Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-01-07
VETERAN rRoMsoNg pLAYEa.
Harry Howe Of srattleporo. Native
and Former Resident q Bethel.

Harry Rowe, an old resident oi that
place.
Experiences which have rarely fallen to
the lot Of an ordinary man, either AZ +
home or on the battlefield, have been /
those Of Harry Rowe, probably the old
est musician In the state OF Vermont, and /
a man who has seen active service ID i
different musical organizations IN this
section OF the country for AZ years.
Mr.. Rowe was born in Bethel, Vt. In
1886, and the greater part Of his early |
life was spent in that place. He began 20
learn his trade, that Of tlnsmith and
plumber, when q young man. and previ-
oua to the Civil war was engaged In the |
pursuit OF his trade in that place. When
the Bethel brass band was organized In
1858, Mr.. Rowe began 10 take an interest
In things musical, and in that gear took
bis Grst lesson on q trombone. Through
careful study and long hours Of practis-
ing he was soon able TO play the inEtru-
ment. Shortly afterward be Joined tbs
band which was then an infant crganiza-
ton. Under the leadership Of Ai0nzo
Bond OF Boston, at that time one OF the
best known musicians ana band masters
In this section Of the country, the Bethel
band became one Of the best known n
this state. Altar Mr.. Bond ralinquished
bis duties as leader, his place was taken
BY Solomon r. Merrill OF Bellows Falls,
who. in turn, vas succeeded by Osceoia
whiftimors Of Boston, far famed rs one
OF the finest clarinet players In New Eng
land ct that time.
Mr.. Rowe also played in the Randolph
and Woodstock hands, the latter under
the leadership OF Charles ~. Cobb. Pre-
vious to the outbreak Of the war Of the
rebellion. Mr.. Rowe played at oid-time
political rallies and was in attendance at
9 state muster IN Montpelier in 1850. His
"reminiscences of the old-time campaigns
when hot-headed partisans OF both par
ties would stop at nothing to achieve
their ends are amusing as well Is instruc-
tive.
When the news of the firing on Sumter
came and the call TO arms was issued BY
President Lincoln, Mr.. Rowe was q men,
Der Of the Bethel band. Its former lead
er, Solomon F. Merrill, was organizing =
band for service at the front, and know
ing Mr.. Rowe's excellence as q musician,
he was one of the first men to whom the
organizer turned for assistance.
Through his efforts in the town Of
Bethel, DIR. Rowe induced three Of his
musical associates to enlist in the 4th
Vermont regiment band. They were
among the FIRST troops modified at
Washington under General Mcclellan.
and the first months OF weary waiting at
the capital were spent in drilling.
Mr.. Rowe says that the food aarved to
them in those first few months was Of the
poorest quality imaginable, bat that on
the whole the rest of the work was Meth
! er tedious nor hard. On March 10, 1852.
J the regiment took ils frst march.
Starting out after . review by the COM
, mander and stan officers It made its way
| Tor Eve miles down Pennsylvania avenue
to Georgetown, and all along the route
the band played necessarily, never even
stopping to change pieces, simply strik-
ing from one into another. This was By
order OF the colonel who demanded that
ssthe boys be given music to start them
cheerfully on their way.
Once Georgetown was reached, the
. players were allowed a rest, and hers
their first camp was established. when
! the band cook taken out from Wishing.
tom desired to leave, Mr.. Rowe took hia
place and acted in the capacity for some
, time The only campaign in which be
J served was that on the peninsula. Hers
be advanced with the troops until within
four miles Of the city Of Richmond, and
he states that the bells of the city could
!, be plainly heard by the Union soldiers in
camp but q short distance away from the
Confederate capital. At the hattie ol
Lees Mills, Mr.. Rowe and the rest OF the
band members were called into aervice
for the hrst time and, acting in coniunc-
ton with the hospital corps, assisted 10
removing wounded soldiers from the bat.
tie field to the hospitals in the rear. When
the retreat was ordered after the failure
: OF Mcclellan to take Richmond, the 4th
Vermont was q part OF the rear guard OF
the army OF the Potomac. The broad
front and rear presented by the Union
! army was harassed at every step By tbs
{ sharpshooters Of the Confederate army,
and many were the stragglers who were
, picked on by the long-Fange riflemen hid.
: den in the thick foliage.
When passing through White Oak
swamp well on the way towards Harrison's
Landing, the Union army walked into a
trap which had been set by the Confeder-
ates. Here they had planted q masked
battery and as the Union column swept
into the open area, the rebs opened fire,
killing many men and wounding others.
The four batteries with the brigade
with which Mr.. Rowe was stationed were
wheeled into position and q hot fire was
opened on the Confederates, finally 81.
. lencing their batteries. In this engage.
ment, at the first FIRE, Mr.. Rowe was
1 marching IN his place In the bandsmen'I
ranks when q solid shot struck bis from.
bone and tore It out OF his hands. An
other member was sitting on a cracker
box when q shell passed beneath, taking
the box from under him and leaving the
: astonished musician seated on ths
ground. The men sought shelter in q
. strip OF woodland, but Mr.. Rowe nevel
> recovered the trombone.
: At Lees Mills, while taking care Of hs
+ wounded soldiers, be and q companion
Z were knocked down BY the conclusion oil
{. q rebel she'll which burst few feet II
; front of them. but they wsrs uniniured
Mr.. Rowe took care Of Col. Pingree Of ths
80 Vermont, afterwards governor of Yer
mont, when the latter was wounded
e When the regiment reached Harrisonis
e Landing after the MEMORIALS retreat from
L Richmond, the bands were mustered oui