Drum Taps in Dixie: Memories of a Drummer Boy, 1861-1865

A first-person memoir recounts the enlistment and wartime experiences of a boy who serves as a drummer with Union forces during the American Civil War. It blends camp and marching scenes, battlefield recollections, and domestic farewells, often presented as episodic sketches anchored by the drum as a symbolic witness. Personal anecdotes introduce comrades, officers, and small-town reactions to enlistment, while practical details describe duties, rations, and the hazards of service. The narrative balances nostalgic reflection with plain observation, emphasizing memory, camaraderie, and the everyday hardships endured by young soldiers.