Many of the martial fife tunes of the period were essentially fiddle tunes, and usually written in the keys of "D" or "G", which I understand is common for the fiddle as well.

Concurring with Friend Naemanson, I get the sense that if any instrument was used aboard a Naval vessel in conjunction with the routine operation of the ship or routine of the crew, it would likely have been a drum or, in some instances, a fife. Special regulation beats or "calls" were specified for each order to be transmitted.

Instruments such as the fiddle, banjo, concertina etc. would be more appropriate for "Fo'cstle" or social, entertainment or recreational music as Naemanson alluded to.

Some tunes I would not have been surprised to hear aboard ship in 1861 - 5 include:

Paddy on a Handcar Granny Will Yer Dog Bite, Frog in the Well, Ol' Dan Tucker, The Glendy Burke Soldier's Joy, Turkey in the Straw, Ol' Zip Coon, Lubaley Fan ("Buffalo Gals"), and of course... "DIXIE"!

One of our Drummers is a decendant of a Southernor who was captured and imprisoned early in the War, and given the option of "galvanizing" into the U.S. Navy or starving to death, he soon found himself aboard the USS Kearsearge. Some time later, apparantly converted to the cause of preserving the Union and liberating the slaves, he engaged in the fateful Battle off Sherbourge in which the Alabama went down. He apparantly has his Ancestor's diary and eyewitness accounts of the encounter - all quite facinating. A recent TV documentary on the underwater archeaology of the CSS Alabama and recovery of some of her guns and gear was also quite interesting.

"Uncle Jaque", Musician, 3rd Maine Volunteer Infantry; Regimental Field Music