Omaha daily bee., 1914-05-02
WANING TATTOO OF THE DRUM
Held Front Rank In Romance of
War, Now Thing of the
Past.

The drums and drummer boys who for
so many campaigns were the objects OF
30 much sentiment are gone. Where not
so many years ago the rattling snare
drums sounded tho retreats and the
charges. now the bugle, with it's more
penetrating and commanding voice, rules
the field. As battles became larger and
wider in their scope. It was found that
drums could not be heard above the roar
Of the battle TO any distance. and conse-
quently they were done away with.
The little drummer boy was the most
touching figure in the wars in which he
took part. Chosen for his diminutive
size, he frequently was of tender years,
and always in the fiction Of war times he
was pictured as a sweet-faced cherub.
wounded terribly, but beating the charge
60 the last. While this aspect of the APP
peal to sentiment became 80 common as
to appear ridiculous, II originally sprang
from a true premise. The little drummer
boys, almost without exception, were
brave little fellows. Many a gallant youth
did give his life and many heroic deed
was performed by the little salamanders.
They were the favorites of the men and
good for them, and on wet or cold nights
thCY never suffered for warmth. II they
sank TO sleep unblanketed, some power
fui trooper was sure to spread over them
his own covering
The most thrilling tales OF the little
drummers come from Napoleon's cam
palgns.
on the retreat from Russia. when grown
men died by the hundreds from the raw
ages OF the cold and CossaclSs a goodly
number OF drums were strung back along
the grewsome path OF the fleeing French
men. In the rear guard. which was COM
manded by the gallant Marshal Ney, was
a clipper drummer boy OF about 12 years
The constant fighting and burden Of keep
ing the human wolves Oft the rear of the
army was terrific, and only the inspired
drumming OF the boy and his childish
Long live Francer saved them from
suocumbing time after time During
brave stand. or when Ney halted his men
and turned back upon their annoyers,
young France would sound the charge
with such a shattering roll of enthusiasm
that the grenadlers waded back through
the snow and scattered the Cossaoks like
the main body. some stalwart would
throw the boy astride OF his shoulders
and bear him off the field. From this
point OF vantage the drummer would beat
tho retreat and shout back seurrilous
street gamin epltbets at the "pig-headed"
Russians. When they came to a river no
was not at loss for crossing. Simply
mounting his drum and padding. he went
across in comfort.
French archives are full OF such hero
ism. and the drummer boys became the
most popular and feted members OF the
French army barring. OF course, the
marshals.
The civll war too. saw the drummer
boy. but he was passing. Toward the last
OF the conflict he had begun to go out.
The bugie, while not so thrilling, did the
business better and so the boy heroes
had TO 80.
! Men who have marched and charged to
| the cheering music of brass bands and
20 the silver notes OF the bugle say that
nothing can touch for inspiration the ii
time drum. They say that when the
rhythm. the volume and thrill OF the
rattllng whaeks once permeates the blood
OF soldiers they are practically invinci-
BILE and that with such martial incentive
TO inspirit them they would walk straight
into the mouths OF the guns oblivious 10
danger and thinking only OF the cheer
ing drums at their sides.
l In the survival of the fittest the drums
bad 20 go. II could not be helped but
no lover Of true romance and sentiment
in war no admirer of the thrilling heroic
side. can but regret that the drums are
no ore.--Phnadelphia North American