The National tribune., 1906-08-09
National Association of Civil War Mu.
sicians.

Edito: National Tribune: 1t may be
| matter of agreeable information to
old soldiers. and especially so to those
who liked to march in those memorable
| days to the music of the fife and drum,
| to know that a great band has been
formed out of surviving drummers, fif-
| ers and buglers who served in the Union
army during the war of the rebellion,
| and who are now members in good
standing in the Grand Army of the Re-
| public. It has been a great task by
reason of the novelty of the undertake
ing. the lapse of years since the boys
put away their physical" instruments
and their unknown whereabouts since
| the war. But through judicious and
persistent effort the organization has
| been held together and built up, and
| no one has been more faithful than
our enthusiastic Major. Joseph n. Bo-
| gart. of Plainfield. n. j., Secretary and
Treasurer of the Association. Comrade
| Joe" is as Jealous and enthusiastic as
he was in the days Of '61. and he doesn't
| seem much older than he was then.
| But many of them have been gath
| cred in and "corralled." At several of
the Natioral Encampments this unique
| organization, which Is known as THE
| National Association of Civil War Mu-
sicians," has led in the great parades
through applauding hosts of onlookerS.
| The writer is a member of this "Old
Drum Corps" and knows personally of
these things. Our music is free. 1t is
| of the same kind as that which rested
the weary body of the marcher and in
spired his soul with patriotic endurance.
We played the same tunes that caused
| the boys of 81 to rally with loyal man.
hood around "Old Glory" Though SUBJ
dued, perhaps. by long years of peace
fui memory, yet we play the grand old
tunes that never knew defeat. The old
veterans love our music. No ragtime;
nothing sensational or fantastic for
them.
During all these tranquil years of pip
| ing peace the old soldier has longed for
''The Girl Left Behind Me-" when
Johnny Comes Marching Home" and
| that exciting and soul-stirring squirt OF
patriotic impulse, 1.-THE Jaybird." We
have not forgotten these martial airs
and we will play them till the rear
| guard, weary and footsore, files out
upon the grassy slope for the final
bivouac.
The Departments. led by Ohio and
New York. are beginning to recognize
| us officially. This insures for US mer.
| tied permanent recognition. At the
/ National Encampment this month We
expect 20 be present 900 strong, al
neatly attired in the Grand Army uni
form. from the first day In the morn
ing to the last day in the evening the
| "boys' will be on duty with shrill flies
and rattling drums and the brazen bu'
gle call. We are at the service Of ouI
| comrades, without price, and we expect
| their moral support at all times. We
| cannot blow and rattle as long as we
once could, but we can do so as Ions
as our comrades can. follow. They must
remember that 1--WE are the boys tha
fear no noise, although we're far from
home"
We hope to have many new re-
cruits" at Minneapolis. A whole flool
Of the Jefferson School Building in thai
city has been set apart for our use a.
the Encampment. and it has been wei
supplied with cots, etc, for our com
fort.
Listen to the music OF the CHEEKY fife
And the merry rattle of the tenor
| drum"
John r. weathers, Musician. 4stf
and 144th Ind.