The West Virginia Highlanders Bagpipe Band owes its existence to the H. W. Daniels Post No. 29, The American Legion, Elkins, West Virginia. Outstanding among the early organizers of the band were Dr. B. I. Golden, Cyrus S. Kump, and David D. Brown III. Dr. Golden was one of the first men of the post to sense a need for a band to represent the Legion Post at various mmunity and state events. Mr. Kump, long having an interest in bagpipe bands, helped to formulate the plans for such an organization; and Mr. Brown, being the only available piper in the vicinity of Elkins, agreed to instruct others in the art of bagpipe playing and Scottish tradition if the post would furnish the financial backing, players, and sponsorship. It seemed especially appropriate, because of the beautiful highlands of West Virginia, to have a Highland Bagpipe Band. Accordingly, therefore, the West Virginia Highlanders were accepted in October, 1947, as the official post band of the H. W. Daniels Post No. 29.

Many problems presented themselves almost immediately. There was the task of training men, not only to play the difficult bagpipe, but also the tenor drum, snare drum, and base drum in the distinctive Highland tradition. From October through the summer of 1948 the members of the band met at least three times a week and sometimes as often as every night in a week for the purpose of fully acquainting themselves with their chosen instruments and the traditions in which they were to participate.

An appropriate uniform had to be selected. For the purpose of choosing such a garment much research was under- taken into Scottish folklore and clan history. After some extensive reading, the tartan of MacLeod of Lewis was chosen as the pattern from which the uniform was to be made. There were two main reasons for the choice, namely: (1) The MacLeods had as their personal pipers the MacCrimmons who were among the most famous pipers in all the Highlands. In fact the College of Piping established and run by them produced some of the outstanding pipers of the area. (2) The colors of the tartan (black, which appears as navy blue, yellow and scarlet) correspond most closely with the American Legion Colors (gold and blue) of any tartan examined. The pattern of the MacLeod of Lewis tartan is very colorful. Against a background of bright yellow, shaded black stripes an inch wide in groups of three running both vertically and horizontally form squares of solid black where they cross, resulting in alternate squares of shaded black and solid black in one way, and in the other squares of yellow and shaded black alternated. Superimposed on this pattern are thin scarlet stripes in a horizontal and vertical arrangement making their own squares. The resulting effect is a gay Scottish plaid.

The MacLeods of Lewis have their homeland on the Isle of Skye off the west coast of northern Scotland. Many generations ago this clan held much land and was very important. Though much of the land has been lost through clan wars and in other ways Dunvegan Castle in Skye still remains as the seat of the Chief of the clan. The Clan MacLeod has a very interesting and fascinating history in Scotland and quite a few of the modern MacLeods have come to the United States to continue the clan in this country. The West Virginia Highlanders Band shares in the traditions of the MacLeods because the members of the band are more or less members of the clan by adoption since they have had some important contacts with the MacLeods in this country as will be explained later.

The most distinguishing feature of the band when it goes to various functions is the uniform. Made in strict Scottish fashion it stands out in any crowd of people.

The kilt is the most outstanding part of the garb. Made of the MacLeod of Lewis tartan, the back is pleated and the front is plain. The kilt comes just to the knees and is fastened at the top by leather straps and held in place by a wide leather belt. Tartan hose coming within three inches of the knee, are worn by the pipers, decorated by scarlet garter flashers showing from under the doubled down portion near the knees. The drummers wear diced red and white hose instead of the regular tartan ones. The reason for this dates back to a custom among the Scots serving in the army of using the regimental uniform for their drummers. White Scottish spats and black shoes complete the visible uniform below the waist with the exception of the sporran. It is interesting to note that the kilt is seven yards long and is crossed in front to make a double thickness. The Gaelic name for a kilt is "feile beag."

