The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-05-25
HISTORIC DRUM.sTICKs.
BY JOHN W. COCHRAN.


desire to give to the public through
the columns of the P0tdris an article
containing the history of two little
has an interest. AS people read this
historic scrap--especially the men,
women and children of fAmerica-they
will recall the eventful days of this
great republic, and will be carried
back to the first gun fired in the cause
of independence. AS Iheld these sticks
in my hand recently, ! heard the
tramp of the gallant ranks that lis
tened to their drum-beat more than a
century ago, and remembering that
they have followed the fortunes ofthis
great republic through all its eventful
history since, felt that ! should un-
cover in their presence.
They are at present in the possess
sion of Gen. Henry A. Morrow, the
colonel of the 2lst U. S. Infantry, now
commanding Vancouver Barracks.
They were found on the
Battlefield OF SARATOGA,
or at Bemis Heights, Oct. 7th, l777, by
the side of dead British drummer.
They were picked up by Lieut.. Chase
of Morgan's famous South Carolina
rifles, and were presented by him to
James Parker, drummer in Chase's
company.
Parker used them until the close of
the Revolutionary War and presented
them to his nephew, James Culver,
from whom they passed to his son,
David Culver, drummer in the war
of 1872. Culver used them at Niagara,
Lundy's Lane, and elsewhere in the
campaigns of the "Second war of In
dependence" and transferred them to
his son, James, who was drummer in
the American army in its war with
Mexico 1868, and by him they were
used i'm the campaign from Vera
Cruz to the city of Mexico.
In August 1852, James presented
them to his cousin, A. b. Culver, who
was drummer in the band of the oath
Michigan Volunteer Infantry during
the last war, of which Gen. Morrow
was Colonel. A. Ii. Culver used them
from the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec
18th, 1867, to the close 6ftiiec1n PAL gn
which terminated in the terrible con-
fict at Gettysburg. In the fall of 1868,
Culver presented these precious relics
to Col. Morrow, their present owner.
1t is worthy of note that their last
war-ssrvice was in that grandest of all
grand reviews of the the Union armies
In the city of Washington, 1855, at
the close Of the Rebellion, when they
were used in the band of the re-
nowned
| IRON BRIGADE
OF which Gen. Morrow was then COM
mander. What history! Engrave
IL in marble! These drum-sticks are
older than the government of the
United States. They have sounded
the reveille and the advance for four
generations of American soldiers!
What their history was in the Brit
ish army before the battle of Bemis
Heights, where they fell into the pos
session OF the Americans, we have no
means of determining with any de-
gree of accuracy, but as the troops for
Burgoyne's campaign down the Hud-
son were sent out from England, and
had not before taken part in the
American struggle, it is quite certain
that these drum-sticks made their first
appearance in American history at
Saratoga. But they may have been
with Marlborough at Malplaquet and
Oudeharde, or with Charles Edward
at Culloden, where he-the last of the
Stewarts-contended for the crown OF
England. Their American history is
plain. They have played conspicu-
Gus part in our national drama from
its birth. They connect the admins
tratfon Of Washington with the ad-
ministration of Arthur. II they could
speak, what might they not tell us OF
courage and suffering and blood and
death, and OF unwritten deeds Of hero
ism during the ope hundred years oi
their eventful history.
From a nati0H of three millions Of
people these old sticks have survived
by our side until we have grown to a
nation of Gffy millions; from belt Of
land along the Atlantic sea- bard when
they were first used, our national do
main has extended until It Is now
washed by the waves Of two oceans.
When they began their march the
army which they followed was mere
handful Of poorly paid, poorly clad,
poorly disciplined soldiers; the army
for the suppression Of the rebellion, In
which they played their last part,
numbered one million men. Marvel
Gus change! Scott heard them In
1914. aud after the lapse OF more than
thirty years they saluted his ears
again when he marched at the head
OF his triumphant army into the old
CITY OF THE AzrEcs.
eyes, sir" said Gen. Morrow, with
emotion when speaking OF them, "they
have been the witnesses OF many Z
Il A. - Il Il.