Since The Veteran in a New Field was published, the story which contains a wealth of references to songs and tunes of the Civil War Era and the Irish Brigade, has lent itself to a musical expression of the saga of Seamus Delaney and those who lived through that perilous time in our nation’s life. On October 10, 2009 at History Day in Saugerties, NY the author Bill Payne met Bob Lusk, a well known local folksinger and the journey to that expression began when Bill bought a copy of Bob’s CD of Irish American tunes of the Hudson Valley and Bob bought a copy of Bill’s book. With the addition of RJ Butler and Dale Welwood our group; The Veterans in a New Field, was formed and the following August we had our first performance at the Enquiring Mind Bookstore in Saugerties. Since then, with the addition of members Kevin Umhey, Gary Whittaker,Steve Balazs, Jim Donnelly and Mike Kemp, The Veterans  have been in demand and have performed at venues from Grant Cottage at Mt. McGregor, to Cohoes to Newburgh, NY. As of this writing, 1/28/19, we have presented 53 live performances and recorded two CDs.

8/20/10 Enquiring Mind Bookstore, Saugerties, NY

10/9/10 History Day, Saugerties Historical Society, Kiersted House.

2/12/11 Robert Burns Birthday-Lincoln’s Birthday-St. Patrick’s Day Concert, American Legion Hall, Saugerties, NY

2/16/11 Good Shepherd School, Kingston, NY History Day

3/5/11 Sojourner Truth Concert, St. James Methodist Church, Kingston, NY

5/18/11 Fair Street, Reformed Church, Kingston, NY

4/23/11 Saugerties Bicentennial, American Legion Hall, Saugerties, NY

5/21/11 Columbia County Historical Society, Kinderhook, NY

6/4/11 Saugerties Library Fair, Saugerties, NY

8/3/11 Saugerties Library Family Fun Day, Saugerties, NY

8/6/11 Olde Tymers Day, Saugerties

9/21/11 Saugerties Schools, Sojourner Truth Celebration, Saugerties, NY

10/1/11 Livingston Historical Society, Livingston, NY

10/21/11 Amenia Historical Society, South Amenia, NY

11/6/11 Half Moon Bookstore, Kingston, NY

11/8/11 Fair Street Reformed Church, Kingston, NY

12/5/11 Daughters of the American Revolution, Kingston, NY

5/19/12 Daughters of Union Veterans, Newburgh, NY

6/30/12 Columbia County Historical Society, Kinderhook, NY

7/4/12 Ulster County Historical Society, Hurley, NY

8/19/12 Capital District Civil War Roundtable, Civil War Days, Schuyler Flatts, Watervliet, NY

9/16/12 Civil War Remembrance Day, American Legion Hall, Saugerties, NY

9/23/12 Anniversary Performance, Inquiring Mind Bookstore, Kingston, NY

10/13/12 History Day, Saugerties Historical Society, Saugerties, NY

11/13/12 Fair Street Reformed Church, Kingston, NY

12/1/12 Quarryville Methodist Church, Quarryville, NY

IN 2012 WE PRESENTED OUR NEW CD ‘SONGS OF THE CIVIL WAR ERA’ AVAILABLE BY MAIL ORDER FROM W.H. PAYNE, 325 Pine Street, Saugerties, NY 12477, AS IS OUR CD ‘HURRAH FOR THE UNION’ PRESENTED IN 2014.

5/3/13 Dedication of Civil War grave stone, St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, NY

6/9/13 Cohoes History Days, Cohoes Historical Society, Cohoes, NY

6/15/13 Klyne Esopus Museum, Civil War Program, Ulster Park, NY

7/14/13 Civil War Remembrance Day, 150th Gettysburg, Post #72 Legion Hall, Saugerties, NY

8/17/13 Civil War Days, Capital District Civil War Roundtable, Schylur Flatts, Menands, NY

10/12/13 History Day, Kiersted House, Saugerties Historical Society, Saugerties, NY

11/9/13 Inquiring Mind Bookstore, Saugerties, NY

11/12/13  Ulster County Infirmary, Veterans Day Program for veteran residents, Kingston, NY

11/12/13 Fair Street Reformed Church, Community Dinner, Kingston, NY

11/23/13 Civil War Remembrance Day, 150th Gettysburg Address, Post #72 , Saugerties, NY

8/16/14 Civil War Days, Capital District Civil War Roundtable, Schylur Flatts, Menands, NY

10/11/14 History Day, Kiersted House, Saugerties Historical Society, Saugerties, NY

11/18/14 Fair Street Reformed Church, Community Dinner, Kingston, NY

12/13/14 Quarryville United Methodist Church, Christmas Community Dinner, Quarryville, NY

3/14/15 HURRAH FOR THE UNION! CD Launch free concert at the Inquiring Mind Bookstore, 65 Partition Street, Saugerties, NY 12477 and a great time was had by all!

