The final stamp in the "Rise of the Spirit of Independence" series, Scott #1479, was issued in New Orleans, Louisiana. It depicts a drummer of the Continental Army, a figure who was more than just a musician. Drummers, along with fifers, formed the "field music" of the army. Their primary role was to communicate orders on the battlefield, where spoken commands would be lost in the din of musket fire and cannonades. Different drum calls, or "duties," signaled everything from "reveille" in the morning to "charge" in battle. These young men were an integral part of military life and operations, and this stamp pays homage to their unique and vital contribution to the war effort.