Type: Exhibition caption

Detail: Informal hymn-singing was popular in camp, as can be seen in this letter from Jacob Wyckoff, a pious New Brunswick youth, to his mother: "It is now Saturday nite and all things are assuming its generally natural ways of Camp life some are singing some of the best Patriot songs some of the men are enjoying a nice little sing Hymns of the soldiers book and some are playing instruments."

Type: Exhibition case

Name: Music on the Battlefield

Detail: Music and song pervaded the experience of soldiers during the Civil War. The onset of war stimulated the music-publishing industry, which flourished particularly in the North. George McClellan, the subject of the song sheet displayed here, was the most musically-honored general. There were two categories of army music. Field music refers to the fifes, bugles, and drums that initiated basic camp duties or signaled to soldiers on the battlefield, while band music was played by full-scale concert ensembles made up of brass and percussion. Band music encouraged soldiers on the battlefield and in camp.