Fife and Drum Played by...Indians?

And you thought you had heard everything. I came across this reference while reading the book, My Father, Daniel Boone: The Draper Interviews with Nathan Boone. As the title says, it is a series of interviews with the son of Daniel Boone, Nathan Boone, and in the section on the War of 1812, Nathan (who was an officer of the Missouri Rangers during the war) makes an interesting comment during his description of the Battle of the Sinkhole (1815, Fort Howard, near present day Old Monroe, MO) which says that the Indians played fife and drum!

"Soon after [Captain] Musick's arrival, the Indians broke up. One half of them retreated, while the other half took a post in a large sinkhole about fifty or sixty feet in diameter and some ten or twelve feet deep. Where a lower strata of rocks appeared, there was a cave....Captain Musick ordered his men to surround the sinkhole; however, to his surprise, he discovered the Indians were quite secure there and could fire on him with little or no exposure. He tried cannon fire but with no effect. Then a moving battery was prepared, placed on the foreweels of a wagon, and pushed up to fire through portholes in the battery. When the Indians fired at the portholes, Lieutenant Spears and one or two others were killed and some wounded. Some were shot in the legs, which were exposed by the opening beneath the battery. The Indians took refuge in the cave where they had a drum and fife. They kept playing and shooting. This continued till dusk...all the Indians departed. About seven or eight Indians were found dead on the battle ground and in the sinkhole, but about twelve white soldiers were killed or wounded. This was called the Battle of the Sinkhole." (emphasis added)

It was found out later that this party of Indians was led by none other then Black Hawk (who played an important part in the later Blackhawk War). This was one of the last battles of the War of 1812.

I do not know how to explain how the Indians learned to play fife and drum. Perhaps they learned from the British/Canadians that they were supported by. Perhaps these were stolen fifes/drums from American soldiers. I wonder what music they played. Whatever the case, it is an intriguing incident, and shows something of the commonality of the fife and drum in those days.

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

Fife and Drum in the Bible

The fife and drum stand in a long tradition of loud instruments have been used to signal, especially for military functions. In the Bible, while they didn't have fife and drum, silver trumpets were specially made for this same purpose. It is easy to see the same Puritans who used the drum to call the people to church and to war finding these verses and making the connection.

Here in Numbers 10:1-10 we see various signals used. There are different calls for assembling the congregation, or for assembling the rulers. There were different calls to be used to move camp. It was used in a certain way in battle, and it was used in the feasts and thanksgivings, to mark the months and the different sacrifices and offerings. The priests were given the duty of blowing the trumpets. Here are the verses:

"The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the LORD your God.'" (Numbers 10:1-10 ESV)

The Bible also mentions using trumpets when the Israelites marched around Jericho (Joshua 6:20), when Gideon fought against the Midianite invaders (Judges 7), when Jehoiada the priest resisted the usurper Athaliah by placing the rightful king, King Joash, on the throne (2 Kings 11:13-14, that's a great story by the way), and in several other places. In 1 Corinthians 14:8 it uses the illustration, "And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?"


It's really amazing how similar this is to the way the fife and drum have been used. What we do when we play our music is not a recent invention, nor is it something that has been regarded as extra. To play the fife and drum, like playing the silver trumpets, is to move the hearts and actions of man and to send a cry to God. This had been something reserved to the descendants of Aaron, but now we have the honor to carry on this tradition.

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

The WPFDC at the Olde Country Christmas

It was a fun and definitely a small town event. It started with a children's parade, we played off and on for a bit, and it ended with a tree lighting (for which John played the drum roll). It was 19 degrees Fahrenheit, and snowing lightly with very little or no wind, which meant that it was very pretty, but so cold that after the short parade us fifers could not feel the holes on the fife (so it might not have been our sharpest performance, but that was ok).

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

The WPFDC's Veteran Day Event

Sorry, I'm a little behind in posting, but here is a video of us playing for the Elbert County Conservative Breakfast. As it was the 12th of November (the day after Veterans' Day) it had a Veterans' Day theme which we fit in with well (its not very often that you get "veterans" from the War of 1812 to come to your event!)

Again we had our newest member Caleb play with us in the 30 min. that we played outside the door, but for the marching part it was just us three.

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

Bicentennial of the Battle of Tippecanoe, Part 2

For the event we went with the Illinois Territorial Rangers that we had reenacted with before. We left Hill's Fort (in Illinois) with them on Friday and arrived before sunset, and were able to get out camp set up. During the event we portrayed Bigger's Company of Indiana Militia (which would later become Indiana Rangers), and camped on the exact ground that they camped on. The whole army of reenactors camped in the same formation as the original army, on the same ground that they did. It looked just like the map that I posted two posts down. Due to the rules of the park and other circumstances we didn't actually have a battle, but it felt pretty realistic anyhow.

