 1782 having enlisted in
January of the same year. Samuel Collamore served for the same period in the same
regiment and is noted as having been appointed a musician as of March 31, 1782.
Evidently these men were taken out of the ranks rather than being enlisted specifically as
musicians as per the December 1781 orders. One other soldier in this study, George
Harley of the 2nd New Jersey, served as a drummer in 1782, apparently for the first time,
and was also probably taken from the ranks.9

Samuel Dewees, a fifer in the Pennsylvania Line, recounted that, "...I divided my peacock
feathers with Pat Coner [a drummer], and we decorated our caps in fine style with peacock
plumes." (Samuel Dewees, A History of the Life and Services of Captain Samuel Dewees...
The whole written (in part from a manuscript in the handwriting of Captain Dewees) and
compiled by John Smith Hanna (R. Neilson, Baltimore, 1844), 272. Illustration by Donna
Neary, from Raoul F. Camus, Military Music of the American Revolution. (Chapel Hill, NC,
1976), 126.
Capt. Charles Willson Peale’s company, 2nd Battalion Philadelphia Associators, Princeton
battlefield. Fifers and drummers wore reversed colors, as evidenced in this deserter
advertisement: “Philadelphia, April. 13, 1776 … Ran away from the subscriber, on the
evening of the fifth instant, an English servant boy, named JOHN MITFORD, about fifteen
years of age … He had on, when he went away, a scarlet coatee with white metal buttons,
and brown collar, such as fifers of the Philadelphia second battalion commonly wear …“
Pennsylvania Evening Post, 13 April 1776. (Daryian Kelton, drummer)
 Although most of the studied pension applications were not very informative beyond
the basic service record of the former soldiers, a few give some interesting details
concerning the lives of musicians of the army. Several of these narratives corroborate
each other in some aspects of the musician's life. Samuel Dewees, the fifer, continued his
services in the military sporadically after the war. During Fries Rebellion in 1799 he was
attached to a company of regulars for the purpose of recruiting new soldiers and moved
with them to Northampton, Pennsylvania where they "encamped two or three days." He
noted, "I had played the fife so much at this place, I began to spit blood... By the aid of
the Doctor's medicine and the kind nursing treatment I received... I was restored to health
again in a few days and able to play the fife as usual." Another fifer, Swain Parsel of the
3rd New Jersey Regiment, had a similar experience. He "enlisted in the beginning of the
year [1776]... as a fifer for one year... That on the expiration of this service he again
enlisted in the same Regt. under Captn. Patterson - but the practice of fifing being
injurious to his health, he entered the ranks as a private soldier till the termination of the
war..."10
Another old soldier, John McElroy, 11th Pennsylvania Regiment, had a unique story to
tell of his service. He stated in his pension deposition, "As to my ocupation I have none
being nearly blind by reason of my eyes being nearly destroyed by the accidental bursting
of cartriges in the year 1779 at Sunbury Pennsylvania..." McElroy had enlisted as a fifer
in 1776 and, despite the accident to his eyes, was appointed to the position of fife major
in 1780. John McElroy and another fifer, Aaron Thompson of the 3rd New Jersey, both
retained some mementos of their military service well after the war. The former wrote in
1820 that "I have my old Fife and knapsack yet," while a friend of Thompson noted after
his death that he "had heard him [Thompson], often say so, and mention, the fact of his,
having mutilated his fife in order to prevent its being stolen and that he might preserve it,
as a relic, of his services in that Struggle."
A further search of the pension files would in all likelihood supply additional
information about musicians’ lives as well as more evidence regarding their age. This
study and the statistics it has produced give a reasonable idea of the age of the average
drummer and fifer in the Continental Army, having been found to be about 18 years.
More research into the personal statistics and military duties of musicians is highly
desirable in order that a full picture of their services be made known. There still lie
untapped many journals, letters, and other documents which may shed light on this little-
known aspect of the army of the revolution.
 Capt. Andrew Fitch’s company, 4th Connecticut Regiment, Valley Forge, 1778
(Matthew Skic, fifer, and Aaron Walker, drummer)
__________________________

(Note: Any of the soldier's narratives given above for which sources have not been given
will be found in the alphabetical listings of musicians included in the statistics section
immediately following.)

Statistics for the Overall Grouping

of Musicians Examined
(Not including 11th Pennsylvania Regiment)

73 musicians total
Total Average age - 18.5 years
Average age for fifers - 17 years (17 years including fife majors)
Average age for drummers - 19 years (20 years including drum majors)
Drummers
Total - 26 Average Age - 19 years

Number Age at Time of

of Men Initial Service
1 10 years
1 12 years
1 13 years
2 14 years
1 15 years
3 16 years
4 17 years
4 18 years
1 19 years
1 21 years
1 23 years
1 24 years
1 25 years
1 26 years
1 27 years
2 35 years

Drum Majors
Total - 2 Average age - 28 years
1 19 years
1 38 years

Fifers
Total - 37 Average Age - 17 years
1 10 years
1 11 years
2 13 years
7 14 years
2 15 years
2 16 years
6 17 years
5 18 years
2 19 years
3 20 years
3 21 years
1 23 years
1 24 years
1 28 years
Fife Majors
Total - 2 Average Age - 22 years
1 20 years
1 24 years

Instrument Unknown
Total - 6 Average Age - 20 years
1 14 years
1 15 years
1 16 years
1 21 years
1 26 years
1 29 years

Adjusted Statistics Including 11th Pennsylvania List (See Section III, data uncertain)
Total musicians including PA Archives list - 82
Adjusted Total Average age - 18 years
Adjusted average for fifers - 17 years (including fife majors)
Adjusted average for drummers - 19 years (including drum majors)
[See Part Two]

Capt. David Brown’s company, Concord Minutemen (Massachusetts)

 Fifer Aaron Walker
____________________________

I. The New Jersey Line

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th New Jersey Regiments; also including Spencer's, Malcom's and Forman's
Additional Regiments

(Note: Two of the musicians from Malcom's Regiment who were later transferred to the
11th Pennsylvania Regiment have not been included with the New Jersey troops.)

