Pair of original Civil War Rosewood drumsticks, with partial ID

Being offered is a beautiful pair of Federal-issue Civil War drumsticks. They are made of rosewood and each measures approximately 17” long with a diameter of ¾”.  At the end of each stick the drummer carved his initials “W.H.”.

Drummers were responsible for beating out vital battle orders and communication signals, they were placed in harm's way from the beginning of the fight to its conclusion. And when the battle was over, drummer boys were also relied upon to police the field, helping to carry wounded men to the hospital tents, and to bury the slain

There is a pair of these type of drum sticks in a period photograph of Drummer David Auld of the 43rd Ohio Infantry (see pictures). There are also a pair in the Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum (see pictures). These sticks are in very nice condition with no cracks or damage. In my book "The Civil War Soldier - His Personal Items", I discuss the importance of music to the Civil War soldier. They would make a great addition to any Civil War collection.