The Nineteenth Regimental Band

While looking through some old Boston Globes I found a reference that makes it seem likely that at least the band and maybe some members of Company "K" spent some time at Camp Cameron. In a July 27, 1902 article on the life of Henry Grant Weston, as a soldier and musician, it is stated that he was mustered in at Camp Cameron on Sept. 17, 1861 and left for the front with CO "K" on Sept. 23. In the Massachusetts Register #94, it states that the regiment was recruited at Camp Schouler, Lynnfield. I can find no references to it moving or any of the companies forming at other camps, as happened with some of the regiments that went through Cameron. "History of the Nineteenth Regiment" adds "The regimental band of 24 pieces, under bandmaster John A. Spofford, and a squad of recruits under Lieut. Bishop, of Company K, reached Camp Benton on September 27, 1861." This confirms that the band followed the regiment and a piece of Co. K did also. I do not know as yet how many men of Co. K traveled to the front with the band or if they also spent time at Camp Cameron. I also do not know as yet when the band arrived.
This does show the possibility of a trend at the camp. As I have mentioned in earlier posts, the Eleventh's Band remained behind at Camp Cameron for further training/recruiting and the Ninth's band went to Cameron after the Regiment went to the front. Now we know that the nineteenth did the same thing. Was this camp a training ground for Massachusetts bands? The locals often complained about the noise from the camp. It has generally been assumed that was on account of the muskets and cannons, could it also have been because of Henry grant Weston's tuba?

Dan Sullivan