Drummer 1863

The red tunic replaced the white one worn for a few years from 1855 and had patterned lace up the sleeves, around the collar and shoulder wings, and up the back seams. It is not clear what pattern is shown here but it may have been the harp badge repeated along its length. In 1866 the authorities insisted that all regimental drummers should have red crowns along the lengths of tape. The drummer was also a bugler and we can see the bugle hung on his right shoulder by cords and tassels that are a mixture of red blue and yellow. The drum is snare drum instead of the usual side drum, and he has a white leather leg protector.