Each morning we, the consolidated field music, which included us three and five others, played reveille at 6:30 (in the dark). The first morning we marched a mile and a half to camp and played opening colors. Throughout the day we interacted with visitors, visited the rest of camp and the museum, and drilled. We then also played for closing colors both nights (the second night there was only one other musician left to play with us, but by then we had gotten the hang of things). We were treated to a wonderful meal Saturday night by the locals.

One thing that added to the realistic atmosphere of the encampment was the threat of an Indian attack. You see, some radical Indian groups and collage liberals from Lafayette had threatened to disrupt and cause damage to the reenactment because they deemed it too favorable to the Americans. Though nothing came of it, we did have to post guards all night to protect camp, with passwords and everything. I got the 4:20 to 6:30 shift (that way I was up for reveille already). It was especially and neat experience as the Indians had attack from about 4:20 to 6:30 and the first shots were fired in the area I patrolled.

So in summery, we got to use the duty music we had been learning, we got to experience the well done recreation and commemoration of the battle of Tippecanoe, we had a great Captain, Major, and Colonel, got to see many friends at the event (and on the way), got several books from the museum store, and learned to appreciate the men that went before us the formation of our country.

 Consolidated Fifes and Drums

After playing reveille, around the warm fire

(We have missed open outside fires, can't do many out in Colorado because of fire hazard)

The Illinois Territorial Rangers

The WPFDC (with our new hats)

In front of the monument

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

Bicentennial of the Battle of Tippecanoe, Part 1

Here are some pictures and video that we took at the event to give you an idea of what we did. Hopefully I will have enough time to give a fuller update on the event, but for now enjoy the presentation.

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

...I saw the Indians charging our lines...

Before sunrise (about 4 a.m.) on 7 November, 1811, Isaac Taylor, a volunteer militia rifleman, woke up in a drizzling rain to fight for his life. Today, so are we. Here is his account:

"In a few moments I heard the crack of rifle fire....I had just time to thing that some sentinel was alarmed and had fired his rifle without cause, when I heard the crack of another rifle, followed by an awful Indian yell all around the encampment. In less than a minute I saw the Indians charging our lines most furiously and shooting a great many rifle balls into our camp fires, throwing the live coals into the air three feet high. At this moment my friend Warnock was shot by a rifle ball through his body. He ran a few yards and fell dead on the ground. Our lines were broken and a few Indians were found on the inside of the encampment. In a few moments they were killed...

"The sentinels, closely pursued by the Indians, came to the lines of encampment in haste and confusion. Daniel Pettit was pursued so closely and furiously by an Indian...that to save his life he cocked his rifle as he ran and turning suddenly around, placed the muzzle of his gun against the body of the Indian and shot an ounce ball through him. The Indians made four or five most fierce charges on our lines, yelling and screaming as they advanced, shooting balls and arrows into our ranks. At each charge they were driven back in confusion, carrying off their dead and wounded as they retreated.

"Colonel Owen...one of General Harrison's volunteer aides, fell early in action by the side of the General....Colonel Davis was mortally wounded early in the battle, gallantly charging the Indians on foot with his sword and pistols....Just after daylight the Indians retreated across the prairie towards their town, carrying off the wounded....An almost deafening and universal shout was raised by our men. 'Huzza! Huzza! Huzza!'

"Our was a bloody victory, theirs was a bloody defeat."
(Quoted in U.S. Army, A Complete History by the Army Historical Foundation)

Plan of Tippecanoe Camp

(From The Life of General John Tipton by M. W. Pershing)

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

The Patriotic Diggers

"The Patriotic Diggers" (1812) 

Words by Samuel Woodsworth, 1785-1842 

Melody from an Old Scotch-Irish Air, 1740 [Source: public domain] 

Enemies beware, keep a proper distance, 

Else we'll make you stare at our firm resistance; 

Let alone the lads who are freedom tasting, 

Don't forget our dads gave you once a basting. 

To protect our rights 'gainst your flint and triggers 

See on yonder heights our patriotic diggers. 

Men of ev'ry age, color, rank, profession, 

Ardently engaged, labor in succession. 

CHORUS 

 Pick-axe, shovel, spade, crow-bar, hoe and barrow 

Better not invade, Yankees have the marrow. 

Scholars leave their schools with patriotic teachers 

Farmers seize their tools, headed by their preachers, 

How they break the soil - brewers, butchers, bakers - 

Here the doctors toil, there the undertakers. 

Bright Apollo's sons leave their pipe and tabor, 

Mid the roar of guns join the martial labor, 

Round the embattled plain in sweet concord rally, 

And in freedom's strain sing the foes finale.

Tippecanoe, here we come!

