While reenacting is a hobby, it has some of the trappings of operating in an actual army. As you become more engaged with the unit, it's time to think about acquiring your own reenactment kit so that new recruits can use the spares while they test the waters. There are alternative ways to get your history education. Muster A gathering, especially of troops, for service, inspection, review or roll call. Invitation events are smaller events where organizers limit the number of participants in order to better manage the scale. The physically disabled cannot take the field as soldiers, but the impression of a wounded soldier in a period wheel chair being pushed by a civilian in period clothes is welcome. For a great description of womens clothing and textiles during the Civil War, read this Civil War Fashion piece by Kathy Dhalle on the Bits of Blue & Gray website. Sometimes, you'll be able to find authentic uniforms to wear to reenactments, especially for 20th-century wars. Campaigners are usually young and pride themselves in carrying a minimal amount of gear, sleeping in the open, and being as uncomfortable as they can be, which was the way it was. A love of history of all time periods is common though reenactors focus on the 19th century. Mega-events also created problems for reenactors such as too little and too far away parking, too little drinking water, and too few port-a-johns. The dues are an important aspect of keeping reenactment groups operating. That is what reenacting is all about; trying to live for a weekend like a Civil War soldier or civilian to figure out how they did it. Do you have a passion for Ancient Rome, medieval fashion, or Colonial America, and the Salem Witch Trials? Our Organization - 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment One asked the obvious question to a man who had written more than 3,000 pages seemingly covering every aspect of a war that stretched from New Mexico to New York: Is there anything about the War that you dont know?, Footes response was immediate: I still dont know how they did it. Salary.com. As you look at different reenacting units, you may see three terms in particular, which are commonly used to describe different segments of the reenacting spectrum. Extreme Points of the United States (States & Territories), Federal issue forage cap (dark or indigo blue), State issue forage cap with McDowell visor (dark or indigo blue), Federal fatigue blouse ("sack coat," dark or indigo blue) with four brass buttons, Federal trousers, foot pattern (sky blue), Issue muslin shirt (or other period pattern), USM1855 cartridge box, .58 caliber, mid-war model (black leather), USM1855 bayonet scabbard (black leather, one-piece Springfield style), M1853 three-band .577 caliber Enfield rifle musket and bayonet, Musket sling for M1853 Enfield (untreated leather), Haversack, U.S. regulation wartime issue (black tarred canvas), USM1858 smooth side canteen (jean cloth or dark blue wool cover) with strap (leather preferred over cotton drill or linen). Some units are thinking of staging parts of battles as authentically as possible, complete with the scaled down, but statistically correct numbers of casualties, and the maneuvers mentioned in survivor accounts. Home Research Top Five Tips for Getting Started in Civil War Reenacting. When you're starting out as a volunteer, the unit you're working with will probably have a spare uniform you can borrow. Prospective reenactors should research units to judge how accepting they are of family participation. Perhaps a particular company or regiment in the war had distinctive uniforms. Fit for Effective Service: Virginia Arms Her Stonewall Brigade, Its Ancient Reputation: The Stonewall Brigade at Cedar Mountain, The Stonewall Brigade at Gettysburg Part Four: The Fate of the Flags, How to Adapt a Confederate ANV Impression by Time Period, Top Tips for Transitioning From Mainstream to Authentic Reenacting. With the exception of events where rains flood the battlefield, reenactments are rarely cancelled for heat or cold. Threadcounter A reenactor who insists on a historically accurate impression, down to fabric and buttonholes having the same threadcount typical of the time. 5) Purchase Slowly and Strategically: When you are ready to start purchasing gear, take your time and make your purchases strategic. Units Groups of Civil War reenactors who participate as an actual unit that fought during the War, i.e., the 7th Texas Infantry, the 69th New York or the 19th Alabama. https://28thmass.orgLately I've noticed quite a few of you showing more interest in Civil War reenacting specifically. Reenacting units keep a list of approved sutlers that have proven to stock authentic and well-made goods. Authenticity, while ignored in the 1960s, is now universally required by reenacting units. Mainstreamers cheerfully accept the nickname TBG- which stands for Tubby Bearded Guys. Scouring the sutlers' goods may also set you up for an impulse buy that your historic persona doesn't really need. Wearing historically accurate clothing is essential to your impression and attention to details is important, i.e. Buy at a reenactment or with the help of an experience unit member. Women participate as nurses, vivandieres, cooks, laundresses, or wives and sisters visiting the soldier in camp. Youre obviously interested in the Civil War, otherwise you wont be considering reenacting. We seek to commemorate the great hardships and sacrifices of the soldiers and citizens of Indiana during our nation's most turbulent and defining moment in history, the American Civil War. Being at that part of the line during the reenactment is special as it clearly reinforces the advantage the Union army had with repeating rifles. Each unit has a different function and will provide a much different experience. Do not buy from sutlers on-line then select which unit you want to join. And that's not including weaponry: An M1 Garand will put you out $700 to $900, while other period guns cost less than $100. Not sure about the geography of the middle east? 53rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Company C, Inc. Company B of the 71st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 87th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company C, 97th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Company A, 97th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Co B, 151st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company D, 10th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 12th Virginia Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and K, Co. E of the Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 33d Regiment - Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company K, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Association, Company E, 3rd Regiment, Confederate Engineers. Is there a list or quartermaster who do I need to contact to get involved as a reenactor for the civil war. