BOOK TIP: "The Illustrated Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era". If you choose an active reenactment role, you'll need to be in good health, capable of the physical activity and lack of everyday comforts that are inherent in reenacting. While the uniforms are generallywelluniform, hats (at least for Confederate portrayals) can be a matter of personal choice. I, Eighth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, Company A, Incorporated, 11th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, Company G, Fourteenth Regiment Connecticut, Van Dyke's Howitizers 1st Florida Artillery. Invitation events are smaller events where organizers limit the number of participants in order to better manage the scale. Following are some useful terms to acquaint you with Civil War Reenacting. There are a wide variety of canteens including wooden ones that Confederate soldiers carried, but which would not be appropriate for Union soldiers. Immersion events are small reenactments that attract campaigners. Discover more about American history at one of these events. The persona you select should have some personal significance to you. The United States Marines wear distinctive crossed white belts. Particularly welcomeand neededat reenactments are Black reenactors. What did the Gettysburg artillery barrage sound like? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/getting-started-with-reenacting-1422852. Most units require members to be at least 16 years old before they can fall into ranks with a musket because of the maturity necessary to handle a firearm. This can be a great way to save money, but make sure you run all major purchases by your mentor to ensure youre buying quality gear and not getting swindled. Their website is: www.campchase.com), The Citizens Companion focuses on civilian reenacting and is also published by the same company that publishes Camp Chase Gazette. I show up. Many reenactors are completely outfitted with clothing, packs, gear, and vehicles their typical persona would carry. How do I join a unit as a reenactor? The largest event was likely the 135th Gettysburg reenactment where an estimated 15,000 attended. Nearly all of the muskets available today are made in Italy, but some used ones manufactured back in the 1970s and 1980s are available from Japan and England. Local living histories at venues such as historically themed parks are where many potential reenactors see their first living historians. There is no poll showing where reenactors live, but observation would put a majority of them in The South. Reproduction clothing can cost several hundred dollars, and reproduction period rifles as much as $1000. Of course, you might decide that Civil War reenactments aren't your cup of tea, and you'd prefer to dabble in the Colonial era. Besides the weather elements, there may be holes in the field that twist ankles, yellow jacket nests that are disturbed, and poison ivy and poison oak lurking in the woods. You may want to speak candidly with your current units commander about what youre looking for in another unit, as they may have contacts or suggestions for other units that you can consider (if a unit commander isnt willing to do this, its probably a sign you should leave that unit anyways, as theyre not looking out for your best interests). Each unit has a different function and will provide a much different experience. How the Civilian Conservation Corps Worked, Historical Reenactment Costumes and Equipment, 2nd Rhode Island Regiment. Our way to offer tribute to these great men of the Civil War is to study as much as possible . Invitation events are smaller with limited numbers of participants making them easier to manage. If you're interested in volunteering as a Civil War reenactor, the entire kit (including uniform, canteen, weapon and leatherwear) will cost about $850 to $1,500 [source: Miller]. Most reenactors are everyday people from all walks of life, with ages ranging from 16 to people in their sixties. On the downside in terms of authenticity, they operate in much smaller groups that sometimes preclude them from being able to do the complicated drills that Civil War regiments would have done, and which the mainstreamers relentlessly practice. st croix zillow dollar genetal near me bnha x innocent reader. Or, Dad can stay in the military camp while Mom and the kids stay in a civilian camp. Your mentor can also assist you in finding used gear either from unit members or outside resources like eBay or Facebook. The 49th Indiana Volunteer Infantry is Indiana's oldest, largest and best drilled civil war unit. If youre interested in an immersive, authentic experience, joining a mainstream unit will be a poor fit. Check ourencyclopedia for a gloss on thousands of topics from biographies to the table of elements. Any unit you contact should be extremely welcoming and do everything they can to have you join their ranks. How do your feet feel after marching 22 miles in a single day in thin-soled brogans? Scouring the sutlers' goods may also set you up for an impulse buy that your historic persona doesn't really need. And, they must already have relationships with the brigades and divisions they want to command. that appeal to campaigners. In FULL SLAVE garb. That does not mean that single, unit-unaffiliated Black reenactors in blue will not be allowed in ranks at reenactments such as Gettysburg, but it is not historically accurate. There are essentially three types of reenactors; mainstream, campaigners, and stitch counters. American Civil War Reenactment Groups. Just as in the 1860s, some reenacting gear can be shoddy (a Civil War era word), so taking knowledgeable advice from other veteran reenactors in ones unit makes sure newcomers do not buy the wrong gear. But if you've got the mettle and undying enthusiasm for history, we'll walk you through the basics of how to get involved. Mainstreamers cheerfully accept the nickname TBG- which stands for Tubby Bearded Guys. Once the basics are purchased, reenactors move on to acquire other gear like a canvas dog tent, or a larger A-frame tent, a gum or rubber blanket/poncho for putting down on the ground or wearing as rain gear, and cooking gear like tin frying pans and cooking grates. Mega-events, reenactments where reenactors number several thousand, are likely gone forever now that the 150th anniversary events ended in 2015. Used by permission of Kathleen Smith. Infantry is the easiest branch to learn and to finance. Event Dues - This can really depend on the event and what is provided with the fee. Reenactors sacrifice immense amounts of time, effort, and money to recreate history. Perhaps a particular company or regiment in the war had distinctive uniforms. All races and ethnicities can reenact. Children can usually even participate, although most reenactment groups have a minimum age (12 or 13 is