RequisiteforagoodbattleintheAmericanCivilWarwereopposingsoldiers,sufficientweapons,andatleasttwobrassbands.Duringnearlyeverymajorbattle,musicurgedthetroopsonward,andmilitaryunitshotlycompetedfortalentedmusicians.
DuringthesiegeofAtlanta,acornetplayergavesuppertimeconcertsatthefront.Onenightthefightingwassoheavyhedidnotshowup,andtherewasafloodofprotestfromangryNorthernsoldierswhohadlookedforwardtohisperformance.Ashortceasefirewasworkedoutsothatthecornetist'smelodiescoulddriftthroughtheevening.Aftereachselection,bothsidesapplaudedwildly.Butassoonashisconcerthadended,thebloodyshootingresumed.
美國南北戰爭一場完整的戰役，除了要有敵對的軍隊和足夠的武器，還要有至少兩支銅管樂隊。重要戰役幾乎每一場都有軍樂，鼓舞將士向前。出色的樂師，獲軍隊爭相羅致。
亞特蘭大攻守戰期間，一位短喇叭手在前線每天晚飯時間演奏，但有一天戰鬥太過激烈，他沒有現身。北軍企盼多時，聽不到他的喇叭聲，十分不滿，怨聲四起。戰鬥雙方於是議定暫時停火，讓那喇叭手吹奏的悠揚樂曲，再度響徹夜空。選奏的每一曲告終，對陣雙方都忘形喝采。但是，演奏一完畢，血腥的槍戰又起。