Drum and Fife 1835

The drum was the chosen instrument in the infantry to communicate simple orders that could be heard over distances. The drummers of the 18th century had mitre caps like the grenadiers, changing to fur caps in 1768, and well laced coats in reverse colours so that in the 19th Regiment the drummers’ coats were green. It wasn’t until 1831 that regiments were ordered to clothe the drummers in red coats. Because of their function as transmitters of orders the drummers had to go on campaign and take part in battles. This set them apart from the musicians who played in the regimental band, so the company drummers, as a group, were called the Corps of Drums. Drummers also had to be proficient at playing the fife and the bugle. A fifer combined with a drum beat made marching more bearable. This detail from Newhouse’s Dinner Round print shows the drummer and fifer sounding the call to the mess. They wear the well-laced red coats of the Corps of Drums, and shakos with white over red plumes.

Regimental Details | Band