Perhaps some day people will look at the ways we wage war today and shake their heads, just as we must do when looking at this depiction of war in 1835. In the heat of battle, officers shout orders to their soldiers, several of which already lay dead on the field. The drummer keeps a steady beat to assist the officers, who often lost their voices trying to yell amidst the black smoke and loud noise. The steady drumming also helped the soldiers load and fire in unison. A high-pitched flute called a fife was often played to help boost morale.
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