Robert Henry Hendershot, the Disputed Drummer Boy of the Rappahannock
Carte de visite by Christopher Gullmann of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. A young musician in full dress poses with a flag-decorated drum, upon which is engraved a wreath with an unreadable inscription in side.
This is Robert Henry Hendershot, the "Drummer Boy of the Rappahannock," who was documented to have been in Poughkeepsie during the war and early postwar years. He briefly attended Poughkeepsie Business College.
The book "Camp Fire Entertainment And True History Of R.H. Hendershot, The Drummer Boy Of The Rappahannock" by H.E. Gerry includes this passage after Hendershot accepted an invitation to the college: "The proposition was promptly accepted, and, elegantly dressed in a suit of finest blue, trimmed with red, and carrying his splendid silver drum, he proceeded to Poughkeepsie, accompanied by several distinguished citizens. They were met at the depot by about two thousand students of the Eastman National Business College, besides a large number of people, all of whom had assembled to do honor to the brave little boy."
The drum pictured here is also described in the book: "The shell of this drum is of pure silver; the hoops are of solid rosewood, both the batter and the snare heads are made of transparent calf skin, so clear one can read through them; the braces are of a new and unique pattern, with a German silver crest on each cone; the snare-fastener is of German silver. On the body of the drum is the beautifully engraved presentation inscription of the Tribune Association, which reads as follows:
PRESENTED
BY THE
TRIBUNE ASSOCIATION
TO
ROBERT HENRY HENDERSHOT,
OF THE 8TH MICHIGAN INFANTRY, FOR HIS GALLANTRY
AT THE ATTACK ON FREDERICKSBURG,
11TH DEC., 1862.
Hendershot's claims of wartime heroism were later debunked, but he continued to make the case that he was the Drummer Boy of the Rapahannock until his death in 1925 in his mid 70s.
German-born Christopher Gullmann (about 1828-1913) appears in Poughkeepsie business directories as a photographer and/or artist between 1864 and 1879.
I encourage you to use this image for educational purposes only. However, please ask for permission.
Robert Henry Hendershot, the Disputed Drummer Boy of the Rappahannock
Carte de visite by Christopher Gullmann of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. A young musician in full dress poses with a flag-decorated drum, upon which is engraved a wreath with an unreadable inscription in side.
This is Robert Henry Hendershot, the "Drummer Boy of the Rappahannock," who was documented to have been in Poughkeepsie during the war and early postwar years. He briefly attended Poughkeepsie Business College.
The book "Camp Fire Entertainment And True History Of R.H. Hendershot, The Drummer Boy Of The Rappahannock" by H.E. Gerry includes this passage after Hendershot accepted an invitation to the college: "The proposition was promptly accepted, and, elegantly dressed in a suit of finest blue, trimmed with red, and carrying his splendid silver drum, he proceeded to Poughkeepsie, accompanied by several distinguished citizens. They were met at the depot by about two thousand students of the Eastman National Business College, besides a large number of people, all of whom had assembled to do honor to the brave little boy."
The drum pictured here is also described in the book: "The shell of this drum is of pure silver; the hoops are of solid rosewood, both the batter and the snare heads are made of transparent calf skin, so clear one can read through them; the braces are of a new and unique pattern, with a German silver crest on each cone; the snare-fastener is of German silver. On the body of the drum is the beautifully engraved presentation inscription of the Tribune Association, which reads as follows:
PRESENTED
BY THE
TRIBUNE ASSOCIATION
TO
ROBERT HENRY HENDERSHOT,
OF THE 8TH MICHIGAN INFANTRY, FOR HIS GALLANTRY
AT THE ATTACK ON FREDERICKSBURG,
11TH DEC., 1862.
Hendershot's claims of wartime heroism were later debunked, but he continued to make the case that he was the Drummer Boy of the Rapahannock until his death in 1925 in his mid 70s.
German-born Christopher Gullmann (about 1828-1913) appears in Poughkeepsie business directories as a photographer and/or artist between 1864 and 1879.
I encourage you to use this image for educational purposes only. However, please ask for permission.