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Jul 5, 2026 16 min

The American Drummer

from Unlock This! Hosted by Honest History

How would you send a message if phones hadn't been invented yet? During the American Revolution, messages were sent across the battlefield with the beat of a drum. Drummers used music to tell soldiers when to wake up, when to eat, and even when to march into battle. But here's the most amazing part: some of these drummers weren't grown men—they were kids! Some were as young as ten years old, marching alongside the soldiers into dangerous territory to make sure every order was heard. Join Anna and Leo as they travel back in time to meet a young drummer named Stephen Tainter. Don't forget to grab your boots. We've got a long march ahead of us! About Honest History Honest History creates award-winning books, magazines, and this show for young historians across the world. Our mission is to inspire kids to create a positive impact on history themselves. Learn more at honesthistory.co and @honesthistory. Credits This episode was narrated by Nikki Bon and JoAnn Schinderle, written by Heidi Coburn, and produced by Robot Pirate Media. Original theme music was written and recorded by Michael Dayvid. More Enjoy this episode? Share with your friends and don't forget to rate and review. See you next time!

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The American Drummer

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This episode was published on July 5, 2026.

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