43 musicians total: Average age for grand total - 20 years

Average age for fifers - 18 years
Average age for drummers - 21 years (without drum majors)
22 years (including drum majors)
 New Jersey Statistics
204 Jersey musicians, information found for 43 (21 percent). Of those studied the
following information was found:

Number of Age at Time of Initial

Men Service
Drummers - Total: 14 (15) 1 14 years
1 15 years
2 16 years
2 17 years
2 18 years
1 25 years
1 26 years
2 27 years
2 35 years

Fifer and Drummer - Total: 1 1 15 years as fifer in

1778
(counted once as a drummer and once as a 17 years as drummer
fifer) 1780

Fifers - Total: 19 (20) 1 10 years

1 14 years
1 15 years
5 17 years
3 18 years
1 19 years
2 20 years
2 21 years
1 23 years
1 24 years
1 28 years

Drum Majors - Total: 2 1 19 years

1 38 years

Instrument Unknown - Total: 6 1 14 years

1 15 years
1 16 years
1 21 years
1 26 years
1 29 years
Drummer at Fort Ticonderoga.
_______________
Note: The ages below in parentheses are for the first known year each soldier served
as a musician.
Benjamin Applegate, Spencer's Additional Regiment - Born in 1763 (16 years in 1779)
Daniel Applegate, drum, 1st New Jersey - 80 years old in 1832 (26 years in 1777)
"... at the Battle of short hills [he] succeeded in getting Col Martins horse out of the
Mire in face of the Enemy and brought him safely into the American Encampment..."
Deposition by William Lyons: "...he also remembers when Col Martins horse got
mired while retreating from the Enemy at the Battle of Short Hills of the 4th Jersey
Regt. when the said Applegate at the risk of his Life got the mired horse out of the
slough when the Enemy commenced firing at him but he safely reached the Camp
with the horse..."
Benjamin Baldwin, drum, 1st New Jersey - 59 years old in 1820 (17 years in 1778)
John Bowers, drum, 1st New Jersey - 61 years old in 1820 (18 years in 1777)
(Listed on the February 1782 roll but pension states that he enlisted in 1777 as a
drummer in Captain McMires' Company. No 1777 rolls are available for that
company and McMires' was killed at Germantown on October 4, 1777. The date of
enlistment is taken as per the pension file.)
Jabez Bigelow, drum major, 3rd New Jersey - 61 years old in 1820 (19 years in 1778)
Samuel Brown, 3rd New Jersey - 55 years old in 1818 (14 years in 1777)
William Blair, fife, 2nd New Jersey - born April 1754 (24 years old in 1778)
Robert Coddington, fife, 4th New Jersey - born in 1760 (17 years in 1777)
McDonald Campbell, fife, 1st New Jersey and 4th New Jersey, nine months recruit in
1778 - 67 years old in 1820 (23 years in 1776) "On the llth of November 1775, he
enlisted as a fifer, ...in the 1st Jersey Regiment, then commanded by Col. William
Wyands, which Regiment was raised for one years service: that shortly after his
enlistment, he was at sea, with said Captain Conaway, and aided in the capture of a
British armed vessel, called the 'blue Mountain Valley' that afterwards, viz, on the
1st. day of May 1776, he went with said Col. Wyands regiment from New Jersey to
the Northern frontier, passing through Albany, thence to Fort George, thence to Lake
Champlain; thence to the river St. Lawrence, and thence to the three Rivers in
Canada, at which place the American & British forces had an engagement, on the
19th. of June... and the Americans were defeated and forced to retreat to
Ticonderoga. He remained with the Army at Ticonderoga, until the expiration of the
year for which the regiment was raised, when he, with the whole Regiment was
discharged. In the latter part of Nov. 1776 he returned to his fathers, then residing
near Perth Amboy, in the state of New Jersey, and soon after volunteered to serve as
a guide, in the 12th Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by Col. Cook, then
stationed in New Jersey, and while serving in the capacity of a guide, he was
engaged in several skirmishes with the British, viz, at Strawberry Hill, Tappan &c
Afterwards, and during the winter of 1776-7, Capt. Fitz Randolph of New Jersey,
was commissioned by the Governor of that state to raise a Company of state troops,
to serve for one year, as a guard upon the lines. The Company was known by the
name of Fitz Randolph Rangers - Thomas Combs was first Lieutenant, Jacob
 Rowland 2nd Lieut. and - Green Ensign. This declarant enlisted in said Company
in... [the] county of Middlesex... in December 1776: A few days after his enlistment,
Col. Cooks regiment of Pennsylvania troops, and Capt. Fitz Randolphs Company
attacked a British forageing party, which came from Bonamstown, in New Jersey,
then in the possession of the enemy, and compelled them to retreat with some loss.
He was actively engaged in the affair, in which his Capt. Fitz Randolph was Killed,
after his death Lieut. Combs became Captain, Rowland first Lieutenant and Green
2nd. Lieut. by seniority, and this declarant was thereupon commissioned as an Ensign
in the Company... sometime in January 1777. Five or six days after he received his
Commission as an Ensign, Col. Cook, of the Pennsylvania line, & Capt. Combs, of
the Rangers, were ordered to dislodge the British force, then lying at Bonamstown,
under the command of Col. Webster of the 71 British Regiment - the command of
this expedition devolved upon Capt. Patterson, of Col. Cooks regiment, on account
of the absence of the Colonel & Major. The American forces, under cover of the
night, succeeded in making their entrance into Bonamstown, just at day light,
without being discovered - they were however soon fired on by the English sentinels
- an action ensued the Company of Rangers was lead on by capt. Combs and this
declarant, who was posted in front - Capt. Combs was severely wounded in the foot,
at the British being reinforced by the 42nd Regt. then just arrived from Scotland, the
Americans were unable to maintain the possession of the place, and made good their
retreat, carrying off their Killed & wounded, and about 40 prisoners. In this affair a
Number of Americans were Killed, and about the bold Capt. McElhatten (as he was
called) and Capt. Riley [Bath or Both?] of Col. Cooks Regiment were severely
wounded. A few days after this affair, this declarant was in an action at Piscataway...
in which Col. Cook... commanded the American troops. About this time, (the precise
date he is unable to recollect) this declarant was in an action at the Ash Swamp... &
also in another called the battle of Short Hill. Sometime after these battles, the two
Lieutenants in Capt. Combs' Company resigned their commissions on or about the 1st
March 1777, this declarant was commissioned... as the 1st Lieutenant in Capt.
Combs' Company... until the Month of August 1777... when finding, from the
continued disability of Capt Combs, that the command of the company would
devolve on this declarant, & unwilling to incur the responsibilty of such a command,
he resigned his commission... On or about the 1st of May 1778, this declarant again
