A young drummer of the 51st New York Infantry stands in full uniform during the Civil War, his drum suspended by a shoulder strap and held ready at his side. Musicians like him played a critical role in Union armies, using drumbeats to relay orders across the chaos of battle and to regulate the daily routines of camp life. The distinctive zouave-style uniform reflects a popular mid-19th century military fashion inspired by French units, adopted by several American regiments for its striking appearance.
Drummer Philo H. Ravlin of Co. I, 47th Illinois Infantry Regiment in Uniform with Drum
Two images of Philo H. Ravlin, a drummer with the 47th Illinois Infantry, taken more than fifty years apart. The first, from 1861, shows him as a young Civil War soldier, standing with his drum at the start of the conflict. The second, dated 1914, shows Ravlin again with the same instrument, now an older man and a veteran. Seen together, the photos trace one life across war and peace, and reflect how Civil War service remained a defining part of identity long after the guns fell silent.