The early highland dress was a "breacan-feile", or belted plaid, made of a piece of tartan and wrapped around the body, folding at the back so that it overlapped at the front and coming over the shoulder at the top to serve as an upper covering. Today this upper garment is the plaid which the band members wear. It is made of the tartan and for the pipers consists of an intricately folded piece of material, about 5 by 14 feet, across the chest and back hanging finally in a graceful way from the left shoulder nearly to the ground. For the drummers, there is an adaptation called a belted plaid to allow greater freedom in playing their instruments. The belted plaid fastens at the waist and is allowed to hang in the back almost to the bottom of the kilt and then is brought up over the left shoulder and fastened on the shoulder by a silver brooch as is the piper's plaid. The basic garment above the waist is the doublet. This is of blue material trimmed in yellow and is patterned after the Scottish military doublet. This jacket-like affair is crossed by a wide leather cross-belt in the case of the pipers and a white drum strap for the drummers. The white horsehair sporran with black tassels and a thistle top hangs from beneath the doublet on the front of the kilt. Originally the sporran contained a pocket, but now the only use is pure decoration. This whole uniform is topped by a cap called a glengarry which is long and thin in shape and in the case of the pipers is made of blue material with the Legion crest and black cocktail feathers. The drummers have a blue glengarry which is red and white diced without a feather. There are various other ornaments which add grandeur to the uniform and in some cases have a practical value.

The above description is of a basic uniform, but the pipe major and the drum major have slightly different details. The pipe major has a scarlet sash which he wears across his chest with various other ornaments to denote his rank. The drum major wears a scarlet doublet and a high black and white feather bonnet and carries a huge baton. One other exception to the general uniform is found in the case of the bass drummer who also wears a scarlet doublet and a leopard skin which is slit to allow an opening for the neck and is placed on the shoulders hanging in front and behind. The leopard's skin which the drummer wears over his shoulders dates back to the time when the bagpipe bands in use in the British army had African Negroes for drummers. These men brought the leopard skin with them and it has remained a tradition since the time of its first use. The crest used for the band is that of clan MacLeod, of MacLeod and Harris.

This, then, completes the intriguing costumes of the Highlanders.

Of all the instruments played in the band, the one which captures the most interest is the bagpipe itself. Although the bagpipe is now most often associated with the Highlands of Scotland, it is also common in several other countries such as Ireland, Italy, Poland and India. In more ancient times it was used in England, Germany, Spain and even by the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. The great highland bagpipe as used by the Scots and by the members of the West Virginia Highlanders consists of a leather bag covered with the tartan which holds the air; two tenor and one bass drone which furnish the accompaniment; a valved blowpipe by which the player introduces the air; and a chanter on which the melody is played. The chanter has eight holes which provides for the nine-note range of the pipes. Although the music for the pipes is now written of the common staff from middle G to A above the staff, the actual tunes do not follow our musical notation, the scale more nearly resembling that of Near Eastern music-most closely that of the Damascus vocal scale. The well known "skirl" of the bagpipes is produced by various combinations of rapid grace notes or "warblers" called cuttings, doublings, beats, "taorluath," etc. The drones have single beating reeds and the chanter has a double reed as in the oboe. The whole effect of bagpipe music is a rather plaintive wail that can nevertheless at times be very joyous.

The most interesting type of drums found in the band is the tenor. It has a tone above the bass drum that stands out whenever it is played. But the peculiar thing about the tenor drum is that its claim to glory does not lie in the type of music it produces but rather in the showmanship which can be exhibited while playing it through the flourishing of the drumsticks. On the end of the drumsticks is a leather thong, which is wrapped around the two middle Fingers. The drumstick is then twirled above the hand, high in the air, and caught by sticking the first and second fingers from the thumb up into the path of the whirling mallet and thus stopping its progress in order to bring it down for the beat in time with the music, Many intricate patterns and routines can be worked up with the effect that a pair of good tenor drummers can set off the entire band in their distinctive way. It has been the policy of the band to train tenor drummers to be able to work as a team thus insuring the best possible effects. The snare drum is perhaps the most well known instrument in the band. These drums are used for the street beat and also have an important part in the regular music wherever it is played. The bass drum carries the name of the band painted on the drumheads and offers a convenient source of publicity when the band is on parade. The bass drummer also does an intricate pattern of flourishes as he keeps time for the band in a steady manner.

