HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
THE MILITARY HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
16TH O.V.I. (THREE MONTHS), KNOWN
AS THE JEFFERSON GUARDS.

BAND OF THE SIXTEENTH O. V. I. (THREE MONTHS.)

This band was taken into the service from Springfield. The common practice of the United States service, before and at the time of the breaking-out of the war, was to have a band for each regiment. This custom was adopted by the volunteer regiments in both the three months and three years services, until 1862, when orders were issued that bands should be organized for brigades and divisions only, and that the musicians comprising them should be detailed from the ranks, with some special provisions for the pay and emoluments of the leaders and principal musicians. What is now known as the Seventh Regiment Band has a local history running back, in an unbroken line, for nearly or quite a fourth of a century. Perhaps no other local organization has been mingled with the public affairs of Clark County to the extent that this one has. No celebration, parade, festival, fair or funeral has been quite complete without the presence of "the band." Col. Kershner, in a recent letter, says "Through the efforts of influential members of Company E, Henry Hawkens Band joined the regiment at Columbus," etc. The band was composed of

The services of the band were paid for by contributions from the officers of the regiment, excepting the small sum of $13 per month, which each man received as pay as a private soldier.