joined the American army, then lying at Valley Forge, and entered as a private, in the
Company commanded by Capt. Jonathan Furman, in the 4th Jersey Regiment, of
which his former Capt, John Conway, was then Colonel - two or three days after his
arrival at Valley Forge, the American army crossed over to Jersey, & on the 28th of
June 1778, the battle of Monmouth was fought, in which this deponent was actively
engaged throughout. Soon after this battle, an order was received from Gen. Green,
for the employment of forty two Express riders - this declarant... was appointed one
of these riders... [and] continued in the service for upwards of two years... [at which
time] his horse fell with him, & upon him... [he] was ruptured in the abdomen so
badly as to disable him for such service..."
Isaac Coovert, 1st New Jersey - 64 years old in 1819 (21 years in 1776)
Martin Chandler, drum, 3rd New Jersey - Born April 1763 (14 years in 1777)
"... he was in the battle of Short Hills in the State of New Jersey; was in the
 Campaigns under General Sullivan against the Indians in Genesee; at the Battle of
Brandywine; at Germantown Monmouth and under the Command of La Fayette at
the siege of Cornwallis and at the siege of the redoubt at Yorktown / he was
wounded in the right ankle by a musket Ball at Elizabeth Town Point which was the
only wound he received during his service..."
Squire Cockram, fife, Spencer's Additional - 58 years old in 1818 (17 years in 1777)
Valentine Christian, fife, 3rd New Jersey - Born in 1756 (20 years in 1776)
Caleb Fulkerson, fife, 1st New Jersey - 71 years old in 1832 (17 years in 1778)
Nine months recruit from the Jersey militia. In 1778 "Caleb... enlisted as a fifer for
nine months in a company of troops in the Regiment of Col. Matthias Ogden in the
Brigade of Genl. Maxfield and faithfully served most of that term at Elizabeth-town
where the troops were stationed after the Battle of Monmouth. That at that Battle the
Brigade to which the said Fulkerson was attached was held as a reserve [illegible]
excepting their Artillery which was engaged."
George Farney, fife, 2nd New Jersey - 69 years old in 1820 (28 years in 1779)
Robert Fowler, fife, 2nd New Jersey (pension received under the name of Robert
Wardell) 61 years old in 1820 (19 years in 1778) "Robert Wardell formerly Robert
Fowler of the... State [of Indiana] personally appeared... on the 27th day of July...
[1818 and] saith that some time in the month of February or March he thinks
February in the year... [1778] that he enlisted in the servis of the United States under
Captain Jonathan Phillips in the second Jersey Regiment... he further states that
sometime in the latter part.., [of 1782] or in the beginning of eighty three the second
Regiment being reduced to a Battallion by filling up the first Regiment out of it he
also states that the said Jonathan Phillips resigned his Commision as Captain of said
company and Captain Able Wayman took the command of said company said
company being taken to fill up the first Regiment... which was Commanded by Cols
Ogden and Barber the latter being killed by the falling of a tree in the winter before
the Armey was disbanded. He further states that he was discharged by the aforesaid
Captain Able Wayman on the third day of June... [1783] but thinking that his
discharge would be of little use to him he neglected to bring it with him when he
migrated to the western country... he further states that the reason for his changing
his name from Fowler to Wardell that his mother was a single woman by the name of
Fowler when he was born and that his reputed fathers name was Wardell and that
after he came home from the Armey... then his fathers brother his father being dead
requested of him to name him self Wardell and has been known by that name to this
time..."
Joel Garrison, drum, 3rd New Jersey - born in 1760 (16 years in 1776)
John Grace, fife, 3rd New Jersey - 64 years old in 1820 (21 years in 1777)
Joseph Gate [Gale], fife, 3rd New Jersey - 60 years old in 1818 (20 years in 1778)
John Guy, drum, 3rd New Jersey - 67 years old in 1818 (25 years in 1776)
Charles Hulet [Hatch], drum, 1st New Jersey - died in 1835, aged 75 (18 years in 1778)
The following deposition was given by Hulett's son-in-law in 1845: "... said Hulett...
enlisted in Captain Nichols company [possibly Noah Nichols, captain in Stevens'
 Artillery Battalion as of November 9, 1776. In 1778 he was a captain in the 2nd
Continental Artillery. See entry for Joseph Lummis] which was a part of the first
Regiment of New Jersey in the service of the United States which Regiment was
commanded by Col. Ogden. He enlisted as aforesaid on the 7 May 1778... He was
engaged in the battle of Monmouth and was wounded in the leg and then or soon
after taken a prisoner and by the enemy and carried in captivity to the West Indies,
To relieve himself from the horrors of his imprisonment he joined the British Army
as a musician and was sent to the United States. That soon after his return... he
deserted from the British ranks and again joined the army of the United States and
the south under General Greene. He was present at the siege of York and after the
surrender of Cornwallis he was one of the corps that escorted the prisoners which
was sent to Winchester... and he remained in service to the end of the war. This
declarant always understood that said Hulett at the close of the war held the rank of
Drum-Major."
George Harley [Haley or Hailey], drum, 2nd New Jersey - 51 years old in 1818 (15
years in 1782) The pension states that this soldier enlisted in 1779 in the 3rd
Company commanded by Captain Weyman and also that he was at the Siege of
Yorktown. The first document on which he appears is the July 1782 return. No prior
service as a musician is known and the 1782 date is used.
Richard Jobs, drum major, 4th New Jersey - 81 years old in 1820 (38 years in 1777)
Joseph King, drum, 1st New Jersey - 67 years old in 1818 (27 years in 1778)
Thomas Hickman, found in the Joseph King pension file. Hickman claimed that "he
was a sergeant and Clerk to the Company of Capt Helmns, of the 2d Regt. of the
New Jersey Brigade... that in the Autumn of 1778 he was employed in recruiting,
and distinctly remembers enlisting Joseph King at a station in the County of
Somerset, during that season - but the precise date he cannot remember. The farmers
were husking corn at the time. Jos. King was then between 18 & 19 years of age...
King was made a drummer after enlistment, being found to possess a talent for that
service - King was afterwards made a drum major." A check of the muster rolls show
that King never served as a drum major.
James Kirkpatrick, fife and drum, Forman's Regiment and 3rd New Jersey - Born 1763
(15 years in 1778) Began serving as a drummer in January of 1780, (17 years in
1780). Kirkpatrick stated "That he entered in the nine months service in General
