Band at the execution

[NHjohn]

(06-24-2014 03:19 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Col. Julian Raymond, who commanded Ft. Lesley J. McNair (previously the Arsenal in 1865) a century later, documented much of his historical research when he caught the bug of assassinitice. I'm having our librarian at Surratt House check our files to see if we have a copy. If not, I know someone who does.

Personally, I just have to think that some mention would have been made of a post or regimental band at some point with all of the fantastic researchers that have plumbed the depths over the past 100 years looking for every speck and tidbit in any way related to our addiction.

And I agree. Here's the thing. I'll use my first book as an example. I'm a retired police officer who has been playing in re-enactment Civil War brass bands since 1999. My wife and I moved to DC area in 2004 and while there, started researching regimental brass bands full-time, meaning, I research every, single, day. While in DC, I would also go the National Archives 2 days a week minimum to pull service and pension records. I started compiling info. on the existence of a regimental brass band (or non-existence) for each regiment, for each state of New England. Using round numbers, the six states combined, fielded approx. 160 regiments of infantry, cavalry, artillery, of which there were 60 regimental brass bands carried on the rosters. I documented the existence of approx. 120, plus some "probable" bands, mainly through the service and pension records of individual soldiers. Yes, with all the research folks have done thru the years on the trial and execution, somebody should have found evidence of a band, but were they looking? I just read last night in the Washington Evening Star, "four holes were dug and four coffins stacked up." I see three coffins in the photo. Everything I read says Gen. Hartranft was in-charge of the prison. Yes, by reason of his overall command, but I believe Lt. Col. Colby of the 19th VRC was the actual Washington Arsenal and prison commander. Nobody ever mentions him. There was a hospital at the prison, and almost all military hospitals had bands, comprised of VRC soldiers. Nobody mentions the hospital, and to the best of my knowledge, nobody has researched/written about the VRC, and certainly nothing written about VRC bands. The Evening Star said that Gen. Hancock, "Middle Department" Commander (Washington, DC) had the "1st and 4th Hancock Regiments" at his disposal to help guard the perimeter. No such regiments. That's military and/or newspaper slang for the 1st and 4th Regiments Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry assigned to Hancock's 1st Veteran Corps, Camp Stoneman, DC. So, I turned to the experts... you guys. The absence of any band mentioned, does not mean a band wasn't present playing right before the prisoners were brought out, or in the hours after the executions, as in the burials, and I understand, the absence of any band mentioned may also mean there was none. I'm assuming nothing... one more time. Thanks for checking with other folks.