"The Saxton Band, from Lexington. attracted a large audience at the Capital Hotel on Thursday evening, and delighted everybody by their superior music, vocal and instrumental, and by the introduction of much laughable comedy, that made the heart lighter even if the sides had to ache for it. This Band will, we hope, meet with encouragement and liberal patronage wherever it may go. In addition to its great merits as musicians, it has the still greater merit of being devoted to the "Red, White, and Blue."

This comment appeared in a March 1862 newspaper in Frankfort, Kentucky. The modern-day Saxton's Cornet Band , named for that historic ensemble, tries to keep the spirit, sound, and appearance of the original band alive in its performances today. The instruments are original to the Civil War era or are accurately made reproductions. Music comes from period sources, mainly 1860s band books. Costumes are copied carefully from original garments. Reflecting serious historical research as well as musical excellence, performances by Saxton's Cornet Band provide listeners with the most accurate and enjoyable re-creation of Civil War era brass band music available. When Saxton's Cornet Band is on stage, it IS 1864.

The first Saxton's Cornet Band played from the late 1850s to around 1900. The modern version of Saxton's Cornet Band was formed in 1989. Since then, the Band has performed at historic sites, reenactments, concerts, and other special events from Massachusetts to Colorado. It plays often for the National Park Service, including appearances at Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania; Fort Larned, Kansas; Harper's Ferry, West Virginia; Lincoln's Birthplace at Hodgenville, Kentucky; and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. The Band's film credits include the Turner productions Gettysburg and The Day Lincoln Was Shot . Saxton's Cornet Band is proud to have appeared at all but one of the Great American Brass Band Festivals in Danville, Kentucky. This year, the Band will co-host the National Civil War Band Festival at Campbellsville University and expects to release its second CD recording.