Nearly all the band equipment has had to be imported. Part of the drums, which are British Army Regulation, came from Scotland and part from Canada. The bagpipes were made in Scotland. The tartan items are of woolen cloth woven in Scotland and made into uniforms in Scotland or Canada. Caps, doublets, leather, and silver items were all made in Scotland. In fact the only items obtainable in the United States were drumsticks and American Legion shirts and cap crests. It has been conservatively estimated that to completely outfit one member of the band with uniform and instrument costs approximately $500.00.

In addition to the playing members of the band a color guard of six men is attached to the organization. They are clad in plain tan kilts and regular army accessories. Since it is customary to have flags precede an American Legion unit in a parade the color guard accordingly carries the flags of the United States, The American Legion, the 40 and 8 and also the State of West Virginia. These flags are flanked by two men who carry rifles as a guard of honor.

The band has in its repertoire several types of music. Seven quicksteps used on the march are: "Cock o' the North," "Highland Laddie," "The 42nd," "The Bluebells of Scotland," "The Marines' Hymn," "Barren Rocks of Aden," and "Bonnie Dundee." A retreat beating, "Green Hills of Tyrol"; a slow march, "Mallorca"; a funeral march, "Lochaber No More"; a polka, "Hop Scotch Polka"; two strathspeys (to which several dances are done, including the well known "Highland Fling"), "Monymusk" and "Miss Ada Crawford"; and a reel, "The Piper of Drummond" complete the musical compositions which are played by the band. For variety several pipers are proficient soloists and are able to play an almost endless variety of songs.

After many months of strenuous practice the West Virginia Highlanders made their first out-of-town appearance at the 1948 Department of West Virginia American Legion Convention in Huntington, at which time the band tied for first place. Other trips closer home were made to Franklin, Petersburg and the Whitmer Reunion in 1948 in order to better acquaint the people of surrounding areas with the new band. Several appearances had been made in Elkins and from that time forward the people of Elkins were well aware that they had a real Highland Bagpipe Band. In 1949 the band appeared in the following places: West Virginia State Eagles Convention, Parkersburg; The State Junior Baseball Tournament, Charleston; Labor Day Parade in Morgantown; The Belington Fair; The Philippi Fair; The Parsons Fair; The Glenville Homecoming; Governor Patteson's Inauguration, Charleston (at the Governor's personal request); The West Virginia Department of the American Legion Convention, Wheeling; The Mountain State Forest Festival in Elkins; The American Legion National Convention, Philadelphia; and a television appearance on WCAU-TV during the American Legion National Convention.

In 1950 the following places were visited: Memorial Day Parade, Grafton; fairs in Belington, Philippi, Parsons, Kasson, and the State Fair in Lewisburg; Forest Festival in Elkins; the Legion Department Convention in Charleston; the Strawberry Festival Pre-Vue, Buckhannon; and one of the Washington Redskins' home games in Washington, D.C.

The year of 1951 proved to be a big year for the band. Outstanding among the many trips made that year was the trip to the American Legion National Convention in Miami, Florida. About a week was spent in that great vacation city and the band enjoyed tropical Florida very much. In the color motion picture of the convention several good shots were taken of the Highlanders as they were one of the most outstanding among the musical organizations which included units from every state and from several foreign nations. While at the convention the band appeared on color television during the election of Don Wilson of West Virginia as National Commander. In addition to this major trip the Highlanders also took part in the usual fairs in Belington, Philippi, and Parsons; the Webster County 4-H meeting at Cowen; a civic celebration in Lonaconing, Maryland; the Homecoming for American Legion National Commander Don Wilson in Clarksburg; the Kanawha Valley Mining Institute in Montgomery; the West Virginia American Legion Convention in Charleston; and the 1951 Forest Festival in Elkins.