David Forman's Regiment in the spring of 1778 and joined the troops at Mount
Holly... that he enlisted in Capt. Patterson's company in the 3rd New Jersey in the fall
of the year 1778 as a Fifer and continued to serve in that Regiment until it was
reduced, when he was transferred to the first Jersey Regiment and continued to serve
in it as Drummer until he was discharged at New Burgh..."
Isaac Montawney, drum, Malcom's Additional Regiment - about 90 years old in 1832
(about 35 years in 1777)
Moses Mulliner, drum, 3rd New Jersey - 77 years in 1818 (35 years old in 1776)
Stephen Osborn, 1st New Jersey - 87 years old in 1840 (26 years in 1779)
John Powers, 2nd New Jersey - 74 years old in 1821 (29 years in 1776)
Deposition of Jacob Edmonds: Edmonds and Powers "...served together in Capt.
 Joseph Brearley's company in Col William Maxwell's Regiment... when he enlisted
that he remembers the said Powers was in the Regiment in Trenton in November
1775 that they marched together from Trenton to Canada that he recollects hearing...
Power's name every day at Roll call & thinks he was always present never having
been detained a day by sickness... they went together from the Plains of Abraham
over to Point Levi[s] that this deponent was taken prisoner at the three Rivers, but
that Powers remained in the service at that time."
John Poole [Pool], drum, 2nd New Jersey - 70 years old in 1820 (27 years in 1777)
Swain Parsel, fife, 3rd New Jersey - 62 years old in 1820 (18 years in 1776)
"He enlisted in the beginning of the year One thousand seven hundred and seventy
six as a fifer for one year under Captain Samuel Potter in Col. Daytons Regt. - That
on the expiration of this service he again enlisted in the same Regt. under Captn.
Patterson - but the practice of fifing being injurious to his health, he entered the
ranks as a private soldier till the termination of the war... he was in the Battles of
Brandywine, Germantown & Monmouth, that he was wounded twice, once a musket
ball passed through his left arm and hit his body - and another time a Musket ball
passed through his leg..."
Jonathan Dayton wrote the following substantiation: "... Swaine Parsell was a
soldier in the third Jersey Regt., & in the Company commanded by me as Capt.
Lieutt. when he was wounded in the arm near the stone bridge in Elizabethtown, of
which the British troops under Genl. Kyphausen had possession in June 1780 - And I
do further certify that ...[he] received some time after another wound in his leg, when
on guard near Halsted's point opposite to Staten island under my then first Lieutenant
John Blair..."
John Piatt, fife, 1st New Jersey - 66 years old in 1832 (10 years in 1776)
"... he enlisted as a Fifer at the age of ten years in the Company of Daniel Piatt (who
was his Father) in the first New Jersey Regiment... in the latter part of the year
1775... [and] was marched to Brunswick upper landing - thence to Elizabethtown and
joined the Regiment, under Lord Stirling... Marched thence to New York and lay in
Barracks till the following spring opened then was ordered to March to Long Island
and from thence to Canada (the Rigement at this time was commanded by Colo.
Win's) and proceeded towards Quebeck as far as the three rivers, there had an
engagement with the British, and retreated to Ticonderoga and lay there till late in
the fall, or begining of Winter, and then returned to the state of New Jersey - directly
after my Father Capt. Danl Piatt recruited his Company again and was soon
promoted to the rank of Major in the New Jersey line - The officers was in
Pensylvania recruiting a new Company at the time Genl Washington attacked the
Hessians at Trenton - the deponent attending the rendezvous as a Musician. The
Company was marched to the Delaware to aid Genl. Washington in the battle - was
prevented crossing the river till next day after the Capture of the Hessians - from
thence was marched on to [Princeton?] - saw the dead and wounded in the collidge -
The company quartered one Winter at Elizabethtown, part of the 1st. regt. - The
deponent thinks the regt. was commanded by Colo. Matth Ogden - after that the
regiment was marched to the Westward under Genl. Sullivan - The deponent was
kiked by the horse of Colo Brearly and disenabled to continue his march with the
 regiment - The troops returned in the fall of 1779 - and went into Winter quarters at
Mendham near Morristown placed under the immediate comd. of Genl. Washington
- here the deponent joined his compy and continued with them through the Winter -
The regiment was Marched to Camptown in the summer of 1780 at the time Genl
Kniphausen marched the British army to Springfield on his way (as was supposed) to
attack Genl Washington at Morristown - was then marched to Springfield was
engaged in the battle - Young Ogden was killed a considerable number more killed
& wounded The deponent was in the house of Parson Coldwell saw his Wife a
Corps, shot by the British - at Springfield - Was taken a prisoner at pluckemin by the
British and released afterwards being a Youth..."
William Radley [Wradley], fife, 3rd New Jersey - 62 years old in 1820 (21 years in
1779)
James Rodgers, fife, 1st New Jersey - 55 years old in 1819 (14 years in 1778)
David Rogers [Rodgers], fife, 4th and 3rd New Jersey - born in 1760 (17 years old in
1777)
Joseph Squire, drum, Spencer's Additional Regiment - 58 years old in 1820 (17 years in
1779) (Enlisted in Captain Pierson's Company in 1777 as a private and did not serve
as a musician until April 1779.)
John Sithens, fife, 2nd New Jersey - 69 years old in 1828 (18 years in 1777)
He "inlisted on the 17 January in the year 1777 under Captain Cuming at Bridgton
Cumberland County New Jersey & Marched from thence to Burlington from thence
to Princeton & from thence to the short hills after which he joined the Main Army...
& was in the battles at short hills Brandywine Monmouth & Springfield & with the
Indians at Shemung at James Town in Virginia and at the taking of Corn Wallace..."
He received the "Badge of Merit for seven years of Service" and was discharged
June 5, 1783.
William Stives, fife, 3rd New Jersey - 60 years old in 1820 (18 years in 1778)
Aaron Thompson, fife, 3rd New Jersey
Mr. Crane "...had heard him [Thompson], often say so, and mention, the fact of his,
having mutilated his fife in order to prevent its being stolen and that he might
preserve it, as a relic, of his services in that Struggle. That the Deponent has since his
death, seen his tombstone over his Grave at... Connecticut Farms", New Jersey.
James Whitehead, 1st New Jersey - 57 years old in 1820 (15 years in 1778)
Jacob Woole [Woolley], drum, 1st New Jersey - born in 1762 (16 years in 1778)
William Weston, fife, 1st New Jersey - born in 1761 (17 years in1778)
James Wygan [Wygant or Wagon], fife, 2nd New Jersey - 53 years old in 1818 (15
years in 1780)
Drummer accompanying artillery crew, Fort Ticonderoga, New York.
___________

