The Fife and Drum Corps of the Acton Minute Company is called the Davis Blues. It is so named in honor of
Captain Isaac Davis, who led the original Acton Minute Company in drills and maneuvers, and who led them on
their famous march to the North Bridge in Concord on April 19,1775, and into history. They have been called
the Davis Blues since the 1800's, when members of the Acton Minutemen participated in many of this country's
military conflicts.
The Davis Blues play many tunes, among them Yankee Doodle (a crowd favorite), the Green Cockade, and
Ode to Joy. The majority of the songs we play are from the 18th century, but not all. In parades and
ceremonies, we play songs that the crowd likes to hear. In situations where we are following strict 18th-century
authenticity guidelines, we play songs from that period.
One of the signature songs of the Davis Blues and The Acton Minutemen, is "The White Cockade". This tune
was played on the march to Concord on that fateful day by the lone fifer for the company, young Luther
Blanchard of Boxborough, who was accompanied by the sole drummer in the outfit, Francis Barker. It is not
known for certain whether the tune was played at the Old North Bridge itself, for there are contradictory reports.
But it is certain that Davis's Acton Company was playing it when they passed by the widow Brown's tavern in
Concord shortly before they arrived at Punkatasset Hill, overlooking the bridge.
Originally a lively Scottish tune, "The White Cockade" was synonymous with rebellion and steadfastness. It
celebrates the 1745 Jacobite uprising, when "Bonnie Prince Charlie" attempted to regain the throne of England.
The Prince bent down and picked a white rose, which he placed in his hat as a symbol of defiance. The fact
that it was played by Acton on the first day of the Revolutionary War is very fitting.
One of the signature components of our Acton Minuteman parade uniform is the white cockade we all wear in
our hats. It is a grouping of white feathers sewn into the leaf of the tricorn hat, and is symbolic of that defiance
and courage that Acton demonstrated on April 19th, 1775. We wear the white cockade proudly on our heads,
and we play "The White Cockade" proudly when we march.
For more on "The White Cockade" and its significance on April 19th, 1775, please read historian D. Michael
Ryan's excellent piece on the subject here.
down the Isaac Davis Trail to the sounds of
"Rakes of Mallow"