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

Elizabeth Harvest Festival

Today we played in Elizabeth for a harvest festival they had on Main Street. This was the first performance for our newest fifer, Caleb, that has been learning for the last 8-9 months.

There were a good deal of people watching even though you can't see them. 

Yankee Doodle

Caleb played with us for 20-30 min. and then we did two other performance about that long. We then marched out. We were able to play some of the music we have been practicing for Tippecanoe.

St. Clair's Defeat

As we are getting ready for the battle of Tippecanoe here is a song about an earlier battle in 1791 that would probably been familiar to the soldiers of Tippecanoe. In St. Clair's defeat (the title kinda gives away the ending) the American troops, under the command of Gen. Arthur St. Clair who numbered about 1400 men and 200 camp followers were caught off guard by an Shawnee and Miami attack in Ohio and lost about 900 men and nearly all of the camp followers. It was the worst major defeat sustained by the Americans by Indian tribes. It was this kind of thing that was probably in the minds of those that were at Tippecanoe where the combined Indian tribes also attack in the dark of the morning, but this time the American troops were victorious.

November the fourth in the year of ninety-one, 

we had a sore engagement near to Fort Jefferson; 

Sinclair was our commander, which may remembered be,

For there we left nine hundred men in the Indian Territory.

At Bunker's Hill and Quebec, where many a hero fell, 

Likewise at Long Island, 'tis I the truth can tell. 

But such a dreadful carnage, never did I see, 

As happened on the plains, near the River St. Marie. 

Our militia were attacked, just as the day did break, 

And soon were overpowered, and forced to retreat. 

They killed major Ouldham, Levin, and Briggs likewise, 

While horrid yells of savages, resounded thro' the skies.

We had not long been broke, when general Butler fell;

He cries, my boys, I'm wounded, pray take me off the field, 

My God, says he, what shall we do, we're wounded ev'ry man; 

Go, charge, you valiant heroes, and beat them if you can.

He leaned his back against a tree, and there resigned his breath, 

And like a valiant soldier, sunk in the arms of death; 

When blessed angels did await, his spirit to convey, 

And unto the celestial fields, he quickly bent his way.

We charged again, we took our ground, which did our hearts elate, 

There we did not tarry long, they soon made us retreat; 

They killed major Ferguson, which caused his men to cry; 

Stand to your guns, says valiant Ford, we'll fight until we die.

Our cannon balls exhausted, our artillery-men all slain, 

Our musketrymen and riflemen, their fire did sustain; 

Three hours more we fought like men, and they were forced to yield, 

While three hundred bloody soldiers lay stretched upon the field.

Says colonel Gibson to his men, my boys, be not dismayed, 

I'm sure that true Virginians were never yet afraid; 

Ten thousand deaths I'd rather die, than they should gain the field, 

With that he got a fatal shot, which caused him to yield.

Says major Clark, my heroes, I can no longer stand, 

We will strive to form in order, and retreat the best we can. 

The word retreat being passed all round, they raised a huing cry, 

And helter skelter through the woods, like lost sheep we did fly.

We left the wounded on the field, O heavens, what a shock! 

Some of their thighs were shattered, some of their limbs were broke; 

With scalping knives and tomahawks, soon eased them of their breath, 

While fiery flames of torment soon tortured them to death. [1]

-Peter Bringe

Memor!

Battle of Tippecanoe

This November 5-7, the Western Plains Fife and Drum Corps will be traveling to the Bicentennial Reenactment of the Battle of Tippecanoe near Laffeytte, IN. We will be portraying the field music of the Indiana Militia and/or Indiana Rangers in the army of William Henry Harrison. The Battle of Tippecanoe happened on November 7, 1811. Though it was not a very large battle compared to those in the next three years (Harrison only had 1,100 men), it played a very important part in the beginning of the War of 1812.

Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa, "the Prophet" had led a religious movement of unification among the Indian tribes to destroy and drive out the Americans from the land. After a bit of unsuccessful negotiation, in order to protect their families and farms, Gen. William Henry Harrison gathered an army of Indiana Militia and Rangers, Kentucky Volunteers, and a small band of U.S. Regulars to advance upon the encampment of Tecumseh's followers to more directly negotiate with the Prophet while Tecumseh was gone on a recruitment trip to the south. Very early in the dark, the morning of November 7, while the army camped near the Prophet's camp, the Indians made a surprise attack. The Prophet had told his men that they were invincible to bullets and so they attacked very fiercely. The battle went on desperately for two hours, but as it was getting light the Indians fell back defeated. They went on to strip the Prophet of his power and lost the optimism that they formally had.

As a consequence of the battle the Indian confederation broke apart, and the tribes had to take sides, either British or American (mostly British). This made the War of 1812 more inevitable. William Henry Harrison was made popular by this important victory which would later end up in his short Presidency.