Artillery on the retreat, Fort Ticonderoga.

________________
 II. Colonel John Lamb's
2nd Continental Artillery Regiment

55 musicians were examined with information being found for 13 (24 percent).
15 musicians total: Average age of grand total - 17 years
Average age for fifers - 16 years not including fife major
17 years including fife major
Average age for drummers - 17 years

Lamb's Artillery Statistics

Number of Men Age at Time of Initial Service
Drummers - Total: 4 (5) 1 10 years
1 16 years
1 18 years
1 23 years

Fifer and Drummer - Total: 1 1 18 years when fifer in 1778

19 years when drummer in 1779

Fifers - Total: 7 (9) 1 11 years

3 14 years
1 16 years
1 20 years
1 21 years
Fifer & Fife Major: 1 19 years when fifer in 1777
24 years when fife major in 1782

Elias Brown, fifer 1777, fife major 1782 - 62 years old in 1820 (19 years in 1777) (fife
major, 24 years in 1782) first enlisted in 1777 in 5th Connecticut Regt.
William DeMott, fife - 51 years old in 1820 (11 years in 1780)
Joseph Gallaspy (Gillespie), fife - born in 1760 (21 years in 1781) killed in battle near
Lewiston, New York in 1813.
Arthur Gillass (Gillis), drum - 64 years old in 1818 (23 years in 1777)
Peter Gross, fife - 57 years old in 1818 (20 years in 1781)
Joseph Lummis, drum, Lambs Artillery Regiment - 59 years old in 1818 (18 years in
1777) He "enlisted... in the Company commanded by Captain Dayton (who then
Commanded an Independent Company of Artillery) to serve as a Drummer for three
years in the Month of May 1777 he Joined the Army at Middlebrook, and... was
detatched to the Pennsylvania line and served at the right wing of that division
[Commanded by General Wayne], Captain Dayton resigned [and then Captain Bond
Carnes Commanded a short time] and Captain Randal Commanded the Company,
this Deponent was in the battle of Brandywine, Germantown and Pialy [i.e., Paoli,
 under the Command of Captain Randal], took winter quarters at Valley forge and in
the Spring of 1778 was detatched to the New Jersey troops under the Command of
General Maxfield [and was with him at the battle of Monmouth] served in the Jersey
line the Campaign of 1778 and took Winter quarters at Elizabeth town, and in the
Spring 1779 the Company was sent to Eastown with the pieces taken at Saratoga
where they remained until General Sullivan returned from after the Indians, then the
Company returned to Morristown to Winter quarters [and there joined the Second
Regiment of Artillery... Commanded by Colonel Stephens], in the Spring of 1780 the
Company [with a detatchment of Artillery from the Second Regiment] was sent to
Springfield, where this deponent Continued until his time of Service Expired, at
which time the Company was Commanded [by] Captain [Isaiah] Wool [of New
York]..."
Deposition by Joseph Bloomfield in 1820: "In 1776 two Companies of
Artillery were raised in New Jersey for one Year & afterwards the Officers
Commissioned for the War. the Company in West Jersey, was Commanded by
Hugg-Westcoat & Dayton - and arranged as one of the Companys of Lambs Artillery
& in 1778 Attached to the Jersey Brigade with two field Pieces..."
Benjamin Loring, drum - 53 years old in 1818 (16 years in 1781)
Isaac Moore, fife - 52 years old in 1818 (14 years in 1780)
James Purdy, fife and drum - 60 years old in 1820 (fife, 18 years in 1778) (dram, 19
years in 1779)
James Pembrook, drum (brother of David Pembrook, see below) missing October 6,
1777; made his escape from the enemy December 20, 1778
David Pembrook, fife - 68 years old in 1833 (14 years in 1779)
"It was on the 1st February 1779 he enlisted for during the War, as a fifer, and served
nearly two years as a Fifer... and then went into the Ranks as a private... He was in
one battle of Johnstown, where Colonel Willett commanded - When he entered the
service at West Point in 1779 his father David Pembrook, and his brother James
Pembrook, belonged to the same company in which he enlisted... during the late war
[of 1812] he served... in the 5th United States Regiment... He was wounded at Detroit
and disabled so as to be unable to labor, and is now wholly disabled..."
Benjamin Peck, drum - 53 years old in 1823 (10 years in 1780)
Joseph Ranford, fife, Walker's Co. - 57 years old in 1820 (14 years in 1777) the pension
denotes as having belonged to Crane's Artillery, Wells' Co.
Christopher Shultz (Shellts), fife - 55 years old in 1820 (16 years in 1781)
(His pension notes that he enlisted in 1777 but the rolls show that he enlisted in
January of 1781)
Robert Saunders (Sanders), fife - just enlisted in October 1778, noted as "practicing at
the [artillery] park"
Drummer Phillip Winter, Pennsylvania light infantry company, 1779.
________________
 III. 11th Pennsylvania Regiment *

Gleaned from the printed muster rolls of the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment, containing
personal information for each man. The ages are taken to be as of the date of enlistment.
The date of this return is not known though there are some indications that it was made in
1780. For statistical purposes the 1780 date for the roll is used to determine the men's age
at their time of enlistment. Due to uncertainty as to the accuracy of these rolls this data
has been evaluated separately. Additionally this information has not been included in the
table of statistics for the overall group of musicians examined.11

11th Pennsylvania Statistics

6 drum Average age - 17 years 1-11

1 - 12
1-13
1 - 14
1 - 15
1 -37

3 fife Average age - 13 years 1-11

1 - 13
1 - 16

Total average age - 16 years

Age at time of enlistment

John Brown, fife - 14 years old, enlisted in 1777 (11 years in 1777)

