The musicians in regiment bands were considered noncombatants. At the the end of 1861, the government abolished regimental bands but provided for 16-piece bands at the Brigade level. Despite this, some Regiments retained their bands by re-enlisting the musicians as combatants and then assigning them to band duties.
73rd OVI
Regiment Band
In 1861, Congress authorized the creation of regimental bands for the regular army. The War Department issued a General Order in July 1861 authorized 2 field musicians (buglers or fifes and drummers) per company of soldiers and a band of 16-24 musicians for each regiment.