Come and join us at the Bicentennial of this important event. Here is the website you can get more information from: http://www.tcha.mus.in.us/battlefield.htm.

-Peter B.
Memor!

Elizabethan Fife and Drum

Since we live in Elizabeth, CO, and are hence "Elizabethan" I was delighted to see the following quote. It is taken from the book, Connecticut's Fife and Drum Tradition, by James Clark.

"Both fife and drum are recorded among the instruments providing dinner music for Elizabeth I (regnant 1558-1603)...According to a contemporary report, 'Elizabeth used to be regaled during dinner with twelve trumpets and two kettle-drums; which, together with fifes, cornets, and side drums [the military snare drum played on the drummer's left side], made the hall ring for half an hour together'".

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

Newspaper Clip

Here is a clip from a newspaper in Illinois that has a picture of me and my mom at the Homestead Harvest Days in Highland, IL a year ago.

-Peter Bringe

Memor!

The Mercer Blues

Here is an interesting description of a Pennsylvania militia company during the War of 1812. (Taken from the website of the First Regiment Volunteers.)

"The History of Mercer County" in reference to the "Mercer Blues" who served with Harrison in 1812 and 1813.

"This company was remarkable in many respects. With scarce an exception they were Presbyterians, and connected with some one or other of the organizations of that faith. In camp every tent, with the exception of two, in which the officers officiated occasionally, family worship was regularly kept up. They numbered eighty-four persons, wore their own uniforms, carried their own rifles, powder horns, shot pouches, tomahawks, knives, blankets, bibles and psalm books."

"So we buckled on our armour, which was composed of a Good Rifle gun, shot Pouch, powder horn, tomahawk, butcher knife, and our uniform at this time was yellow hunting shirts and leggings trimmed with fringe of the same which was made of good strong tow cloth dyed with hickory bark. The head dress was a black hat with a strip of bear skin - the width of the crown passed from the rim in front to the rim behind, with the longest deer's tail we could get, a stick stuck in it which was fastened to the right side of the hat, the but of which was covered with Cockade of blue and white ribbon, with an eagle in the center."
-Joseph Junkin, Mercer Blues

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

The Louisiana Territorial Militia

The following information is the official record of the Militia of the Louisiana Territory from 1811 (which included all the Louisiana purchase except what is now Louisiana, which then was Orleans Territory). It is taken from the American state papers: Documents, legislative and executive of the Congress of the United States ..., Part 5, Volume 1 Take special note of the musicians mentioned (fifers and drummers for infantry, bugles for cavalry).

No. 103, 11^th Congress, 3^rd Session 

The Militia, Communicated to Congress, February 20, 1811.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

I lay before Congress a return of the Militia of the United States, as receives by the Department of War, from the several States and Territories.

-James Madison 

Louisiana Territorial Militia

General and Field Staff

Brigadier Generals: 1

Adjutant Generals: 1

Aide-de-Camps: 1

Brigade Majors & Inspectors: 1

Brigade Quartermasters: 1

Field Officers and Regimental Staff

Lieutenant Colonels Commandant: 4

Majors: 12

Adjutants: 5

Quartermasters: 2

Paymasters: 8

Surgeons: 1

Cavalry

Sergeants: 22

Musicians: 4

Dragoons: 225 

Infantry

Captains: 45

Lieutenants: 49

Ensigns: 44

Sergeants: 148

Musicians: 13

Rank and File: 1,948

Total number, including officers, non-commissioned officers, and rank and file: 2,540

The State with the most musicians in the infantry was New York with 2,911 (it had 76,195 rank and file). It was followed by Massachusetts with 1,858 (56,090 rank and file), Pennsylvania with 1,466 (80,211 rank and file), and North Carolina with 1,047 (40,595 rank and file).

While we don't have records for the Militia of the Missouri Territory (what the Louisiana Territory was renamed after Louisiana became a state) during the War of 1812, the records of the other states and territories show that the Militias grew during the war, including the fifers and drummers. There were 14,158 total musicians in the infantry in the state militias in 1813. That's not even including the regular army! That is a lot of fifers and drummers in a war that many people forget even happened.

-Peter Bringe

Memor!

Western Welcome Parade

Last Saturday we combined forces with the Mile High Fife and Drum Corps and the Association of Living History Inc. in the Western Welcome Parade in Littleton, CO. We had great weather and large crowds. Something that was different than the other parades we've done here in Colorado was that there were marching bands (for some reason none came to the parades in Elizabeth or Parker).

The Association of Living History Inc. had soldiers marching from most of America's wars, from Rev. War to Vietnam. The Mile High FDC had three fifers marching (yes, John was still the only drummer). You can see more pictures from the parade at the Mile High FDC's website.