Thomas Cunningham, drum - 18 years old, enlisted in 1777 (15 years in 1777)

Benjamin Jeffries, drum - 15 years old, enlisted in 1777 (12 years in 1777)

Robert Hunter, drum - 40 years old, enlisted in 1777 (37 years in 1777)

Thomas Harrington, drum - 14 years old, enlisted in 1777 (11 years in 1777)

Samuel Nightlinger, drum - 16 years old, enlisted in 1777 (13 years in 1777)

James Raddock, fife - 16 years old, enlisted in 1777 (13 years in 1777)

George Shively, fife - 19 years old, enlisted in 1777 (16 years in 1777)

David Williams, drum - 17 years old, enlisted in 1777 (14 years in 1777)
 Squad drill, without arms, Fort Ticonderoga, New York.
___________________

IV. Miscellaneous Musicians

33 musicians were examined. Muster rolls for Patton's and Rawling's Additional
Regiments were examined in their entirety. The additional musicians were either taken
from partial listings or merely stumbled upon during research. Rawling's Regimental
muster rolls were examined but no information was found in the pension files or
elsewhere.

Miscellaneous Musician Statistics

14 musicians total Average age of grand total - 16 years
Average age for fifers - 15 years not including fife major
15.5 years including fife major
Average age for drummers - 16 years
 Number of Men Age at Time of Initial Service
Drummers - Total: 4 (5) 1 12 years
1 13 years
1 18 years
1 21 years

Fifer and Drummer - Total: 1 1 14 years when fifer in 1777

17 years when drummer in 1778

Fifers - Total: 6 (8) 2 13 years

2 14 years
1 17 years
1 18 years

Fifer & Fife Major 1 16 years when fifer in 1776

20 years when fife major in 1780

Patton's Regt.: Drummer 1 18 years

Fifer 1 14 years
1 17 years

4th Pennsylvania: Drummer 1 21 years

Fifer 1 13 years

10th Pennsylvania: Fifer 1 18 years

11th Pennsylvania: Drummer 1 12 years

1 13 years
Fifer & Fife Major 1 14 years when fifer in 1776
20 years fife major in 1780
Drummer and fifer 1 16 years when fifer in 1777
17 years when drummer in 1780
3rd Maryland: Fifer 1 13 years

Massachusetts: Fifer 1 14 years

Thomas Burk, fife, 10th Pennsylvania - 60 years old in 1820 (18 years old in 1778)
enlisted in 1778.12
William Darby, drum, Patton's Additional & 11th Pennsylvania - 60 years old in 1819
(18 years in 1777)
Laurence Frey [Fry], drum, Malcom's Additional & 11th Pennsylvania - 60 years old in
1825 (12 years in 1777)13
James Holmes, drum, 11th Pennsylvania - 53 years old in 1818 (13 years in 1778)
 enlisted in 1778.14
"Deponent saith that he was not in Any engagements not being permitted by his
Captain, on account of his Youth was generally ordered to the rear - was with Genl.
Sullivan up the Susquehannah as far as Tioga..."
John Hutchison, drum, 4th Pennsylvania - 63 years old in 1818 (21 years in 1776)15
Barney Johnson, fife, 3rd Maryland - 57 years old in 1820 (13 years in 1776)
Matthew Jackson, fife, 4th Massachusetts - 57 years old in 1820 (14 years in 1777)
John McElroy, fife, 11th Pennsylvania -(60 years old in 1820, [16 years in 1776, fifer]
[20 years in 1780, fife major])16 In 1776 "...he enlisted as a fifer in the sixth Penn.
Battalion for the term of one year, in Capt. James Wilsons Company of foot, in Col.
William Irvines Regiment... the said Declarant... marched to lower Canada, and was
in the battle of the Three Rivers above Quebec on the 8th. day of June 1776, and also
in several skirmishes with Indians and British. That the declarant in the latter part
of... 1776 again enlisted as a fifer with Col. Hartly of the Penna. line to serve during
the war, and served under Genl. Wayne in the years [1777 and 1778.]... [In 1779],..
served in Sullivans Campaign through the Indian Country as fifer of the 11th Regmt.
Pa. line, and then returned to Genl. Waynes command in the state of New Jersey in
[1780]... was then appointed Fife Major, and served as such in the 3rd Regiment of
the Penna. line under Col. Craigs command - and also served in part of the years
1782 & 1783 in the second Regmt. commanded by Col. Humpton... was honorably
discharged on the 2nd day of July AD. 1783..." In another deposition McElroy stated
that "As to my ocupation I have none being nearly blind by reason of my eyes being
nearly destroyed by the accidental bursting of cartriges in the year 1779 at Sunbury
Pennsylvania... N.B. I have my old Fife and knapsack yet also"
Philip Reamer [Roemer], fife and drum, Malcom's Additional & 11th Pennsylvania - 61
years old in 1824 (fife, 14 years in 1777) (drum, 17 years in 1780)17
George Reese, fife, Patton's Additional - 56 years old in 1819 (14 years in 1777)
William Reddick, fife, Patton's Additional - 58 years old in 1818 (17 years in 1777)
Jacob Wisner, fife, 4th Pennsylvania - 55 years old in 1819 (13 years in 1777)18

Acknowledgements

I wish to thank both Gary Vorwald and Thaddeus Weaver for their comments, insights
and suggestions concerning the narrative at the beginning of this study. Additionally, the
microfilm collection of pension files and muster rolls in the collections of the David
Library of the American Revolution were invaluable and necessary for the completion of
this work. Finally, special thanks go to Linnea Bass, Brigade of Guards, and Bruce
Wilson, 3rd New Jersey Regiment, for their help in transferring my writings from my
ancient computer to a format usable by the Brigade Dispatch, in a much appreciated,
albeit roundabout, manner.
 General Sources

The quotation in the title of this article is taken from the General Orders of June 4, 1777: "The
music of the army being in general very bad; it is expected, that the drum and fife Majors exert
themselves to improve it, or they will be reduced, and their extraordinary pay taken from them..."
John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript
Sources 1745-1799, vol. 8 (Washington, D.C.: G.P.O., 1933), 181-182.

