Ditson (pub) The Army Drum and Fife Book
The Army Drum and Fife Book was published in 1861 by Oliver Ditson and Co. in Boston was edited by Keach, Burditt, and Cassidy.
This military instruction manual contains proper patterns for playing various military calls including "Hail To The Chief," the "Quick Retreat," and the "Water Call". The book also includes "the Bugler's Call Book, containing all the Infantry General Calls and Calls for Skirmishers, used in the U.S. Army".
The book was published during the Civil War era (1861), making it a significant historical resource for understanding military music practices of that time period. It's also known as "The Modern Drum School".
Oliver Ditson began his music publishing company in 1835, and it grew to become one of the great American music publishing houses of the 19th century, known primarily as a music publisher and secondarily as a musical instrument manufacturer.
This manual represents an important piece of American military music history, providing authentic Civil War-era instruction for drum and fife corps that were essential to military communication and ceremony.