History: Regimental Bands on the Frontier

January 5, 2026

News – Sheridan Media

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Regimental bands were a part of the frontier army outposts during the 19^th and 20^th Centuries. Fort Phil Kearny, Fort McKinney, and Fort MacKenzie all had regimental bands that played at dance, funerals, and ceremonies at the fort.

The Cheyenne Daily Sun, July 4, 1886 – The Fourth Infantry Passes Through the City Bound for Washington Territory – Shortly before 8 o’clock thirty-one coaches, made up into two sections, bowled into the Union Pacific depot with the Fourth infantry aboard. There was a large crowd of people at the depot to see the troops, including nearly all the officers and many privates from Fort Russell the Ninth Infantry band was also on hand to give the troops a serenade and several times enlivened the scene with spirited music. The Fourth infantry is on its way from the department of the Platte to the department of the Columbia, it consists of nine companies, averaging forty-five men each, and a line regimental band of twenty-two pieces. The regiment is commanded by Gen. Carlin. Among the officers who passed through last night were Captains Coates, Frisbee, Luhn, Quinn. Bubb, Neide and Keeffe, Lieut. Price, adjutant, and Lieut. Robinson, quarter master. Five companies of the regiment are consigned to Fort Spokane, Washington Territory, and four companies with the regimental band to
Fort Coeur d’Alene.

Many of the officers and men are accompanied by their wives and children and the train Included several Pullman coaches. Portions of the regiment have at different times been stationed at Fort Laramie and mother parts of the territory. The officers had many acquaintances here, notably among the military, but among the private citizens and a very convivial half hour was spent while the train stopped here. The train pulled out to the strains of “Marching Through Georgia,” played by the Ninth regiment band.

Bands helped to raise morale, and General Custer was known to use his Seventh Cavalry band to play during combat operations to inspire his troops into battle. His regimental song was ‘Garryowen’, which is an Irish jig tune.

Sheridan’s American Legion Sheridan Post #7, Drum and Bugle often play ‘Garryowen’ in the Sheridan WYO Parade, and other events.

The bugler was an important part of the military, it was used on a daily basis to call the soldiers to meals, saddle up, and to get out of bed and ready for the day. They were used in battles to relay messages to the troops when the commanders could not be heard.

At a the recent First Day Hike at Fort Phil Kearny, Site Superintendent Sharie Shada talked about the regimental band at the fort, and the fact that the travelers along the Bozeman trail, when they neared the fort, could see the huge flag, 20×36 feet in size, atop a flag pole that was 120 feet tall, and hear the band if they were playing at the time.

The flagpole in the parking lot today is 50 feet tall, and the flag considerably smaller. ‘Hail Columbia’ was written in 1789 for George Washington’s inauguration. It was between that, the Star-Spangled Banner, and America, My County Tis of Thee, which one would become the national anthem.

Although it was built later than most of the area’s fort, Fort MacKenzie made sure they had room for a band.

The Wyoming Industrial Journal, May 1, 1906 – Fort Mackenzie. Fort Mackenzie is located two miles northwest of Sheridan. Here the United States government is building one of the handsomest and most modern regimental post west of the Mississippi river. Already the sum of $513,629 has been expended in the construction of modern pressed brick quarters, a gravity water system and a sanitary sewer. The sum of $280,000 additional was made available from the appropriations made by the Fifty-eighth congress, and work is now in progress on additional buildings, company barracks, colonels’ and captains’ quarters and other commissioned officers’ quarters, etc. When these buildings are completed, Fort Mackenzie will have ample quarters to accommodate two troops of cavalry and six companies of infantry, regimental headquarters and a regimental band.

Fort McKinney near Buffalo also had a regimental band.

The Cheyenne Daily Sun, January 28, 1891 – Fort McKinney Increased – Orders have been issued for the establishment at Fort McKinney of regimental headquarters of the Eighth infantry with a regimental band. Three troops of the Sixth cavalry have also been ordered here, making McKinney a six company post. Lieutenant Colonel Smith will be in command. Colonel Kautz being detained by duties at Washington. D.C. The Ninth cavalry goes to Fort Robinson. The Eighth has formerly been stationed at Fort Niobrara. The change will be made at once.

Of course, kids, even if they are over 18, will be kids. Curiosity didn’t kill the cat, but it put two soldiers under arrest.

The Cheyenne Daily Sun, August 22, 1891

Cities vied each other for the honor of having a Wyoming State Regimental Band in their town.

The Sheridan Enterprise, March 3, 1920 –Regimental Band May Be Organized – The possibilities of Sheridan getting a regimental band are regarded as good. Members of the Sheridan Commercial Club and Captain Simmons, commander of Company B, were in communication with Adjutant General McCoy yesterday and received the assurance that a band could be secured If the proper support was given it. The matter of a band for Sheridan has been given much consideration lately by the Commercial club and the Rotary club and the members of both organizations would put their best in back of a movement to secure a regimental band, and aid the officers of the local troops in every way possible to put the project oven. A regimental band consists of 52 pieces. The equipment is furnished by the government and an experit band leader will be in charge.

Sheridan Enterprise, March 9, 1920 – Three Cities Contend for Regimental Band – Basin, Greybull and Sheridan are contenders for the regimental band that is to be organized in connection with the cavalry regiment. The city that first certifies to the adjutant general that the required number. 28 men, have been enlisted, will be the city which will get the band, according to information received yesterday by Capt. C. A. Simmons, commander of Troop B from the adjutant general.

A meeting will be held at Central Hall at. 8 o’clock this evening. It is not necessary to be a bands man in order to be enlisted in the band. If a person has an aptitude for music, enlistment us a bandsman will afford a splendid opportunity to get musical training free. All per sons interested in the movement to secure a band for Sheridan are requested to be present at the meeting tonight.

Although Sheridan tried hard to establish a regimental band, Basin won the toss on that one.