common) for children to be allowed in more dangerous roles, such as on the battlefield. When you're starting out as a volunteer, the unit you're working with will probably have a spare uniform you can borrow. Marches can range from a mile or so from camp to the battlefield to more than 20 miles at special events. Women participate as nurses, vivandieres, cooks, laundresses, or wives and sisters visiting the soldier in camp. How does a starving man march 20 miles then go into a three-hour battle? [1]. Some states require even single shot, reproduction muskets to be registered with the government. If you crave intrigue and a dash of melodrama, historical fiction can make the past come alive. The majority of reenactors choose to be soldiers, but even in a military reenactment group, there are other characters, such as wives, camp followers, surgeons, tinkers and sutlers (merchants). Civil War Encampment & Reenactment 2021 August 5, 2021 | Education, Events and Programs, Historic Hanna's Town Thank you to everyone who joined us for the biannual Civil War Encampment and Reenactment! Women have to make the effort to disguise themselves as men. It might be a good idea to spring for the unit's annual fee for insurance coverage in case of an injury. Find WW1 Reenactment groups to join now! This can mean everything from uncomfortable clothes and terrible food to inclement weather and a poor excuse for a bed. While two-banded muskets were very common in ranks during the War, reenactors should not use them because of safety concerns with respect to the length of the barrel. But if you're more interested in other wars or time periods, don't despair. (May 8, 2009) http://www.2ri.org/become_a_member.htm, Bromer, Zachary. Special Thanks A love of history, a desire to better understand what Civil War era soldiers and civilians experienced, the pleasure of camping with friends and cooking over an open fire all explain why reenactors follow this hobby. Immersion events are small reenactments where reenactors carry everything with them with no resupply from vehicles. While some historians downplay or even deny the existence of gun-toting Black Confederates, insisting the only Blacks in Confederate gray were body servants, Black reenactors often have family knowledge that their ancestors did fight for the Confederacy. Cavalry reenacting is the most expensive branch to portray as the mounted soldiers have to buy period saddles, bridles, carbines, shotguns, pistols and sabers in addition to owning and transporting the horses to the events. But, there are legitimate roles for reenactors in their early teens to act as runners, or fifers or drummers if they are musically inclined to join units which have field musicians. Historical reenactment groups and living history groups offer an insight into how men and women lived in past times. Learn more about the mythic conflict between the Argives and the Trojans. There are three types of reenactors; mainstreamers who do not fit the Civil War image of young thin soldiers and bring extra gear for comfort, campaigners who pride themselves in living rough in the open and achieving authenticity and stitch counters who pay attention to details of the history of uniforms and equipment and who generally maneuver with either mainstreamers or campaigners. Learn fife or drum. A few options to consider. Our principal reason for existence is to promote an authentic portrayal of Civil War history to the . The exhaustion felt at the end of that reenacting march brings home the realization that the soldiers of the Civil War were tough. If you're interested in volunteering as a Civil War reenactor, the entire kit (including uniform, canteen, weapon and leatherwear) will cost about $850 to $1,500 [source: Miller ]. Are you interested in conducting research into tiny details of soldiers lives? When events are not limited by the numbers of participants per side, some events have seen Confederates outnumber Federals by five to oneat battles which the Federals won. While this material is of interest to reenactors, our hobby requires a detailed knowledge of the daily experience of individual soldiers. Stitch counters are authenticity historians who know the history of hats, shoes, uniforms, muskets, buttons, even how a uniform was manufactured thus the nick name. Many units have loaner gear or special requirements. Most people take their roles seriously and pride themselves on representing history as accurately as possible. And many battle reenactment societies require that you acquaint yourself thoroughly with the manual of arms. So, many die-hard history-lovers volunteer in historical reenactments for an action-packed and enlightening experience. Perhaps you have a friend in the hobby who has encouraged you to give it a try. For further reading suggestions and links to many of these online resources, please see the Stonewall Brigades Recommended Reading list. Winter reenactors will want heavy overcoats which can cost upwards of $300. It publishes articles such as how to cut and pack rations of raw pork, how to properly do bayonet drill, calendars of events, and how to contact different reenactment units. Here are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about. Being a reenactor can not only put you in touch with your inner soldier, drummer, or fifer, but can also deepen your understanding of our country's past. If you are up to the task, here's some information to get you started. Perhaps you have a deep interest in the Civil War and want to experience it and understand it in a way that books can never truly capture. Some units focus on the military side of reenacting, preferring to keep civilian women in a separate camp while other units allow children to run around the military camp. Think about who you are in real life,or the person you secretly want to be, and translate that to an individual who lived during your time period of interest. They are great foundational introductions to the topic. Most reenacting units require members to own dual impressions; both Union and Confederate. Becoming a historical re-enactor requires an unquenchable thirst for history and abiding patience with uncomfortable accommodations and ridiculous outfits. Most units have a list of acceptable gear and approved sutlers. 2 nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment, Co. She teaches at the Genealogical Institute of Pittsburgh and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. If you've gotten this far then hopefully you've put some thought into this endeavor. Some of the young men who started reenacting decades ago when the 125th anniversary events attracted them are now passing through middle age. Welcome to the home of the 52nd Tennessee Co. C. We are a group of living historians centered around the American Civil War.

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