6/13-6/14/15 Book signing at the 23rd Annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend, 5304 Oxbow Rd., PO Box 6, Peterboro, NY 13134.

6/25/15, 7pm Meeting of the Ulster County Civil War Round Table, in the Legislative Chambers, 6th floor, Ulster County Office Building, Kingston, NY 12402.

7/31-8/2/15 Civil War Heritage Music Gathering & Encampment, Centre Church Rt. 23, Windham, NY Veterans in a New Field played at 10:30am on Saturday and at 7:30pm and were very well received.

11/17/15 Book signing at Mini Maker Fair at Barnes and Noble Booksellers Kingston, NY to benefit the Saugerties Library.

3/14/16 Book signing at Monday Club meeting at Saugerties Library.

4/9/16 Book signing and Union Naval Civil War forces presentation for History Club with US Naval Landing Party at Siena College, Loudonville, NY

4/30/16 Book signing at History Faire, Clifton Park-Half Moon Library.

5/21/16 Book signing and presentation of US Marine Corps in the Civil War, Marine PVT. James Sherry wounded at the Battle of Ft. Fisher and the writing of the Veteran in a New Field trilogy for the Heritage Hunters and the Town of Saratoga offices Schuylerville, NY.

6/4-5/16 Saturday and Sunday at the Masonic Temple, Troy, NY, book signing and presentation on the US Naval Service in the Civil War with the US Naval Landing Party.

6/11/16, 3pm Saturday at the Kiersted House Barn in Saugerties, NY a free concert was presented by the 77th NY Regimental Balladeers; “Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier”, a tribute to the citizen soldiers of all wars and in honor of Flag Day. Free will donations by attendees benefitted the Saugerties Historical Society and Lamouree-Hackett Post #72 American Legion. The Veterans in a New Field played a prelude of Civil War songs and a beautiful, patriotic, handmade quilt donated by the maker; Gayle Tucker, and was raffled off at the concert. We had very good turnout and a good time was had by all. Proceeds will help with historic preservation in Saugerties.

8/19/16 at 6:30pm The Vets presented a free concert of songs of the Civil War era and the Irish Brigade at the Hunter Library, Hunter, NY. There was a large turn out and all joined in singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic at the finale. A book signing was held after the concert.

11/2/16 at 6pm We presented songs of the Civil War and the Irish Brigade to a large and enthusiastic audience at the Saugerties Public Library. Again, all joined in singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic at the finale. A book signing followed the concert.

5/27/17 at 4pm we presented to a lively and enthusiastic audience of 60 or more residents of the Holiday Residence in Poughkeepsie. We had great conversation with the folks afterwards and a recommendation that we include Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms be added to our playlist and it will be.

6/9-6/11/17 Bill Payne presented living history and had a booking signing at the Garret Smith National Historic Site on the Underground RR/Abolition Trail, at Peterboro Civil War Encampment with a book signing.

8/5/17 at 2pm  at the Saugerties Library, Bill Payne presented to a capacity crowd at the Friends of Historic Saugerties on The Mountain House in the Civil War Era and the Making of the Veteran in a New Field, with a book signing to follow.

8/9/17 at 7pm the Veterans in a New Field, back by popular demand, played at the Hunter Library, Hunter, NY with a book signing.

8/19-20/17 Bill Payne had a book signing at Hope Rocks at Cantine Field in Saugerties, NY

8/24/17 at 7pm Bill Payne presented on the USMC in the Civil War at the meeting of the Ulster County Civil War Roundtable, in the Legislative Chambers at the County Office Building in Kingston, NY with a book signing.

9/13/17 Bill Payne presented on the Mountain House in the Civil War and the Making of the Veteran in a New Field at the Civil War Roundtable in Greenville, NY with a book signing.

9/17/17 at the Lamouree-Hackett Post 72, 30 John Street, Saugerties, from 2pm to 4pm the Veterans in a New Field (reunited with Bob Lusk) and friends played songs of the Irish Brigade. We observed the anniversary of the Union victory at the Battle of Antietam, where the Irish Brigade fought with great valor, the half-year observance of St. Patrick’s Day and the birthday of Dan Payne.

10/7/17 The Veterans in a New Field played at the Grant Cottage at Mt. McGregor for Generals Day, 12noon to 12:30.

10/12/17 Bill Payne presented to the Saugerties Senior Citizens Club on the Mountain House in the Civil War and the Making of the Veteran in a New Field with a book signing.

10/26/17 Bill Payne presented at the Hunter Library on the Mountain House in the Civil War and the Making of the Veteran in a New Field.