Revolutionary War Rolls, National Archives Microfilm Publications, Record Group 93, M246,
Washington, 1980:
reel 55 to reel 62, muster rolls of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th New Jersey Regiments;
reels 128 and 129, Spencer's Additional Regiment;
reels 125 and 126, Malcom's Additional Regiment;
reel 126, Patton's Additional Regiment;
reel 126, Rawling's Additional Regiment;
reel 117 to Reel 120, Lamb's 2nd Continental Artillery Regiment.

Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications in the National Archives, Washington, D.C.,
1976. The actual applications and related materials may be found in National Archives Microfilm
Publication M804 (2,670 reels).

Raoul F. Camus, Military Music of the American Revolution (Chapel Hill, N.C., 1976).

Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of
the Revolution - April 1775 to December 1783 (Baltimore, 1982).

The Life and Adventures of M'D. Campbell: The Money-Maker, No publisher, no date (held in the
special collections of Rutgers University).

Samuel Dewees, A History of the Life and Services of Captain Samuel Dewees... The whole
written (in part from a manuscript in the handwriting of Captain Dewees) and compiled by John
Smith Hanna. (R. Neilson, Baltimore, 1844), 92-97, 125-126, 133-134, 138-152, enlistment and
detached service; 148, some time between late summer of 1778 and spring of 1779 Dewees was
serving as a waiter at Humpton's private residence at Somerset Courthouse in New Jersey. He
claimed that while he "homed" he "was dressed in a Fifer's regimental coat and cap, with [a]
horse or cow tail hanging thereon..."; 152-153, attack on Stony Point. Samuel Dewees' pension
file gives two different ages (57 years old in 1820 and 56 years old in 1818) for which reason he
is not included in the age statistics of this study. A brief outline of his early services according to
his memoirs is as follows: His father having been captured at Fort Washington in November of
1776 was released from prison in the beginning of 1777. Samuel Dewees was enlisted by his
father as a fifer, in the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment commanded by Colonel Richard Humpton,
being "about or turned of 15, but quite small of my age." Dewees served in the fall of 1777 in a
hospital at the "Brandywine meeting-house" (probably Birmingham Meetinghouse), at one point
under the command of Captain George Ross, Jr. of the 11th Regiment, and remained on duty with
the sick or was absent from the army until the spring of 1778. Following his return to the army at
Valley Forge be rejoined the 11th Pennsylvania, became waiter to Colonel Humpton and again
was detached from the army. In July of 1779 when he returned to his regiment he claimed to have
been "one of the musicians attached to the detachment" which attempted to attack Stony Point,
though General Anthony Wayne left "the musicians (or at least a portion of them) myself
included in the number behind him." Dewees says that this assault was not successful and he did
not take part in the later successful assault on July 16th (hereafter cited as Dewees, History of the
Life and Services of Captain Samuel Dewees).
Fifer Samuel Dewees’ memoir can be viewed at, http://www.fifemuseum.com/sammy-the-
fifer.html (Courtesy of Steve Dillon)

Notes
1. Raoul F. Camus, Military Music of the American Revolution. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of
North Carolina Press, 1976 (see pp. 99-107 for Norfolk manual and other drum commands).

Samuel Dewees, A History of the Life and Services of Captain Samuel Dewees... The whole
written (in part from a manuscript in the handwriting of Captain Dewees) and compiled by John
Smith Hanna. Baltimore: R. Neilson, 1844, 92-97, 125-126, 133-134, 138-152, 163-165, 170-
176; Dewees was a fifer in the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment.

Samuel Dewees, A History of the Life and Services of Captain Samuel Dewees... The whole
written (in part from a manuscript in the handwriting of Captain Dewees) and compiled by John
Smith Hanna. (R. Neilson, Baltimore, 1844), 92-97, 125-126, 133-134, 138-152, enlistment and
detached service; 148, some time between late summer of 1778 and spring of 1779 Dewees was
serving as a waiter at Humpton's private residence at Somerset Courthouse in New Jersey. He
claimed that while he "homed" he "was dressed in a Fifer's regimental coat and cap, with [a]
horse or cow tail hanging thereon..."; 152-153, attack on Stony Point. Samuel Dewees' pension
file gives two different ages (57 years old in 1820 and 56 years old in 1818) for which reason he
is not included in the age statistics of this study. A brief outline of his early services according to
his memoirs is as follows: His father having been captured at Fort Washington in November of
1776 was released from prison in the beginning of 1777. Samuel Dewees was enlisted by his
father as a fifer, in the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment commanded by Colonel Richard Humpton,
being "about or turned of 15, but quite small of my age." Dewees served in the fall of 1777 in a
hospital at the "Brandywine meeting-house" (probably Birmingham Meetinghouse), at one point
under the command of Captain George Ross, Jr. of the 11th Regiment, and remained on duty with
the sick or was absent from the army until the spring of 1778. Following his return to the army at
Valley Forge be rejoined the 11th Pennsylvania, became waiter to Colonel Humpton and again
was detached from the army. In July of 1779 when he returned to his regiment he claimed to have
been "one of the musicians attached to the detachment" which attempted to attack Stony Point,
though General Anthony Wayne left "the musicians (or at least a portion of them) myself
included in the number behind him." Dewees says that this assault was not successful and he did
not take part in the later successful assault on July 16th.
Fifer Samuel Dewees’ memoir can be viewed at, http://www.fifemuseum.com/sammy-the-
fifer.html (Courtesy of Steve Dillon)

John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources
1745-1799.Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1931-1944; 1, 4, 6 June 1777, 11 July
1777, v. 8 (1933), 155, 181, 185-186, 379; 16, 23 August 1777, v. 9 (1933), 79-80, 124-126; 8
February 1778, v. 10 (1933), 433-434; 9 September 1779, v. 16 (1937), 257-258.

Philip R.N. Katcher, Encyclopedia of British, Provincial, and German Army Units 1775-1783.
Harrisburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1973, 27, photo, 1st Regiment of Foot Guards musician’s coat.

John Peebles, 21 and 22 August 1780 journal entries, Papers of Lt., later Capt., John Peebles of
the 42nd. Foot ("The Black Watch"), 1776-1782; incl. 13 notebooks comprising his war journal,
Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh; Cunninghame of Thorntoun Papers (GD 21/492), book #11,
16-21.

