Written and Illustrated by Eric Ortner for The Civil War Courier
in 1999 E flat Coronet with Rotary Valves Music was an important
part of the Civil War. It called the beginning and end of the
day, and was a means for the commander to communicate with his
troops in a heated battle. As well as a substantial
communication tool, it was also a way for soldiers to overcome
the boredom, and drudgery of everyday life. The sounds of a
powerful marching band could lift the morale of one’s regiment
or even frighten an opposing army. Robert E. Lee said at the
onset of the war, “I don’t believe we can have an army without
music.” A wind band composed entirely of brass instruments
quickly became the favorite and most practical form of an
ensemble in America. However, the brass band was not originally
an American idea. In 1836, the Bradley Old Reed Band performed
an entertainment in Woodhouse Moore to honor the coronation of
William IV. At this time the ensemble had a mixture of brass and
woodwind instruments. A few days la