This photo was obviously taken on a street corner in a small town. The occasion is unknown, but such brass bands were immensely popular and performed at all sorts of public occasions. Many mustered into the army with local volunteer regiments and returned home in Fall 1862 when regimental bands were abolished in favor of those assigned to brigade and larger organizations.

Here twelve members are drawn up as if for a parade in a column of threes, with instruments in position to play.  Upright and over-the-shoulder horns are carried in the first two ranks. The third seems to be cornets, with snare drum, bass drum and cymbals bringing up the rear. A tall plank fence stands behind the band and a picket fence runs off to the viewer’s left with a long frame building visible down the street and low trees visible over the fences.

None of the men wear uniforms, though the figure at the far end of the front rank may be wearing a light colored kepi. Many wear sack coats, the popular style. The man in the center of the third rank wears a long frock. There is no photographer’s backmark and no tax stamp and there is some interesting detail.  [sr][ph:L]

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