In 1952 most of the appearances were rather close to Elkins. Charleston was the site of the West Virginia Legion Convention that year and the Highlanders as usual represented the H. W. Daniels Post. The Labor Day Parade in Paden City; fairs in Philippi, Parsons, Talbot Community, and Kasson; the Logan Centennial in Logan, West Virginia; the Romney Homecoming; plus the Forest Festival and other engagements in Elkins made a very busy year for the band in spite of the fact that there were no long distance trips.

Finally, 1953 brought some of the most interesting trips of the band's career. Outstanding among these was the gathering of Clan MacLeod in Crozet, Virginia, for the reception of Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod, C. B. E., 28th Chief of the MacLeods from Dunvegan, Scotland. Members of the clan from Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and North Carolina were present to greet Dame Flora and her 18-year-old twin grandsons, Ian and Patrick. Dame Flora's trip was made for the special purpose of organizing the clan and introducing Ian, who, as first born, will succeed his grandmother as head of the clan. Dame Flora, at 75, was very alert and interesting. She has taken an active part in the economic and cultural affairs in the Highlands and in recognition of her services was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in Queen Elizabeth's Coronation Honors List. Since Dame Flora was also the honorary president of the College of Piping in Glasgow she took a personal interest in the West Virginia Highlanders. She said that she had hot heard such authentic Highland music since she had been in this country and she took special happiness in watching an exhibition of Highland dancing put on by the band. The rest of the appearances of the band in 1953 were at the Labor Day parade in Paden City; The Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia; Fourth of July Celebrations in Oakland, Maryland, and Kirby; the Weston State Hospital; City Building Dedication in Grafton; Armistice Day in Clarksburg; the Medium Security Prison in Huttonsville; Davis Homecoming; West Virginia Legion Convention in Huntington; the Forest Festival in Elkins; and the Prisoner of War Homecoming in Valley Head.

In all of its appearances, the West Virginia Highlanders have made new friends and extended the fame of the band far and wide. Many honors have been won and the walls of the band room in the American Legion Home in Elkins are covered with pictures taken on various occasions in the different places that the band has visited.

Though the membership of the band has kept fairly close to the 20's there have been enough former members of the Highlanders move away from Elkins to have made three complete bands. Some of the best players have entered other bagpipe bands in the vicinity to which they have moved and the Highlanders have furnished several players to the Air Force Pipe Band in Washington, D.C. The process of constantly training new members is essential to the continued life of the band and as a result new recruits are always being trained.

In keeping of the Highland traditions and the continuance of Highland music, the West Virginia Highlanders wish to remain true to the purpose for which the organization was founded, and for which many persons have given of their time, talent, and money, namely; that the spirit of old Scotland may become familiar to the people of the New World.

With a spirit embodying the centuries-old heritage of Scotland, Elkins' own pipe and drum corps began the 1990 season of fairs and festivals as the West Virginia Highlanders of Davis & Elkins College carrying the banner as the colorful representatives of the College and the Elkins community.

Discussions earlier this spring between band leaders and College officials resulted in the Highlanders' new affiliation with the College after 43 years under the sponsorship of the H.W. Daniels Post No. 29, American Legion.

Thus, the College has become the Highlanders' adoptive home, crystalizing the institution's Scottish/Presbyterian heritage with the traditions of the MacLeod of Lewis clan.

"This is a most fortuitous blending of important institutions in this community," said President MacConkey. "The College's Scottish roots have a special linkage with the Highlanders, and as they perform at official functions and represent the community and College during appearances elsewhere, their presentations will further enhance our Scottish heritage."

The Highlander's history was prepared by Glenn A. Shackelford and Mary Gladkosky.