Musician (rank)
Encyclopedia
Musician is a rank equivalent to Private
held by members of the Corps of Army Music
of the British Army
. The rank was also previously used in the United States Army
.
members, particularly during the American Civil War
. The rank was just below Corporal
, and just above Private
. In some units it was more or less equal to the rank of Private.
During the American Civil War, military leaders with the Union
and Confederate Armies
relied on military musicians to entertain troops, position troops in battle, and stir them on to victory — some actually performing concerts in forward positions during the fighting.
There were two types of historical traditions in military bands. The first was military field music. This type of music included bugles, bagpipes, or fifes and almost always drums. This type of music was used to control troops on the battlefield as well as for entertainment. One example of controlling the troops was the drum beats setting the march cadence for the troops. Following the development of instruments such as the keyed trumpet or the saxhorn family of brass instruments, a second tradition of the all brass military band was formed.
During the American Civil War most Union regiments had both types of groups within the unit.
Several U.S. Army Musicians were awarded the Medal of Honor
during the Civil War. These recipients include:
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
held by members of the Corps of Army Music
Corps of Army Music
The Corps of Army Music is a corps of the British Army. It was formed in 1994 as an umbrella organisation, centred on the Royal Military School of Music, to oversee the 29 new permanent Military Bands formed following Options for Change, although each band continues to wear the capbadges and Full...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. The rank was also previously used in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
United States
The rank of Musician was a position held by military bandMilitary band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
members, particularly during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The rank was just below Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
, and just above Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
. In some units it was more or less equal to the rank of Private.
During the American Civil War, military leaders with the Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and Confederate Armies
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
relied on military musicians to entertain troops, position troops in battle, and stir them on to victory — some actually performing concerts in forward positions during the fighting.
There were two types of historical traditions in military bands. The first was military field music. This type of music included bugles, bagpipes, or fifes and almost always drums. This type of music was used to control troops on the battlefield as well as for entertainment. One example of controlling the troops was the drum beats setting the march cadence for the troops. Following the development of instruments such as the keyed trumpet or the saxhorn family of brass instruments, a second tradition of the all brass military band was formed.
During the American Civil War most Union regiments had both types of groups within the unit.
Several U.S. Army Musicians were awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
during the Civil War. These recipients include:
- William J. Carson (Musician)
- John Cook (Bugler)
- Richard EnderlinRichard EnderlinRichard Enderlin was a musician and United States Army soldier who received a Medal of Honor for the heroism he displayed when fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.-Gettysburg:...
(Musician) - Benjamin F. Hilliker (Musician)
- William H. HorsfallWilliam H. HorsfallWilliam H. Horsfall was one of the youngest men to receive the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War. He was born in 1847, in Newport, Kentucky. Horsfall was a 15 year old drummer in Co. G, 1st Kentucky Infantry...
(Drummer) - Orion P. HoweOrion P. HoweOrion Perseus Howe was among the youngest recipients of the Medal of Honor for his service in the American Civil War as a Union drummer boy. He was awarded the medal on April 23, 1896.-Life:...
(Musician) - Willie Johnston (Musician)
- John S. KountzJohn S. KountzJohn S. Kountz was a soldier in the United States Army during the American Civil War. He received a Medal of Honor.-Biography:...
(Musician) - James P. LandisJames P. LandisJames Parker Landis was a Chief Bugler in the Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the American Civil War.-Medal of Honor citation:...
(Chief Bugler) - J. C. Julius LangbeinJ. C. Julius LangbeinJohann Christoph Julius Langbein was a drummer boy in the Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War.-Medal of Honor citation:...
(Musician) - William Lord (Musician)
- William MageeWilliam Magee (Medal of Honor recipient)William Magee was a Drummer in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the American Civil War.Magee was the youngest person from the state of New Jersey to have ever earned the Medal of Honor....
(Drummer) - Robinson B. Murphy (Musician)
- George H. Palmer (Musician)
- John T. Patterson (Principal Musician)
- Charles W. Reed (Bugler)
- Ferdinand F. Rohm (Chief Bugler)
- Charles Schorn (Chief Bugler)
- Julian A. Scott (Drummer)
- James Snedden (Musician)
- Alason P. Webber (Musician)
- Thomas M. WellsThomas M. WellsThomas McCoy Wells was an Irish born Union Army soldier and officer during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near Middletown, Virginia on October 19, 1864...
(Chief Bugler)