By Beverly Belcher Woody
Anyone who has watched a presidential inauguration can probably recall witnessing the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps. These bands have been a tradition as long as America has been a country. During the War Between the States, fife and drum corps were used in the Confederate and Union armies. Many local soldiers, including Isham Cockram and William McGhee, were musicians in these bands.
After the war, local fife and drum corps, the Ballard Band and the Rock Castle Band grew in popularity and were employed for much happier occasions. Mr. Fred Clifton recalled in his memoirs that one of the most exciting times of the year was the 4th of July celebration. The festivities took place on what is now known as Willis Road in the field above Willie and Beulah Brammer Edward’s store.
Mr. Clifton was born in 1895 and recalled that the 1900 4th of July celebration at Ballard was a time of new experiences for him. This was where he saw his first banana, first sewing machine, first American flag, and first fife and drum corps called the Ballard Band.
When my great grandparents, Herman and Nannie Wood Hall, were married in 1914, the Ballard Band serenaded the newlyweds by playing the large drum while it was sitting in Grandma’s lap. Some of the men rode Grandpa around on a chestnut rail while others carried Grandma around in a washtub!
My mother, Shirlien Boyd Belcher, recalls the Ballard Band and the 4th of July celebration were still going strong in the 1940s and 50s. She remembers the band marching out Road #758 to open the festivities.
According to the writings of Mr. James Henry “Squire” Dillon, some of the Ballard Band members during the mid-20th century were Fred Clifton, Rucker Harris, Wallace Hall, Thomas Helms, J. B. Hylton, Jimmy Wood, and Ham Helms. Two of Henry and Myrtle Helms Hancock’s daughters served as flag bearers.
Mr. Squire Dillon recorded a very interesting account of the Rock Castle Band. As previously mentioned, Isham Cockram was a fifer in Company G, commanded by Captain William Price and William McGhee was a drummer in Company D, commanded by Captain Rufus Woolwine, both companies belonging to the 51st Virginia Infantry Regiment.
In the year 1902, a Confederate Veteran reunion was held in the town of Stuart. Governor Andrew Jackson Montague attended and was staying at the Stonewall House on Main Street. Captain Woolwine paid Private McGhee’s expenses to travel round trip from Pulaski to Stuart to have him beat the same drum that he beat throughout the entire war. According to Mr. Dillon, the governor was very impressed with the old kettle drummer.
The Rock Castle Band continued for several more years. Some of the members included R. W. Hylton, his two sons, J. W. DeHart, Walter G. Weaver, Fred Dillon, Henry Dillon, Edgar DeHart, and Guy Dillon. The band remained active until the Hylton family moved to Roanoke County.
Years after the bands ceased to play, Mr. Fred Clifton managed to locate some of the instruments of the Ballard Band. He had them restored and donated to the Patrick County Historical Museum where they are on display.
Thank you to Mary Alice Atkins Osborne, Shirlien Belcher, Danny Compton, and Matt Hubbard for their contributions to this article.
(Woody can be contacted at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com.)
