Corps of Drums 1851

This is one of Ebsworth's very useful sketches that he made around the middle of the 19th century. From left to right there is the Drum-Major, a bass drummer with goat, the back view of a drummer, a sergeant (or corporal) in undress drill jacket, and a trumpeter. The Drum-Major has his red coat laced with gold. Unfortunately the sash on his left shoulder is indistinct. He has large shoulder wings and a plume going over the top of his bearskin. The bass drummer has no shoulder straps like the others, just a strap round his neck to support the drum, and a white apron.
I have not seen any other evidence of the Grenadier Guards having a goat mascot. The back view of the drummer shows us his white pouch with brass badge. The sergeant (or corporal) in a white jacket, has badges on his collar which are unclear. He also has an undress forage cap with red band and grenade badge on the front. It is not clear whether he is a drummer or not. The trumpeter, like the others is in white summer trousers and has a band sword suspended from his right shoulder strap. Their coats have fringes on the top of their collars but the wings have large crescent shaped white tufts instead of the fringes which came later.

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