The Massed Music

The Timeline of Soldiers

Patty on the Handcar

The pile of equiptment at lunch



-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

The Daniel Boone Home

While we were in Missouri a week ago we stopped by the Boone Home in Defiance, MO. Here is a some video and pictures from our stop.

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

The Deep River Ancient Muster

The Deep River Ancient Muster is one of the largest fife and drum musters in the USA and has been going since the 1950s. This year there were about 60 corps that came and performed, including the Western Plains Fife and Drum Corps. It was a nice sunny day, not exceptionally hot, but enough to make it feel like a fife and drum event in July. There were plenty of people watching the parade, and we could hear exclamations of surprise and welcome when they saw that we were from Colorado. After we finished the parade we walked back to the end to join “F Troop” (that’s the name for everyone scrambled into one corps).

After the Parade we ate lunch, got some Italian ice, and sat down to watch the corps perform. It was fun to see the different kinds of corps. Some were very good historically, some musically, some in marching, some good in multiple categories. There were many corps from New England, but some from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Switzerland, Illinois, ect… and some individual members from California, Michigan, Colorado (from the Mile High F&DC), and Missouri. We won the award for the corps that traveled the farthest at 1,963 miles (the Swiss corps must have disqualified themselves or something). Here is a video of our performance (we were 23^rd):

We also bought stuff including a pretty neat book, Connecticut’s Fife and Drum Tradition by James Clark that I might reference in the future. To conclude here is a poem I wrote on the way home.

The fife and drum which long ago

Called the folks to church on time

And told the soldiers when to go

And bounced along with beat and rhyme

That which told of liberty’s cry

And that which carried the firm hand

Of the justice of our great land

That would not tolerate the invader’s plan

This still sounds off hill and glen

And calls and shrikes to land and main

To not forget those mighty men

To take courage and rise again

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

Junior Fife and Drum Camp

 You might be wondering why we haven’t posted since the 4^th of July. It is not because we haven’t been doing anything. We have taken a 2000 mile trip out to Connecticut for the Jr. Fife and Drum Camp and the Deep River Ancient Muster. I will split the trip into two posts, this one on the camp and the next one on the muster.

This was John and Thomas’s first time at camp, and was my sixth. This was also my fifth time as an advanced/ensemble fifer. Camp started on Tuesday (the 12^th) with about 100 or so fifers and drummers. From Tuesday to Friday we worked on the show we were to perform on Friday night at the Deep River Tattoo. The music that we learned had been played by the New York Regimentals Fife and Drum Band in the mid-1900s and was composed by their leader, John McDonagh (who also made the fifes we play). The Regimentals were very influential in the fife and drum community and helped the resurgence of it in the last 50 years. On Thursday we had three former members of the Regimentals come out to camp and talk about their experiences playing fife and drum, McDonagh, fife and drum today, ect… For example, they told how their weekly practices consisted of two hour sectionals, three hours playing as a group, and then jamming into the wee hours of the morning.

On Tuesday night we all went to the Company of Fifers and Drummers Museum where there was a concert by Col. John Chester F&DC and the Grand Republic F&DC, both of which had good performances. On Wednesday, like all the days at camp, we basically practiced all day, except for meals, and when we did get a break we usually started jamming. That night, some of us (6 or so) played Irish music on piano, bodrahn, and various whistles and flutes. We then ended up doing some English Country Dance (about 8 of us), although it was but a type of thing to come on Thursday night. On Thursday, in addition to music and marching, the Regimental members came, and that evening we had a band come and perform a mix of music from Scotland, Nova Scotia, Appalachia, and the South. This was mainly to show how the songs we play on fife and drum sound when played on instruments other than fife and drum. While we had the band there, I called another impromptu country dance, this time filling the room with dancers. As a side note, this was the fourth state I had danced in in two weeks and the third where I had called the dance (the four being Colorado, California, Missouri, and Connecticut). Needless to say, we had lots of fun at camp.

On Friday we did our final practices and were picked up at 2:00 pm. That evening we performed at Deep River. Here are some videos of it (Thomas was in the second row and I was in the back left corner of the fifes, and John was in the second row on the far left of the drums):

So in summery, we had a great time hearing or playing fife and drum from 9:00-10:00, meeting and making friends, improving our skills, encouraging and helping other fifers and drummers, learning history, and honoring our past by playing it.

-Peter Bringe

 Memor! 

Independence Day in Elizabeth

The 4th of July is for fife & drum what St. Patrick's Day is for Irish bands. You just have to play somehow. Surprisingly there aren't many Fourth of July parades here in Colorado (at least compared to Missouri), so we decided that we were going to make a tour of Elizabeth and make our own celebration. We played at True Value, Safeway, Wal-Mart, and Big R. We were well received by the shoppers and added to the atmosphere of the day. Here are some pictures:

True Value 

Safeway

 Wal-Mart

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

Parker Days Parade

Last Saturday we marched in the Parker Days Parade. Here are some pictures from it:



 Here we are before the parade with a World War II veteran that marched the parade.



