Each member of the band is both a talented musician and a gifted living historian who brings to life the typical soldier/musician of the American Civil War. The 46th takes the field with instruments, as well as under arms. One of the most distinctive features of the unit is that the band performs entirely on original instruments from the mid- to late-19th Century (with the exception of the drums, as these were made from wood, which decomposes over time) to enhance authenticity. The band performs concerts throughout the local community, as well as participating in living histories and battle reenactments across the Eastern United States.