Stevens Snare Drum
date: label: date made
content: 1812
name: label: maker
content: Stevens, Abner
notes: label: Description
content: <p>This drum was made by Abner Stevens in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1812. The wood drum shell has been cut down approximately 3 inches from each end and features an image of the American bald eagle on a flag shield with a banner inscribed “LIBERTY OR DEATH.” It has black painted hoops and metal hooks laced with rope through leather ears, used to tighten the hoops. The drum is currently disassembled. The paper label inside the shell is inscribed:</p>
label: Description
content: <p>AMERICAN DRUMS<br>ABNE[R] [S]TEVENS, <br>HA[S] FOR SALE<br>TAMBOREANS, BASS & COM[ ]<br>DRUMS,<br>MADE IN THE BEST MANNER<br>At his Factory in the center of the town of<br>PITTSFIELD, (Ms.) 1812.</p>
label: Description
content: </p>The donor provided the following information:</p>
label: Description
content: <p>”This drum was carried during five years of the Civil War by Henry K. Bevier, father of donor, who was drum major of the 72d New York Zuaves. He carried the drum through many engagements of the Civil War including the Battle of Gettysburg and also in the Victory Parade held in Washington, D. C. at the close of the War. The family tradition is that this drum was originally purchased by his grandfather who carried it during the War of 1812.”</p>
label: Description
content: <p>”Henry K. Bevier was born on December 1, 1843 at Jerusalem in Erie County/New York, the son of Samuel and Rhoda Taylor. On August 5, 1869, he married Mary M. Taylor and in 1873 settled in Elisabethtown, Bartholemew County, Indiana. He later moved to Nebraska and was at the time of his death in his 90's the oldest surviving Civil War veteran in Nebraska."</p>
label: Description
content: <p>”Some time after the Civil War, Bevier cut three inches off the top of the drum body and three inches off its bottom and made a new drum which he gave to one son. The remaining center portion, was made into another drum and given to another son, which is the drum donated to the museum.”</p>
label: Description
content: <p>Henry K. Bevier (1843-1938 ) [recorded in roster as Brevier] enlisted on May 28, 1861. He was a musician with the 72nd New York Infantry, Company D. He was mustered in June 20, 1861. Bevier was mustered out June 19, 1864.</p>
place: label: place made
content: United States: Massachusetts, Pittsfield
setName: label: See more items in
content: Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
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content: Music & Musical Instruments
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content: Percussion
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content: Military
label: Exhibition
content: 2W Gateway
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of E. B. Bevier
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MI.066621
label: accession number
content: 232886
label: catalog number
content: 66621
objectType: label: Object Name
content: drum
label: Other Terms
content: Drum; Army
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: paint (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 11 in x 17 in x 17 in; 27.94 cm x 43.18 cm x 43.18 cm