The Long Roll

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"The Long Roll" called troops to arrange themselves in line prior to attack and it was the responsibility of the drummer boys to command the men to muster. The army relied on the services of these boys as musicians and as communicators. Just like their counterparts, these boys were regulars who suffered the same hardships and risks as the men. When they were not acting in the role of musician, they served as stretcher bearers, witnessing firsthand the horrors of war and the carnage it inflicted on those who fell. Whether drumming on the march or bearing the wounded, these courageous boys quickly grew up in a man's war.

This slender volume covers a wide range of topics: Origins of the Drummer Boy, Courage and Distinction, Medal of Honor Winners, Memorable Drummer Boys, Letters Home, The Life of a Drummer Boy, Forever Young, Wounded Drummers, Portrayed in the Press, Portrayed in Prose, Portrayed in Song, Camaraderie Between Sides, Diary Recollections, The Drums, Drumming Signals, Quotes on Drummer Boy, Veteran Drummers, Drummer Boy Gravesites, and Their Legacy. A wealth of vintage photographs brings these pages to life.