eBay seller epk ( 696) has posted item no. 260658604117 (New York) with a starting bid of $10,500. The drum appears to be quite a collector's item and described as follows:
"ONE OF ONLY TWO OR POSSIBLY THREE KNOWN EXAMPLES OF A CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY REGIMENTAL DRUM, UNCUT IN ORIGINAL CONDITION. THIS DRUM IS INSCRIBED "W.P.THORNTON" ON THE EAGLES BREAST SHIELD. BOTH HEADS ARE INTACT AND ON THE TOP DRUM HEAD IS ALSO WRITTEN "WILLIAM P. THORNTON, BATH MAINE". THERE IS ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL PERIOD PENCIL WRITING WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE OUT. WILLIAM P. THORNTON WAS BORN IN BATH MAINE IN 1848 AND IS LISTED IN THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY DOCUMENTS. I COULD NOT FIND HIS NAME IN THE MAINE REGIMENTAL ROSTER BUT HE MAY HAVE BEEN NOT LISTED BECAUSE OF HIS AGE AT THE TIME OF THE CIVIL WAR. THE FIRST MAINE HEAVY ARTILLERY IS KNOWN AS HAVING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASUALTIES OF ANY REGIMENT IN THE UNION ARMY. THE DRUM IS AUTHENTIC AND RARE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS UNCUT CONDITION. NO SIMILAR EXAMPLE IS SHOWN IN CABA'S DRUM BOOK OR ANY OTHER ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF CIVIL WAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. THERE MAY BE SOME MINOR RETOUCHING OF THE PAINT BUT IT IS OTHERWISE ALL ORIGINAL AND GUARANTEED."
The only thing I can add is that the seller told me that this drum measured 17 by 17 inches.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion is that, provided this is indeed an original drum, it was likely unissued during the war and that the owner, WP Thornton" owned it during the post war period.
I base this on the fact that there is no unit designation on the scroll.
All in all its a beautiful drum.
If no unit designation means that it was likely unissued then that must mean the same for infantry drums. There are a number of infantry drums that just have "Reg U.S. Infantry" on the scroll.
ReplyDeleteGary, probably but painting the regiment number onto the drum was probably not the field drummer's highest priority. The condition of the drum might say more about whether the drum was actually used than anything else short of documentary evidence.
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