the Civil War Band
from Salem
The Moravian Music Foundation is the home of the only known complete set of extant Confederate band books from the war between the states.
This set belonged to the Moravian musicians from Salem, NC who were attached to the 26th NC Regiment. The MMF vault holds part-books from other bands, as well.
Extensive diaries by Julius Leinbach have proven invaluable, as an historic record.
Researcher, Philip Dunigan, is currently working to tell the story from the perspective of Ed Peterson, Salem trombonist, captured in his letters home during the Civil War; this involves cross-referencing with maps and other diaries and records, to determine where the band was, on particular dates, and how they fit into the story and events of the war.
Portions of Julius Leinbach’s diaries are reprinted in a monograph, Regiment Band of the Twenty-Sixth North Carolina, along with the repertory list of the Band.
Order for only $4 at the MMF website
Interested in the whole story?
A JOHNNY REB BAND FROM SALEM: the Pride of Tarheelia
Harry H. Hall, 2006, paperback
Order for only $15 at the MMF website
Information relating to Salem, NC and the 26th NC Regiment Band:
- Article for Moravian (June 2015) A Storm in the Land: Southern Moravians in the Civil War
- Webpage by Old Salem, Inc. Salem, NC and the Civil War
MUSIC OF THE 26TH NC REGIMENT BAND – sheet music for brass band, edited and published by MMF
– THREE VOLUMES
Order online at the MMF website
MUSIC OF THE 26TH NC REGIMENT BAND – available on CD
– TWO CD COLLECTIONS
A Storm in the Land
Cheer Boys, Cheer!
American Brass Quintet performs
Order online at the MMF website
Today, the Federal City Brass Band performs as the 26th NC Regiment Band all over the country.
Often, they visit Salem.
Civil War re-enactors, known as the Federal City Brass Band, recreate the experience of the 26th NC Regimental Band, through dress, word, and music performance. http://www.jvmusic.net/federal-city-brass-band26th-nc-band/
OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST:
26th NC Regiment (no mention of the band, only the fife and drum corp) http://www.26nc.org/index.html
Once brass valves were invented, brass bands began to replace and fill these roles.
Civil War Bands – an overview of several bands http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/music/bands.html
Description of the original Julius Lineback wartime diaries in the collections at UNC Chapel Hill http://www2.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/l/Lineback,J.A.html
Vermont in the Civil War (mentions the 26th NC regiment band) Essay about music in the Civil War http://vermontcivilwar.org/museum/music/music.php
Civil War Art Print – Maryland, My Maryland by Mort Künstler (depicts the 26th NC regiment band, and gives a description of the scene and the band’s role in the crossing of the Potomac on the way to Gettysburg) http://www.allenscreations.com/mkmmm.html
North Carolina History Project’s entry about the Salem Brass Band’s role, being attached to the 26th NC Regiment during the Civil War. http://www.northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/139/entry