DICK THE DRUMMER (?-?). Dick the Drummer was a musician and one of two free blacks who participated in the battle of San Jacinto.qv He was a member of the regular infantry who, with three fifers, constituted the Texas army's band. He is credited with confusing the Mexican troops at the battle. Dick also served as a drummer during the Mexican Warqv at the battles of Monterrey and Buena Vista. He was described as an older man at a dinner honoring San Jacinto battle veterans in May 1850.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Harold Schoen, "The Free Negro in the Republic of Texas," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 39-41 (April 1936-July 1937). Frank X. Tolbert, The Day of San Jacinto (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1959; 2d ed., Austin: Pemberton Press, 1969).
Diana J. Kleiner
