H.C. Hart

H. C. Hart was an American drum major in the 71st New York Infantry during the American Civil War and an influential fife and drum manual author.

Biography Colonel H. C. Hart was educated as a military drummer at the military academy in Middletown, Connecticut under Professor Partridge. Hart was later praised for his instruction of the 102nd Regiment by its Drum Major Levi Elmendorf. to form a regimental band. Hart then set out to hire the best musicians he could find. In Connecticut, he hired Henry Chatfield, who he made leader and instructor, and fifers Hezekiah and Leslie Todd from the Wolcott Drum Band along with several other drummers and fifers. The balance of the band was gathered from around the state and several further members came from New York City.

The 71st was then attached to the Army of the Potomac, where General Grant saw them perform and reportedly commented: "Well boys, I never heard such a Hell of a racket from so few drums in my life." The book used a relatively obscure rudimental notation system that he learned from Wolcott Drum Band member Samuel Wilcox. and continued to be used by the Wolcott Drum Band and the Moodus Fife and Drum Corps after the war. plus a number of popular tunes outside of the pure camp duty calls. The book was notable for its wide range of drum rudiments, some of which were unique to Hart, and its attention to the details necessary for complete beginners and students of otherwise low initial skill level.

Publications Col. H. C. Hart's New and Improved Instructor for the Drum with Original Notation