Bands and Music

Please note that this page is still under construction. Currently it is just a collection of notes and various quotes. As my schedule allows, I will turn this into a more coherent narrative. Please be patient.

Band of the 24th Michigan -- Note Willy Young seated on the drum.
Photo Courtesy David Finney, Used With Permission

The back of this photograph indicated that it was taken at Rappahannock Station. The photograph must have been taken between August 7 and September 16, 1863, possibly in conjunction with the August 29th anniversary of the regiment's departure from Detroit in 1862. The standing figure on the right is probably Colonel Morrow. The other standing adult is probably the Principal Musician, either Demain Wheelhouse or Arthur S. Congdon, depending on exactly when the photograph was taken. Willy Young is standing between the adults. Also notice the tents of Camp Merritt in the background.
Photo Courtesy David Finney, Used With Permission, The original image is quite fuzzy, although the author's lack of photographic skills may have contributed to the poor quality of this image.

In a letter dated October 17, 1862, Lucius Shattuck indicated that the 24th had both Concert (brass) and Martial (fife and drum) bands. He also mentions that the song "The Mocking Bird" was in their repertoire. In a letter dated October 31, 1862, Shattuck also mentions that the band knew "Hail Columbia" and the Star Spangled Banner".

There was an original "song" written about the Iron Brigade.... "There was also the song that the 6th Wisconsin's Lloyd Harris had commissioned from a Milwaukee music publisher, 'The Iron Brigade Quickstep.' It had been completed, and hundreds of copies of the sheet music--subscribed to at 50 cents a piece-- were distributed. While the music minded Harris had good intentions, the resulting creation by a famous Milwaukee music publisher was less than desired; even Colonel Dawes remembered its lack of artfulness when he wrote his memoirs 25 years later." (Beaudot and Herdegen, p. 118)

The Iron Brigade regimental bands were disbanded November 30, 1861, as a result of general order 91. Most band members were mustered out, but the "best" members were retained by General Gibbon and formed the Brigade Band. Since the 24th Michigan joined later, it kept its regimental band until May 20, 1864. Some may have been transferred into the Brigade Band. Most were reassigned as regular soldiers (to serve as replacements). The Iron Brigade band, minus any members belonging to the 24th, marched in the grand review in 1865.

In 1883, writing about the march to Gettysburg on July 1st, Sullivan states:

(Beaudot and Herdegen, p. 93-94)

[Tommy] Flynn of Co. K, [6th Wisconsin] winding up with Paddy's Wedding, which made enough music for one day."

"Gettysburg came in sight, and our lads straightened up to pass through in good style, and the brigade band struck up the "Red, White, and Blue" when all at once hell broke loose"

"The band swung out to one side and began 'Yankee Doodle' in double quick time."