On a more comical note, here we are before the parade with the Civil Air Patrol mascot.



I thought this was a fun picture. The hospital was giving away horse riding helmets for free. (With so many horses around,we're wondering what it would be like to play fife and drum on horseback. It was done historically in Europe).

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

The Elizabeth Stampede Parade

Here are some pictures from our latest event, the Elizabeth Stampede Parade. This was our first parade in Colorado. I think it when pretty well, as we got several complements afterwards, even though I don't think it was the best arrangement to be put between a dance troupe (with music of course) and the Elbert Country Sheriffs with their sirens going. There was another historic music unit in the 

parade, the 79th New York Highlanders.

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

Memorial Day Picnic

Last Monday we performed at our church's Memorial Day picnic. As you can see in the second picture, this was our first time out with our new banner. We hope to use it in an upcoming parade this Saturday in our town of Elizabeth.

Star Spangled Banner 

(by Francis Scott Key, 4th verse)

Oh, thus be it ever when freeman shall stand

Between their loved home and war’s desolation;

Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land,

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto, “In God is our trust.”

And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave

While the land of the free is the home of the brave.

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

Chester

The first song that many fifers and drummers learn is Chester. Chester was used somewhat of a "national anthem" (although they would not of used the word "national") as it was played at least in the Continental army for opening and closing ceremonies and official functions. Here are the words:

Chester 

by William Billings

Let tyrants shake their iron rods, 

And Slav'ry clank her galling chains. 

We fear them not, we trust in God. 

New Columbia's God forever reigns. 

Howe and Burgoyne and Clinton, too, 

With Prescott and Cornwallis joined, 

Together plot our overthrow, 

In one infernal league combined. 

When God inspired us for the fight, 

Their ranks were broke, their lines were forced, 

Their ships were shattered in our sight, 

Or swiftly driven from our coast. 

The foe comes on with haughty stride, 

Our troops advance with martial noise; 

Their vet'rans flee before our youth, 

And gen'rals yield to beardless boys. 

What grateful off'ring shall we bring, 

What shall we render to the Lord? 

Loud hallelujahs let us sing, 

And praise his name on ev'ry chord! 

-Peter Bringe

  Memor!

History of Fife and Drum Music

Below is a link to a fine article on the history of use of fife and drum done by the Kentish Guards F&DC. I'm sorry that I am just linking to articles and not writing them, but its hard to spend the time when there are already good articles out there. Hopefully this is still helpful.

Here is the link: http://www.kentishguards.org/fifendrumhistory.htm

-Peter Bringe
Memor!

P. S. I take issue with the first sentance, but the rest is great.

The Drum of Bunker Hill

Here is an interesting story of a drum that was captured at the battle of Bunker Hill from the book "American Drums of War" by George Carroll:

"The English lad who carried the drum when the British made their first attack on Breed's Hill was shot down by the first volley from the Continental trenches, and the drum itself riddled with bullets. After the second assault, and while the Redcoats were being rallied for their third and successful assault, one of the Rhode Island soldiers climbed over the entrenchments and brought back the drum. When the American ammunition failed and the defenders were driven from the trenches by the British, the drum was carried in retreat over Charleston Neck, and safely brought into the American camp. Whether the original captor had been slain, or [what other arrangement made] is somewhat obscure, but the Rhode Islanders finally drew lots for the drum. The lucky chance fell to Levi Smith, drummer-boy of the Rhode Island Regiment, who had followed General Nathaniel Greene to Massachusetts. On his first furlough he took the drum home to Providence, repaired it, and then carried it through the balance of his service in the Revolution."

After the war the drum was eventually passed down to Levi's oldest son, Israel. When the War of 1812 came around Israel marched off to war like his father, carrying the same drum that had drummed for and against the British before. A great story of muti-generational honor. Reminds me of the following song:

The Sword of Bunker Hill

He lay upon his dying bed;
His eyes were growing dim,
When with a feeble voice he called
His weeping son to him:
Weep not, my boy! The vet'ran said,
I bow to Heav'ns high will,
But quickly from yon antlers bring
The Sword of Bunker Hill.
But quickly from yon antlers bring
The Sword of Bunker Hill.

The sword was brought, the soldier's eye
Lit with a sudden flame;
And as he grasped the ancient blade,
He murmured Warren's name;
Then said My boy, I leave you gold
But what is richer still,
I leave you, mark me, mark me now,
The Sword of Bunker Hill.
I leave you, mark me, mark me now,
The Sword of Bunker Hill.