John U. Rees, "'The Great Neglect in provideing Cloathing': Uniform Colors and Clothing in the
New Jersey Brigade During the Monmouth Campaign of 1778," Military Collector & Historian,
v. XLVI, 4. (Winter 1994), 165; v. XLVII, 1 (Spring 1995), 18 (World Wide Web),
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/neglect1.htm and
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/neglect2.htm.

John U. Rees, "'Bugle Horns', 'conk shells' and 'Signals by Drum': Miscellaneous Notes on
Instruments and Their Use During the American War for Independence," The Brigade Dispatch,
v. XXVI, no. 4 (Winter 1996), 13-15
(World Wide Web), http://revwar75.com/library/rees/buglehorns.htm

Friedrich Wilhelm de Steuben, Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United
States Part I. (Philadelphia, Pa.: Styner and Cist, 1779), 52, 64, 67-71, 90-93.

Hew Strachan, British Military Uniforms, 1768-96: The Dress of the British Army from Official
Sources. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1975, musicians’ dress and instruments, 105, 139,
154, 159-161, 204-20.

2. Robert G. Athearn, The American Heritage New Illustrated History of the United States, vol.
III, "The Revolution" (New York, 1963), 202.
3. Bennett Culhbertson, Esq. A System for the Compleat Interior Management and Oeconomy of
a Battalion of Infantry (Dublin, 1768), 12-13. Hugh Barty-King, The Drum (London, 1988),
facing page 32, painting of Lord George Lennox and the 25th Regiment in Minorca in 1771
showing adult drummer and a fifer in the early or pre-teenage years. Painting attributed to
Giuseppe Chiesa; also a discussion of British army drummer boys in the 18th century with two
examples, one Joseph Brome who entered as a drummer boy at eight years of age (date unknown)
and eventually became a lieutenant-general, and the other John Shipp who could not wait for his
eighteenth birthday when he could be raised "to the ranks." He was made a corporal immediately
and eventually received a lieutenancy in the 87th Regiment of Foot. Barty-King also states that
the normal age when boys were taken in as drummers was "between ten and twelve." According
to some inferences in this work it could be that the appellation of "drummer boy" was used for
both fifers and drummers, 72-73.
4. Samuel Dewees, A History of the Life and Services of Captain Samuel Dewees... The whole
written (in part from a manuscript in the handwriting of Captain Dewees) and compiled by John
Smith Hanna. (R. Neilson, Baltimore, 1844), 92-97, 125-126, 133-134, 138-152, enlistment and
detached service; 148, some time between late summer of 1778 and spring of 1779 Dewees was
serving as a waiter at Humpton's private residence at Somerset Courthouse in New Jersey. He
claimed that while he "homed" he "was dressed in a Fifer's regimental coat and cap, with [a]
horse or cow tail hanging thereon..."; 152-153, attack on Stony Point. Samuel Dewees' pension
file gives two different ages (57 years old in 1820 and 56 years old in 1818) for which reason he
is not included in the age statistics of this study. A brief outline of his early services according to
his memoirs is as follows: His father having been captured at Fort Washington in November of
1776 was released from prison in the beginning of 1777. Samuel Dewees was enlisted by his
father as a fifer, in the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment commanded by Colonel Richard Humpton,
being "about or turned of 15, but quite small of my age." Dewees served in the fall of 1777 in a
hospital at the "Brandywine meeting-house" (probably Birmingham Meetinghouse), at one point
under the command of Captain George Ross, Jr. of the 11th Regiment, and remained on duty with
the sick or was absent from the army until the spring of 1778. Following his return to the army at
Valley Forge be rejoined the 11th Pennsylvania, became waiter to Colonel Humpton and again
was detached from the army. In July of 1779 when he returned to his regiment he claimed to have
been "one of the musicians attached to the detachment" which attempted to attack Stony Point,
though General Anthony Wayne left "the musicians (or at least a portion of them) myself
included in the number behind him." Dewees says that this assault was not successful and he did
not take part in the later successful assault on July 16th (hereafter cited as Dewees, History of the
Life and Services of Captain Samuel Dewees).
Nigel Reed, "The Voice of Experience." This is an excellent article containing extracts from the
memoirs of Samuel Dewees (a fifer in the Pennsylvania Line) with an intelligent discussion of
their content.
5. Men in this study who played both the fife and drum during their service: John Scrouse,
Robert Jeff, and James Purdy, Lamb's Artillery; William Walker, 1st New Jersey; David Jacobs,
Malcom's Additional Regiment; James Kirkpatrick, 3rd New Jersey; Philip Reamer [Roemer],
Malcom's Additional and 11th Pennsylvania
6. Robert K. Wright, The Continental Army (Washington, D.C., 1983), contains a detailed
narrative of organizational changes in the Continental Army.
7. General Orders, 22 January 1782 and Washington to William Heath, 22 January1782, John C.
Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources 1745-
1799, vol. 23 (Washington, D.C., 1937), 456-457, 457-458.
8. Lt. Colonel Tobias Fernald to Maj. Gen. William Heath, April 1782, William Heath Collection,
Massachusetts Historical Society, vol. 24, item 285, published in The Express (Quarterly
Publication of the Brigade of the American Revolution), vol. X, no. III (Winter 1990), Drummer's
Call, submitted by Henry Cooke, 2.
9. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Boston, 1898), 694, George
Derecoat; 800, Samuel Collamore, fifer, Col. Tupper's 10th Regt., service from 1 Jan. 1782,
reported appointed drummer 31 March1782.
10. Dewees, History of the Life and Services of Captain Samuel Dewees, 331.
11.Thomas Lynch Montgomery, ed., Pennsylvania Archives, series 5, vol. III
(Harrisburg, 1906,) 644-662.)
12.Ibid., series II, vol. XV, list of Pennsylvania Pensioners of the Revolution, 1820.
13. Ibid., series 5, vol. III, 644-662.
14. Ibid., series II, vol. XV, 683-741, list of Pennsylvania Pensioners of the Revolution,
1820. Ibid., series 5, vol. III, 644-662.
15. Ibid., series II, vol. XV, 683-741, list of Pennsylvania Pensioners of the Revolution,
1820.
16. Ibid., series 5, vol. III, 644-662.
17. Ibid., series 5, vol. III, 644 to 662.
18. Ibid., series II, volume XV, 683-741, list of Pennsylvania Pensioners of the
Revolution, 1820.