The Secret History Of Drums: The Role Of The Military Drummer

The function of the military drummer is a absorbing chapter from the concealed history of drums.

Hidden, because most people are unaware of the critical function played by the military drummer in communicating strategy and keeping the machinery of conflict oiled.

Battle Stations

In the 17th century, in readying for battle, before the caput on clash between competing armies, considerable time was spent manoeuvering work force into position.

The membranophones were used to impart orders - each 'beat' having a specific significance instantly recognizable to the soldiers.

When the drummer's 'Call' was heard, the work force dropped what they were doing and immediately regrouped by their lieutenant or platoon commanding officer to expect additional signals.

The Captain's order to beat the 'Troop' was a signaling to shoulder muskets, advance expressways and stopping point rank and file.

The 'March' was a signaling to advance, faster or slower according to the beat of the drum, to the point of rendezvous.

The 'Preparative' signaled the work force to advance in rank and register to within skirmishing distance and be ready to prosecute battle.

At this point the company drummers would run to where the Colonel stood (or sat on horseback) beside his ain side-drummer and the criterion bearer.

Engaging The Enemy

On the Colonel's order the drummers would beat the 'Battaile' or 'Charge'.

This was described by Colonel William Barriffe to intend 'pressing forward in order of conflict without lagging behind, rather boldly stepping forward in place of him that waterfall dead or hurt before thee...'

In the thick of battle, with the sound of cannon and musket, the neighing of horses, the shouts of the dying and wounded, the Colonel's voice would not be heard and the beat of the beat continued to play a critical function in communicating orders to the troops.

From his vantage point the Colonel would command his drum-major to instigate assorted manoeuvers. If it was required to retreat in an orderly manner - for relief, or to derive a vantage point, or to entice the enemy into an ambuscade - the 'Retreat' would sound. The soldier, fighting for his life, was well prepared - the significance of the different beats had been literally 'drummed' into him time and time again in training.

At the oncoming of battle, the boom of the assembled drummers would surely instil courageousness in the Black Maria of the work force (and fearfulness in the Black Maria of the enemy). Possibly, in the heat energy of battle, the beat of the drum, detached and ethereal, took on a Negro spiritual quality, helping the battlers to distance themselves from the horror and agony all around.

The drummer clearly carried a immense duty in the orderly behavior of war. In acknowledgment of this it was considered highly dishonorable to knowingly hit or lesion a drummer in battle.

Source:

Hugh Barty-King 'The Drum - A Royal Tournament Tribute to the Military Drum' 1988 ISBN 0 9513588 0 4