Twas on that dread immortal day,
I dared the Briton's hand,
A captain raised this blade on me
I tore it from his hand;
And while the glorious battle raged,
It lighted freedom's will
For, boy, the God of freedom bless'd
The Sword of Bunker Hill.
For, boy, the God of freedom bless'd
The Sword of Bunker Hill.

O keep the sword, his accents broke
A smile and he was dead;
His wrinkled hand still grasped the blade
Upon that dying bed.
The son is gone; the sword remains,
It's glory growing still;
And eighty millions bless the sire,
The Sword of Bunker Hill.
And eighty millions bless the sire,
The Sword of Bunker Hill.

-William Ross Wallace

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

War of 1812 in the Missouri Territory

As the Western Plains Fife and Drum Corps we try to portray the fifes and drums of the militia particularly of the Missouri Territorial Militia of the War of 1812. Here is a great website on the War of 1812 in the Missouri Territory that I have found helpful and easy to use: http://www.1812missouriterritory.com/  I especially like the part labeled the "St. Louis Theater of the War". This was as close as the fighting got to Colorado, and in fact much of Colorado was technicaly part of the Missouri Territory.

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

My First Year Playing the Fife, 2004

I was looking through some old pictures and thought that I would post some pictures of the first year that I played Fife. Enjoy! 

Fort de Chartres

Fort Atkinson

Fort Massac

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

The Drumme in the 30 Years War

Here are some quotes from the book "Monro, His Expedition with the Worthy Scots Regiment Called Mac-Keys", written in 1637 as part history of the Regiment in the 30 Years War, part instruction for "all worthie Cavaliers favouring the laudable profession of Armes."

Part of "our Fight at Leipsigh"

"... but the smoake being great, the dust being raised, we were as in a darke cloude, not seeing the halfe of our actions, much less discerning, either the way of our enemies, or yet the rest of our Briggads: whereupon, having a drummer by me, I caused him beate the Scots March, till it cleered up, which recollected our friends unto us, and dispersed our enemies being overcome; so that the Briggad coming together, such as were alive missed their dead and hurt Camerades."

"the exercising of the Squadron of Pikes"

"Your Squadron of Pikes as they ought to march with the Drumme; so they ought to obey the Drumme beating a Troope, a Charge, a Call, a Retreate. As also to traile their Pikes, to make reverence with the Pike being shouldred: and your Squadron of Pikes being but six deepe in Rancke, your Files may be so many, as can well heare your voyce in Command, providing there be no odd File; and thus well orderd at their open order of six foote distance, command to mount their Pikes, then calling for a Drumme beside you, let him beate a march, then they are to shoulder their Pikes, flat or slaunt carried, and then to marcha little, let your Drumme againe beate a Troope, then they mount their Pikes and troope away fast or slow, as your passe leades them stopping, or advancing as you doe, then let your Drumme beate a Charge, then they charge their Pikes and advance fast or slow, as you lead them, and retire also backwards, their Pikes charged as you will have them, then troope againe, and they mount their Pikes, march and shoulder; and halting, let the Drumme beate againe, and they order their Pikes on the ground as first, being at their distance, and trooping againe they mount their Pikes, so that you can command them to Battell order or closse order, for Wheeling or Counter-marching at your owne pleasure."

"The forty-two Observation; being the last."

"To conclude then this Observation; since God hath made me poore by the want of my Friends, I finde no other remedie, but to inrich my selfe in being content with his will; being perswaded, as they have gone the way before me, I must needs follow, and then others by my example must learne to be contented to want me: And though I leave them poore, they can be rich in God being content; For, we are neither rich nor poore by what we possesse, but by what we desire."

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

Some Quotes on the Importance of History

"Those who are in rebellion against memory are the ones who wish to live without knowledge." -Richard Weaver

"Just as a loss of memory in an individual is a psychiatric defect calling for medical treatment, so too any community which has no social memory is suffering from an illness." -John H. Y. Briggs

"A contempt of the monuments and the wisdom of the past, may be justly reckoned one of the reigning follies of these days, to which pride and idleness have equally contributed" -Samuel Johnson

"Those who have no concern for their ancestors will, by simple application of the same rule, have none for their descendants" -Richard Weaver

“The march of Providence is so slow and our desires so impatient; the work of progress so immense and our means of aiding it so feeble; the life of humanity is so long, that of the individual so brief, that we often see only the ebb of the advancing wave and are thus discouraged. It is history that teaches us to hope.” -Robert E. Lee

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

P.S. This month is the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the War Between the States. Especially this month it would be a good idea to remember that pivotal conflict of American history and the courage and devotion of the men that fought.

The Fife and Drum and... Cowboys?

Here is an old Cowboy ballad that originates in a British folk song of the late 18th century called "The Unfortunate Rake". Because of its origins, it mixed fife and drum with cowboys. 

