As predicted, Kevin Combs was destined
to be Civil War re-enactor, drummer

When he was six months old, Kevin Combs II slept through a re-enactment artillery barrage at Staunton, Va.

Members of a re-enactment unit to which Kevin’s parents belonged, couldn’t believe it.

“He’s destined to be a re-enactor,” someone predicted.

The prediction came true.  But, in Kevin’s case, his weapon of choice is a drum instead of a firearm. And, as a Civil War drummer, he’s adept at all of some 30 infantry calls, including 20 for skirmishers when bugles are not available.

Drumbeats, of course, issue commands, telling soldiers what to do.

The 13-year-old Jefferson County resident is an unofficial member of the 9th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, but, for the most part, he does portrayals for living history programs at historic sites, schools, museums and – most recently – at the Kentucky State Fair and its Sesquicentennial Civil War Exhibit. Although a native of Fredericksburg, Va., he performs as a Union army member as he was requested to do so.

“It really doesn’t matter to me which side of the war I portray,” Kevin said. “The reason I portray a Union drummer is that I volunteer at the Frazier History Museum in Louisville and they wanted me to do an interpretation called ‘A Day in the Live of a Civil War (Union) Drummer’ when I was in their distance learning program.”

He also continues in that role at the George S. Patton Museum and at Louisville’s Historic Locust Grove. He’s also a member of the Louisville Fire and Rescue Pipes and Drums unit and a member of Capt. Alexander Hamilton’s New York Provincial Company of Artillery (Revolutionary War).

“I guess I’ve always been interested in the Civil War,” he added. “My parents are Civil War re-enactors and living historians and, also, for the Revolutionary War and World War II.”

Kevin, who’s president of the Jefferson County Kentucky Junior Historical Society, also was destined to be a drummer.

“My parents said as soon as I could crawl into the pots and pans cabinet, I began beating cadences on the pans with wooden spoons. I received my first drum when I was two years old and when any History Channel show dealt with drummers, I’d play along.”

A fifers and drummers guide provided “how to” instructions and Kevin eventually began working with an instructor at the University of Louisville School of Music. He also does a lot of research about Civil War drummers and is an ardent reader of books about the Civil War in general, army life and musicians.

Kevin’s drum is a hand-made instrument from Vermont that is historically accurate. Although he hasn’t outgrown the drum, he has had to replace his uniform when growth spurts occur.

The eighth-grade home schooler is interested in an army career as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist (CBRN). He’s also interested in rescue occupations and, perhaps, as an emergency room physician.

But history always will be a favorite subject and topic. And, as a Civil War presenter, he fields a variety of questions. On occasions, the questions can be somewhat “off the wall.”

After seeing Kevin perform at the state fair Civil War exhibit, one visitor obviously was not all that knowledgeable about the war or history in general.

“Are you an American or a British soldier?” he asked.