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. The diaries, and other papers, reside in the UNC Chapel Hill Wilson Library.
Collection Name: J.A. Lineback Papers, circa 1861-1863; 1914
Description of the original Julius Lineback wartime diaries and other papers: http://www2.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/l/Lineback,J.A.html
Portions of Julius Leinbach’s diaries are reprinted in a monograph (booklet) published by MMF, Regiment Band of the Twenty-Sixth North Carolina, along with the repertory list of the Band.
Order for only $4 at the MMF website
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.
Interested in the whole story?
A JOHNNY REB BAND FROM SALEM: the Pride of Tarheelia
by 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/
MMF’s Collection of
Civil War Reproduction Instruments
The Moravian Music Foundation is the home of the only known complete set of extant Confederate band books from the Civil War. This set belonged to the musicians of the 26th NC regiment band, which was made up of Moravian men from Salem, NC. The MMF has part-books from other bands as well, and researcher Philip Dunnigan is working to identify which bands are represented by these books. Some books are believed to be from the 21st and 33rd NC regiment bands.
Generous donations to the MMF have allowed us, over the last few years, to have replica Civil War horns made by Robb Stewart. Robb creates and restores vintage brass instruments in his California workshop. So far the MMF’s replica Civil War Horn collection includes:
- 2 Eb Cornets
- 2 Bb Cornets
- 2 Eb Alto Horns
- 1 Bb Tenor Horn
- 1 Eb Bass Horn
We’d like to have an additional Bb Tenor Horn (approx. $4000) and an additional Eb Bass horn (approx. $8000) to round out our band of instruments. We’d also like to have a replica Civil War era drum (approx. $1500). Our hopes are to have musicians regularly perform music from the 26th band on these instruments.
Here are some links of civil war music interest:
Book Review of Johnny Reb Band from Salem by Winston-Salem Journal writer Tom Dillon
http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_RelishArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149192886607&path=!entertainment!general!&s=1037645508970
Recreated 26th NC Regimental Band
http://www.jvmusic.net/26thNCRegimentBandrecreated.html
26th NC Regiment (no mention of the band, only the fife and drum corp)
http://www.26nc.org/index.html
Civil War Bands
http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/music/bands.html
Description of the Lineback papers in the collections at UNC Chapel Hill
http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/l/Lineback,J.A.
Vermont in the Civil War (mentions the 26th NC regiment band)
http://vermontcivilwar.org/museum/music/music.php
Civil War Art Print – Maryland, My Maryland (mentions the 26th NC regiment band)
http://www.allenscreations.com/mkmmm.html
North Carolina History Project’s entry about the Salem Brass Band
http://www.northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/139/entry
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
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
