Picture Gettysburg and the other famous battles of the Civil War, and the image of the bugler is not likely to be the first item that comes to mind. But longtime Civil War re-enactment musician Bill Stallings explained during a presentation today to the John Locke Foundation’s Shaftesbury Society how buglers and other musicians played a critical communication role for both sides in the war.

In the video clip below, Stallings describes the bugler’s function.

2:15 p.m. update: Click play below to watch the full 56:00 event.

You’ll find other John Locke Foundation video presentations here.