This drumhead was used by William Rossiter, a musician in Dover’s Strafford Guards, who was stationed in Tennessee during the Spanish-American War. On February 15, 1898, an explosion sunk the U.S.S. Maine in Havana, Cuba. 260 American sailors died and war was declared on Spain. The local Guards were mustered into the Army and became the First Regiment NH Volunteer Infantry. This drawing, made on July 8, 1898, says “To My Wife Mamie” and “Remember the Maine” and depicts a sketch of the battleship and the United States and Cuban flags. The 3-month conflict ended with the Treaty of Paris and the Strafford Guards were mustered out on October 31, 1898.