Dick the Drummer (unknown–unknown)

Type: Biography

Published: December 1, 1994

Updated: September 9, 2020

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Dick the Drummer was a musician and one of two free Blacks who participated in the battle of San Jacinto. 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 War 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.

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).

Time Periods:

Texas Revolution

The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry.

Diana J. Kleiner, “Dick the Drummer,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed January 17, 2022, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/dick-the-drummer.

Published by the Texas State Historical Association.