What is a Fife?
A fife is a flute-like instrument that was used in both the British and American military to play songs like Yankee doodle and the British Grenadier or would also give commands to companies on the Battlefield.
What was the jobs of the Fife and Drum core?
From being the 1814 alarm clock to playing the orders of officers there were many roles that the Fife and Drummers would be in charge of doing. Any boys as young as 10 could become a musician usually they were son of soldiers or orphans. The main job would be the Drummer would beat different signals to be communicated when activities would start and end for example Reveille when starting the day and tattoo (also known as taptoo) which signal tavern keepers to turn their taps off. They would also be a postmen carrying orders Officers that need to read the orders. When it comes to times of war the Fife and Drummers would play different calls for Officers, run Ammo to soldiers, assist the wounded. When the time is allowed they play music to encourage the men and sound a parley to call for a cease fire.