Military Executions

[NHjohn]

(06-23-2014 06:18 PM)BettyO Wrote:  In his letterbook, General Hartranft records just about everything which went on within the prison; what the Conspirators ate, when their laundry was done; even what their laundry consisted of. He's very specific. There is no mention of any regimental band or otherwise attached to the Arsenal or troops stationed there. However one survivor who died in the early half of the 20th Century recounted that he was a drummer and played with 10 other boys as part of a group of drummers who played a slow cadence as the Conspirators marched the short distance to the scaffold.

And I will take your word for it. I will say, at the risk of sounding like nobody can talk any sense into me, I have read more regimental histories and diaries than I can count where there was no reference to a regimental brass band, official/on the roster/paid as Class 1,2 3 Musicians, or detailed privates, no stories, no nothing... and I have found absolute proof a band existed. I just check off one more possible source, and move on. To some soldiers, generals or privates, band music was background. It was like having the radio on. To others, the music touched them and they wrote about it. I think my first goal will be to ascertain what regiments were assigned inside the arsenal during the trial and execution.