Jacob Stewart Civil War Era Snare Drum Attributed to the 25th South Carolina Infantry

American Civil War

15.5" shell diameter, rim to rim, 14" tall rim to rim. 15" head diameter. Wooden snare drum with restored rope tensioners, leather slides and modern heads, snares may be of the period. The drum has a period label inside, opposite the vent hole, that reads: JACOB STEWART/MANUFACTURER OF/MILITARY AND TOY DRIMS/BANJOS, TAMBOURINES &c./WATER STREET PITTSFIELD, MASS. According to Bazelon & McGuinn's Military Goods Dealers & Makers 1785-1915, Jacob Stewart was in business from 1862-1865. The exterior of the drum is painted 25 Reg/SC. It is impossible to know when this paint was applied and it could be period or later.

While no records exist regarding the state of South Carolina acquiring drums from Jacob Stewart, it is certainly possible that the drum was a battlefield pick up, possibly at the Battle of Secessionville in June of 1862, where at least one account noted that that "the equipment of the 28th Massachusetts Infantry was scattered across the battlefield." The 25th SC Infantry was initially raised from December of 1861 to May of 1862 in Charleston, SC as a 12 month organization designated as the 11th Battalion of South Carolina Volunteers, sometimes known as the Eutaw Battalion. In July of 1862 the battalion was reorganized as the 25th South Carolina Infantry Regiment. The regiment spent the majority of their service in the defense of South Carolina and around Charleston in particular, seeing limited action, with their first major combat coming at Cooswhatchie (Pocotalio) on October 22-23, 1862. In May of 1864 the regiment was reassigned from the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida to the Department of North Carolina and started to move up the coast towards Virginia. The regiment saw action at Swift's Creek, Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor, before settling into the defenses around Petersburg. The regiment fought several actions during the Petersburg Campaign including Battle of Deep Bottom, Weldon Railroad and the Second Battle of Fort Harrison. At the Weldon Railroad/Globe Tavern engagement the regiment suffered 60% casualties. At the end of 1864 the regiment removed to Wilmington, NC and saw combat at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher in January 1865. They participated in the Carolina's Campaign of February to April 1865 as part of Johnston's Army, were engaged at Bentonville and surrendered with the balance of the Army of Tennessee with Johnston at Durham Station, NC. The drum is accompanied by binder of correspondence between Mr Beard and noted Civil War dealer John Bradley, as well as others, regarding the drum. It was originally brought to market by Peter Karlan of Karlan Military Arms and Mr. Beard acquired it at the 2022 Civil War Show in Franklin, TN. The drum ropes, and likely heads, were restored by J.T. Leathers of Murfreesboro, TN. The binder also contains some unit history regarding the 25th South Carolina and a bag with the remnants of what is labeled to be the original tension ropes.

From the Bill Beard Collection

This lot is located in Cincinnati.