Roster: Regimental Band

When I first began this blog on the 48th Pennsylvania, I promised I would provide the full muster and descriptive rolls for the regiment. Now here we are nearly six months later, and I have not yet posted a single roster! So today I will start, and I will start with the 48th Pennsylvania's Regimental Band, which was in existence for a little less than one year.

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At the outset of the Civil War, it was quite common for each regiment to be complemented by a regimental band, usually consisting of 12-16 musicians. The band of the 48th Pennsylvania ultimately consisted of 24 members. Mustered into service in late August 1861, it would entertain the regiment with its martial airs until August 18, 1862, when, by General Order of the War Department, regimental bands were done away with. Returning home to Pottsville, some members of the 48th's band reenlisted into any one of the ten companies, becoming a drummer, fifer, et cetera.

William Hinkley, Abraham Nagle, and James Sterner were listed as the band's "Principal Musicians," while John W. Souders was listed as the "Band Leader."

Joseph Gould, in his regimental history of the 48th, wrote that when the band was discharged, "We were all very sorry to part company with our excellent band and missed it sadly." Oliver Bosbyshell, in his history of the regiment, asked an important question about the discharge of the band. "The instruments," wrote the former major, "were the property of the regiment, having been purchased through contributions made by the various companies, during its occupancy of Hatteras; so, now, what to do with these instruments became a question. It was finally agreed to permit the band to take them home, and there to place the in the hands of three trustees, Messrs. Frank Pott, F.B. Kaercher and Joseph Derr, all of Pottsville, who were respectfully desired to have a care to the regiment's interest in them." However, Bosbyshell concluded, "These gentlemen are all dead, and of the most difficult questions to be answered is, Where are these instruments now?"

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Muster Roll and Descriptive Record:

The 48th Pennsylvania's Regimental Band

Aikman, James: 8/24/1861; Musician; 28 years old; Height: 5’10”; Dark Complexion; Light Blue Eyes; Dark Hair; Machinist; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Aikman, John: 8/24/1861; Musician; 19 years old; Height: 5’8”; Dark Complexion; Blue Eyes; Auburn Hair; Machinist; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Birt, William: 8/24/1861; Musician; 32 years old; Height: 5’3”; Light Complexion; Hazel Eyes; Auburn Hair; Tailor; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Bowen, Albert: 8/24/1861; Musician; 20 year old; Height: 5’3”; Dark Complexion, Gray Eyes; Dark Hair; Clerk; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Brown, Frederick J: 8/24/1861; Musician; 24 years old; Height: 5’4”; Dark Complexion; Grey Eyes; Light Hair; Druggist; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Cruikshank, John: 8/24/1861; Musician; 21 years old; Height: 5’7”; Dark Complexion; Blue Eyes; Light Hair; Machinist; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Feger, William J.: 8/24/1861; Musician; 23 years old; Height: 5’7”; Light Complexion; Hazel Eyes; Black Hair; Linsmith; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Garrett, James W.: 8/24/18681; Musician; 18 years old; Height: 5’6”; Dark Complexion; Grey Eyes; Light Hair; Printer; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

George, John: 8/24/1861: Musician; 20 years old; Height: 5’6”; Dark Complexion; Blue Eyes; Light Hair; Miner; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Glenn, Charles A.: 8/24/1861; Musician; 19 years old; Height: 5’9”; Light Complexion; Blue Eyes; Auburn Hair; Printer; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Gore, William A.: 8/24/1861; Musician; 21 years old; Height: 5’8”; Dark Complexion; Blue Eyes; Light Hair; Printer; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Haas, Edward L.: 8/24/1861; Musician; 23 years old; Height: 5’6”; Dark Complexion; Grey Eyes; Dark Brown Hair; Carpenter; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/24/1862

Hays, John F.: 8/24/1861; Musician; 26 years old; Height: 5’9”; Light Complexion; Blue Eyes; Brown Hair; Machinist; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/24/1862

Hinkley, W.H.: 9/17/1861; Principal Musician; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Hinning, Charles: 8/24/1861; Musician; 26 years old; Height: 5’6”; Light Complexion; Grey Eyes; Dark Hair; Miner; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Hodgson, William H.: 8/24/1861; Musician; 19 years old; Height: 5’6”; Dark Complexion; Grey Eyes; Light Hair; Printer; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Kopp, Daniel: 8/24/1861; Musician; 45 years old; Height: 5’8”; Light Complexion; Blue Eyes; Dark Hair; Miner; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Lee, George W.: 8/24/1861; Musician; 19 years old; Height: 5’5”; Light Complexion; Grey Eyes; Light Hair; Miner; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

McDaniel, C.T.: 8/24/1861; Musician; 20 years old; Height: 5’4”; Dark Complexion; Grey Eyes; Light Hair; Boatman; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

MacArthur, Nicholas: 8/24/1861; Musician; 42 years old; Height: 5’10”; Dark Complexion; Grey Eyes; Brown Hair; Miner; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/24/1862

Maize, William A.: 8/24/1861; Musician; 21 years old; Height: 5’6”; Light Complexion; Blue Eyes; Auburn Hair; Clerk; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Nagle, Abraham: 10/1/1861; Principal Musician; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Abraham Nagle

Levi Nagle (Post-War)

Nagle, Levi: 8/24/1861; Musician; 26 years old; Height: 5’8”; Dark Complexion; Grey Eyes; Dark Hair; Printer; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Severn, Thomas: 8/24/1861; Musician; 19 years old; Height: 5’6”; Light Complexion; Dark Eyes; Dark Hair; Printer; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Slingluff, Charles: 8/24/1861; Musician; 20 years old; Height: 5’5”; Dark Complexion; Hazel Eyes; Black Hair; Printer; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Souders, John W.: 8/24/1861; Lead Band; 31 years old; Height: 5’6”; Light Complexion; Light Blue Eyes; Brown Hair; Clerk; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862

Sterner, James: 10/1/1861; Principal Musician; Pottsville; Discharged from Band: 8/18/1862