At a time when the last generation of veterans were approaching their 70s, the nation celebrated the 50th anniversary of the conflict, bringing a resurgence of popular interest in this history. This came to profoundly influence the filmmaking of Thomas Ince, as I outline in my biography of him. For instance, a national assembly of veterans, complete in uniform and recreating their roles a half century earlier, was held at Gettysburg in July 1913, and Ince's biggest special that year, released by Mutual to coincide, was The Battle of Gettysburg, with a length of five reels and a budget of $75,000. Civil War films became a veritable genre in their own right, and Ince made important contributions. As actor Charles Ray recalled, "We used to wear Northern and Southern uniforms, alternately, charge upon ourselves and change uniforms and charge back."
The two-reel The Drummer of the 8th (Broncho, 1913) told of Billy, envying his brother entering the Union army. So Billy runs away from home to join as a drummer, taken prisoner when he picks up a fallen soldier=s rife. Escaping, he overhears the Confederate battle plan, and manages to warn his unit, unaware that they decided to attack on the other flank. He writes home telling his mother he will be visiting, believing he is recovering from his wounds. His brother returns a hero to join in celebrating Billy's homecoming. However, from the train station, Billy's flag-draped coffin is borne to his mother's side. The Drummer of the 8th has an element of spectacle reminiscent of the westerns, along with the stark realism and a hint of the pacifist undertones that would become more prominent as World War I approached.
The two-reel The Drummer of the 8th (Broncho, 1913) told of Billy, envying his brother entering the Union army. So Billy runs away from home to join as a drummer, taken prisoner when he picks up a fallen soldier=s rife. Escaping, he overhears the Confederate battle plan, and manages to warn his unit, unaware that they decided to attack on the other flank. He writes home telling his mother he will be visiting, believing he is recovering from his wounds. His brother returns a hero to join in celebrating Billy's homecoming. However, from the train station, Billy's flag-draped coffin is borne to his mother's side. The Drummer of the 8th has an element of spectacle reminiscent of the westerns, along with the stark realism and a hint of the pacifist undertones that would become more prominent as World War I approached.