The Streets of Laredo

As I walked out in the streets of Laredo

As I walked out in Laredo one day,

I spied a young cowboy, all wrapped in white linen

Wrapped up in white linen and cold as the clay.

"I see by your outfit, that you are a cowboy."

These words he did say as I slowly walked by.

"Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story,

For I'm shot in the chest, and today I must die."

Chorus: "Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly,

And play the dead march as you carry me along;

Take me to the valley, and lay the sod o'er me,

For I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong."

"'Twas once in the saddle I used to go dashing,

'Twas once in the saddle I used to go gay.

First down to Rosie's, and then to the card-house,

Got shot in the breast, and I'm dying today."

 Chorus

"Go bring me a cup, a cup of cold water.

To cool my parched lips", the cowboy then said.

Before I returned, his soul had departed,

And gone to the round up - the cowboy was dead.

 Chorus

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

Liberty Day

This last weekend we performed at Liberty Day in Medinah, IL. We had a great time meeting old and new friends and enjoying the talks and celebration. Liberty Day commemorates the anniversary of Patrick Henry's "Liberty or Death" speech, March 23 1775, as a day for us and our posterity to set aside to bring to remembrance past defenders of Liberty, to stir into our hearts a deeper love for, and understanding of, Liberty, and to “beseech the Most High for Liberty in our day." They should have pictures from the event on their website soon, and you can see us perform a little in the slide show from last year.

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

Girl I Left Behind Me

Girl I Left Behind Me was a popular British-American song during the 17-1800s. It was often used when breaking up camp and leaving a location.

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

The Drum In Two Songs

Yankee Doodle (c.1775)
"We saw a little barrel, too,
The heads were made of leather;
They knocked upon't with little clubs
And called the folks together."

Over the Hills and Far Away (c. 1706)
"Hark, now the Drums beat up again,
For all true Soldier gentlemen,
Then let us list and march I say,
Over the hills and far away;

Chorus: Over the hills and o'er the main,
To Flanders, Portugal, and Spain,
Queen Anne commands and we'll obey,
Over the hills and far away

No more from sound of drum retreat,
While Marlbrorough and Galway beat,
The French and Spainish every day,
When over the hills and far away."

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

The Washingtons and Fife and Drum

"Martha Washington, as told to her daughter, Nelly Custis, that her favorite music was that of the fife and drum; and although her husband, General Washington, stated that he could not raise a single note on any instrument, he was observed drumming on a table with a knife and fork obviously daydreaming of the daily sounds of the camp calls; one of which, Go to Bed Home, from Nelly Custis' harpsichord collection, was the sound of the beat and tune used to signal the soldiers to return to their tents at bedtime" -taken from American Drums of War by George Carroll

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

The Drum in Early New England

Here are some references from old Puritan New England referring to using the drum to call the people to church before they could get bells.

"The lower part they use for their church, where they preach on Sundays and the usual holidays. They assemble by beat of drum, each with his musket or firelock, in front of the captain's door;" -Isaack de Rasieres, a visitor to Plymouth, writing to Samuel Blommaert in 1628 describing Plymouth

In 1638 a platform was made upon the top of the Windsor meeting-house “from the Lanthorne to the ridge to walk conveniently to sound a trumpet or a drum to give warning to meeting.”

"New England’s Sabbath day

Is heaven-like still and pure,

When Israel walks the way

Up to the temple’s door.

The time we tell

When There to come

By beat of Drum

Or sounding Shell" -An old Puritan Hymn (sounding Shell refers to using the conch-shell to call to worship)

“Hearing the sound of a drum he was directed towards it by a broade beaten way; following this rode he demands of the next man he met what the signall of the drum ment; the reply was made they had as yet no Bell to call men to meeting and therefore made use of the drum.” –Johnson, in his “Wonder Working Providence”

-Peter Bringe
Memor!

And We're Off!

The Western Plains Fife and Drum Corps is pleased to announce the launch of our website. As we are a new Corps I give a little of our history.

I (Peter Bringe) started playing fife 7 years ago with the Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps in St. Charles Missouri. Our family had done reenacting starting at the Boone Home in Defiance, MO and so fit in well. I have then attended the Junior Fife and Drum Camp in Connecticut since 2005. After a several years I also started playing fife with the Illinois Territorial Rangers, Company B. About 3 years ago my brother Thomas joined the LCFDC as a fifer and a year later my brother John joined as a drummer. We then started playing as the Missouri Patriots Fife and Drum Corps as well, our first event being at a friend's wedding. In December 2010 our family moved to Colorado, which prompted a search for a new name. After going through several names that didn't quite stick, like the Louisiana Territorial Militia F&DC, and the Band of Brothers F&DC, we decided on the Western Plains Fife and Drum Corps.

-Peter Bringe
Virtute et armis