Rhode Island - Fife & Drum

Fife & Drum action hits its stride in Rhode Island at Bristol on July 4 and Warwick on Gaspee Days in June

In Colonial America the armed forces consisted mainly of citizen soldiers. These men would gather -- or muster – periodically to practice their skills. Each community usually had a fifer and a drummer to provide marching music for the local militia. During battle, fifes and drums signaled troop movement. At camp, the music provided entertainment for the soldiers.

Today’s fife and drum corps are still comprised local citizens dedicated to preserving the ancient art and music of the fife and drums. Musical selections are drawn from many sources, some predating 1800, and include marches, dances, and cheerful tunes. Popular selections include “Yankee Doodle,” “The Girl I Left Behind Me,” and “The Road to Boston.”

Uniforms worn by the fife and drum corps are a source of pride and distinction. Drummers and fifers had special status in the militia signalers and non-combatants; their uniforms usually were the reverse of the regiments’ colors. Some of today’s fife and drum corps wear clothing of the 18th century and others wear dress common of the American Civil War period and later.

Fife and Drum Corps perform in parades, reenactments, musters, encampments, and even at half-time shows. A muster is a gathering of several corps with a parade in the morning followed by individual performances by each participating corps. When all corps have performed, it is customary for some members of each corps to mass and play common fife and drum tunes.

Check the websites of the individual corps for information about their public appearances.

Kentish Guards Fife & Drum Corps
East Greenwich, RI
Phone: 401-539-0622

All male senior corps, rated #1 in Rhode Island. Has performed in 12 states and 5 cities in Switzerland. A unit of the Kentish Guards, Rhode Island Militia. The Kentish Guards is an historic military organization that was chartered by the Colony of Rhode Island on October 29, 1774. It was formed to protect the town of East Greenwich, Rhode Island from Tory attack. The Kent County Court House served as their armory. They built Fort Daniel at the entrance to Greenwich Cove, equipped it with nine cannons, and garrisoned it throughout the Revolution.
At the formation of the Continental Army during the Siege of Boston in 1775, General Washington noticed how well the Kentish Guards were trained, equipped, and disciplined. Thirty-five members of the Kentish Guards were subsequently to serve as officers in the Continental Army. Foremost among these officers was Major General Nathanael Greene, the Savior of the South and, by the end of the war, second only to General Washington.

Pawtuxet Rangers, Rhode Island Militia
Pawtuxet, RI
Phone: 401-785-1774

The Pawtuxet Rangers were chartered in 1774 to protect the thriving seaport of Pawtuxet, RI and at various times throughout the Revolutionary War manned the fort on Pawtuxet Neck, a function vital to the defense of both Pawtuxet and Providence. While most 18th century militia companies where designated as either Infantry or Artillery, the Rangers from their beginnings were equipped and trained in both military arts. Today the Rangers artillery heritage continues with a three-pounder mounted on a field carriage and a one pounder on a garrison mount. The three-pounder travels on a trailer to all the parades. Qualified gun crew fire these guns at encampments and re-enactments.