11/9/17 The Veterans in a New Field played a special Veterans Day Concert for the Saugerties Senior Citizens Club with a book signing.

3/18/18 Back again by popular demand, The Veterans in a New Field played a St. Patrick’s Day Concert at the Holiday Residence/The Manor at Woodside in Poughkeepsie.We played an assortment of songs of the Civil War Irish Brigade and Irish-American songs of the early 20th Century to a once again lively and enthusiastic audience.

A new CD, our third, is in the planning stage. The tentative title is We are Coming Father Abraham. We expect to go into the studio in October, 2018.

6/2/18 At 2pm The Veterans in a New Field presented a free concert in recognition of the Centennial of US service in World War I, the Centennial of our Legion Post next year and the re-opening of the Post Veterans Museum after extensive renovations. We portrayed Union Civil War veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic welcoming home their sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters from their service in WWI. Civil War tunes such as Tramp, Tramp, Tramp The Boys Are Marching, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, that were still popular in 1918 and the songs of WWI such as Over There and God Bless America were presented. Our generous audience made $126 in free will donations for the benefit of the Post Veterans History Museum.

7/11/18 The Vets played their third annual engagement at the Hunter Library to a very enthusiastic capacity crowd. Our youngest band member; Liam, age 7, made his debut performance with us percussion. We also had a book signing and our CDs were available. Our friend Regina, in charge of the library that night said “everyone left with a smile”, to which we say; “Mission accomplished!”

8/11-12/18 Bill had a book signing and CD sale on both the Saturday and Sunday of the Civil War weekend and the Vets played a concert of Civil War music of the Irish Brigade at historic Wilton, NY near Grant Cottage. Once again we benefited from the rhythm of Liam on shakers.

1/27/19 The Vets played to an enthusiastic audience at the Home Sweet Home Senior Residence in Catskill, NY. The band is observing the recent centennial of US service in WWI by including songs of that era along with those of the Civil War. We had an expanded band of musicians including; Steve on guitar and ukulele, Jim on guitar and vocals, Liam now age 8 on shakers, wife and husband duo Patty and Kevin on vocals, guitar, tambourine, shakers, jaws harp, harmonica and whistle, Mike on fiddle and Bill on bodhran, bones and vocals. One of the gentlemen residents joined us on his harmonica to the joy of all present. We are looking forward to Gary returning from his sojourn at the South to join us again with his mandolin.

We have returned to Magnetic North Studio and have put down six tacks for our upcoming new CD which has the working title ‘Over Here and Over There’, including songs of WWI in commemoration of the Centennial of US service in the First World War and the centennial of the founding of Saugerties Post 72 of the American Legion in 1919, along with songs of the Irish Brigade in the Civil War. We will be doing more studio time this spring and will release our new CD this summer.

UPCOMING SHOWS

   

       RECOMMENDED READING

Many of the most interesting and revealing facets of the Civil War have been obscured and very nearly lost to history in the smoke of the great battles. The authors of the following books have brought them forth and presented them to the reader who seeks a fuller understanding of the irrepressible conflict. Author W.H. Payne has read them all and recommends them highly.

Confederate Coal Torpedo; Thomas Courtney’s Infernal Sabotage Weapon, by Joseph M. Thatcher and Thomas H. Thatcher. Copyright 2011, ISBN 9780983723004.

A Dog Before a Soldier; Almost-lost Episodes in the U.S Navy’s Civil War, by Chuck Veit. Copyright 2010, ISBN 978-0-557-3749-7.

The United States Marine Corps in the Civil War (4 volumes), by David M. Sullivan, Copyright 1997 (and following), ISBN 1-57249-040-3 (and following).

The Assassin’s Accomplice; Mary Surratt and the Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln, by Kate Clifford Larson. Copyright 2008, ISBN 978-0-465-03815-2.

Come Retribution; The Confederate Secret Service and the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, by William A. Tidwell. Copyright 1988, ISBN 0-76070-381-7.

April ’65; Confederate Covert Action in the Civil War, by William A. Tidwell. Copyright 1995, ISBN 0-87338-515-2.

Manhunt; The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, by James L. Swanson. Copyright 2006, ISBN 978-0-06051849-3.

Bloody Crimes; The Chase for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln’s Corpse, by James L. Swanson. Copyright 2010. ISBN 978-0-06-123378-4.

The Last Conspirator, John Surratt’s Flight from the Gallows, by Andrew C.A. Jampoler. Copyright 2008. ISBN 978-1-59114-407-6.

Commander Will Cushing, Daredevil Hero of the Civil War, by Jamie Malanowski. Copyright 2014. ISBN 978-0-393-24089-4.

The Hour of Peril; The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War, by Daniel Stashower. Copyright 2013, ISBN 978-0-312-60022-8.