This paper explores the role of military music in E. L. Doctorow’s novel The March (2005), with a focus on selected sections in which this kind of music occurs. It examines emotions evoked in the protagonists of the sections in question as well as the atmosphere it creates or underscores. From a historical viewpoint, it considers the musical instruments employed and considers their significance in the book. Furthermore, it investigates the extent to which military music contributes to the development of the story as well as the symbolical meaning it represents in some cases. The March in itself denotes not only Sherman’s March to the Sea, but also signifies a musical genre, which is an integral part of military music. Special attention is paid to the drum, taking into consideration the fact that it is central to the accompaniment of military marches in general.