Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is the most phenomenal American military drum we have ever offered. Manufactured in 1812 by Abner Stevens of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, this drum features a tremendously-painted American Eagle atop the American shield, with our nation’s motto, E Pluribus Unum, Out of Many, One, inscribed onto the scroll. Written on the top skin of the drum is a name, written twice, as Jas. Campbell, and again as James Campbell. There is a third name written, but it has become too faint to discern. In our research, we found a Sergeant Musician James Campbell, who served with Colonel Denny McCob’s Regiment of U.S. Volunteers, made up of men from New Hampshire & Maine. Given that the drum was manufactured in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, it is entirely plausible that this drum would have ended up with McCob’s Regiment, which moved through Massachusetts and Vermont during the war. We could not find another James Campbell noted as being a musician, so we have confidence in this identification.

This rope-tension field drum, approximately 15½” tall and 16” in diameter, has a cylindrical shell or body formed of oak, with sheepskin heads and original, red-painted rims of hickory wood attached with hempen cord and adjusting tabs of leather (a few now missing). The face of the shell is painted with an American eagle with a red/white/blue shield of the United States at its breast, arrows & an olive branch protruding from under the shield, above a scroll bearing the motto: "E PLURI BUS UNUM" and below it, the date "1812" in white letters. This style of eagle is associated with Abner, and comparison with other examples of his show similarities in the shape of the beak, the wings, and position of scroll. The paint has aged tremendously, and is certainly the highlight of the drum.

The other side of the drum is adorned with 64 brass tacks, 16 of which secure the cylindrical shell together. The tacks are positioned around the lovely red, white, and blue painted star which surrounds the ventilation hole. Stevens absolutely took the placement into consideration, with the tacks almost inviting the viewer to peek through the hole, greeted by his advertisement.

The interior of the drum, which can be viewed through the vent hole surrounded by a painted star, features a partial maker’s tag for Abner Stevens, which originally would have read:

AMERICAN DRUMS
ABNER STEVENS
HAS FOR SALE
TEMBOREANS BASS & COMMON DRUMS
MADE IN THE BEST MANNER AT HIS
FACTORY IN THE CENTER OF THE TOWN OF
PITTSFIELD MA 1812

From other examples we have seen, we know that Stevens only used this paper label until 1813, confirming the manufacture of this drum to 1812. As Stevens supplied the national government with drums, his drums ended up in the hands of many different regiments. The drum’s dimensions and method of construction closely match the specifications given in a wartime contract between the US Army and Stevens.

“Early in 1809, Abner Stevens removed the drum-making business, which he had for some years carried on in Hancock, to Pittsfield, where he built a shop on North Street. Every town had at least one military company; and the most essential of all equipment was the drum. The captain’s sword or the private’s musket might be supplied by some imperfect substitute; but a drum, and a passably good one, could not be dispensed with. Mr. Stevens made a good rattling instrument, and the war added the national government to the number of his patrons; and being industrious and economical, he made a handsome fortune. Stevens died on February 6th, 1842.”

Attached to the top hoop is a small iron ring, certainly meant to affix the drum to the drummer’s rigging. From this angle, the names inscribed on the top skin are in clear view, further supporting that these were period-inscribed by the soldier who carried this drum. The hempen cord is very well-retained, with the end showing some heavy fraying. The drum retains six of its original leather ties, some of which are partial due to loss of material. These complement the drum very well, despite their damage.

The bottom skin of the drum retains remnants of a very old inscription, and we are only able to make out a few of the letters. This would require some forensic research to discern, and along with the inscriptions on the top, this is a drum that still has a great deal of research potential!

This is a drum that truly retains a bit of the Spirit of America that it was filled with during one of the most tumultuous conflicts of our history, the conflict that inspired the Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem. To find something of this caliber outside of a museum is quite notable. Don’t miss out on this verified War of 1812 drum that saw the entirety of the conflict. Comes ready for further research and display.