The Veterans in a New Field Returned to the community room of the Saugerties Public Library and performed a set of songs of the Civil War and particularly of the Union Irish Brigade. The spirit of the songs included the patriotic; Columbia Gem of the Ocean, Marching Through Georgia, and the poignant; the hope of prisoners of war to be liberated; Tramp, Tramp, Tramp The Boys Are Marching.

 The abolition of slavery was remembered by the songs Clear the Track! and Lincoln and Liberty. The service of the Union Navy and Marine Corps was honored with The Monitor and the Merrimac. Marching Through Georgia and We are Coming Father Abraham reflect the resolve of the soldiers to restore the Union. The rendition of the Father Abraham was prefaced by a stirring reading from President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address by Gary Whittaker.

The sacrifice of all who served was commemorated by the classic Irish song written, by Thomas Moore;  The Minstrel Boy. The playlist included the comic and whimsical; Army Bean, Goober Peas and Old Abe Lincoln Came Out of the Wilderness.

The audience enjoyed these and other tunes and joined in a the finale; a rousing Battle Hymn of the Republic.

As always, the Veterans in a New Field had an excellent time with our friends at the Saugerties Library and look forward to a return engagement.