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 21st Virginia, F Company, inc., is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c)3 , living history, educational and Civil War re-enactment organization. .com/us/military/civil-war-reenactor.html. Some states require even single shot, reproduction muskets to be registered with the government. While some of the research is now a bit dated, there is no better place to start than Bell Wileys classicsThe Life of Johnny Reb: The Common Soldier of the Confederacyand The Life of Billy Yank: The Common Soldier of the Union. Once a prospective reenactor joins a unit the next step is to buy gear from sutlers, merchants specializing in the hobby named after the original civilian shop keepers who catered to the needs of Civil War soldiers. 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. You must have a passion for history and an active imagination. There are reenactment groups for almost any era that captures your interest, such as ancient Rome, the Middle Ages, the American Revolution or either of the World Wars. Immerse yourself in the time period by reading books and primary source documents related to the area, and the type of person you've chosen to portray. Also welcome are Black reenactors portraying slaves or free blacks, teamsters, horse handlers, or other roles common to the period. A reenactor is a special breed of person. Sutlers Merchants who followed troops during the Civil War. Colonial-era muskets run a few hundred dollars, and with the rest of the necessary kit, you're looking at more than $1,000 [source: 2nd Rhode Island Regiment ]. Reenactment Groups - Milsurpia BOOK TIP: "The Illustrated Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era". If you're portraying a poor farmer during the Revolutionary War, then don't purchase a fancy rifle that would have been out of his financial grasp. Particularly welcomeand neededat reenactments are Black reenactors. Still, the best plan for new reenactors is to join a unit and ask for help from the old hands in selecting uniforms and equipment. 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. Load more. Most units will have a decent collection of clothes, gear, and even muskets that you can borrow, but it is often difficult to find loaner shoes since many reenactors only own a single pair. First-person - When a reenactor speaks to fellow reenactors and the public as a person during the 1860s. A Civil War Reenactment will have various units such as artillery, cavalry, or infantry units. By now you are probably wondering, "how much is all of this going to cost me? Muskets are real guns and fire a full powder charge but no bullet. Learn how your comment data is processed. There are a wide variety of canteens including wooden ones that Confederate soldiers carried, but which would not be appropriate for Union soldiers. Tennessee civil war reenactments 2022 - Qyk.simrim.it In a reenactment, a persona is a character and role that you choose to portray. When brigaded with other units, a reenactor general may command 200-300 men. "How to Volunteer in Historical Reenactments" Reenactors do not dwell on that terrible human cost. Infoplease is a reference and learning site, combining the contents of an encyclopedia, a dictionary, an atlas and several almanacs loaded with facts. Can one really hear a Civil War era term the rattle of musketry? All races and ethnicities can reenact. By joining such a society, you'll have time to try out your persona before committing to any major purchases for your own kit. Across the United States, Civil War battles rank among the most popular events to reenact -- they're often held on the original battlefields for true authenticity. Perry's Headquarters Flag, Authentic, Original, Antique Civil War Cavalry Boots, 1840-Civil War Authentic Mechanic/ Wheel Cap Campaigner Repro by Mike Anderson, A RARE AUTHENTIC ORIGINAL EARLY CIVIL WAR CAVALRY UNIFORM, Authentic General US Grant Civil War Currier and Ives Lithograph Original Frame. The most famous reenactment of the 1960s was the July 1961 Battle of First Manassas or Bull Run, held on the Manassas National Battlefield. How do I join a unit as a reenactor? John Miller, a veteran reenactor who specializes in the Civil War, warns prospective volunteers that the hobby can get dangerous [source: Miller]. Dressing Up as Slaves for a Civil War Reenactment : r/TikTokCringe - Reddit While these stories may transport you to Elizabethan England or ancient Rome, they're still fiction, after all, and don't always provide authentic history lessons. Larger regiments will combine those companies to form a state-wide organization. that appeal to campaigners. How did my ancestors survive battles, diseases, and prison camps on far away battlefields then return home to produce me? Reenacting is at a cross-roads. A plastic mug would be farby as would a polyester uniform since they didnt have polyester in 1861. Living history events include encampments, parades, and school enrichment programs. Should I join a Civil War reenactment group? Is it fun? - Quora That will mean pushing long hair under a hat, taking off ear rings, and doing their best to hide the evidence of being female. Living History Archive. Following are some useful terms to acquaint you with Civil War Reenacting. Experience being part of bringing our nation's most turbulent and tragic era to life. If you can find material written by men from the unit you portray, even better. Which branch reenactors join is up to their interest in each branchand their financial resources. Did you have ancestors who participated in a particular war? While there are several models such as an early war smoothbore musket, or a mid-war rifle musket, there are really only two brand choices for infantry. You may need to attend a handful of events with them before you get a good feel for the units personality and whether it is a good fit for you. Most people choose a reenactment group that operates fairly close to home - at least within a day's drive. Reenacting. We have committed ourselves to the education of the company membership and general public as to the lifestyle, military service and general values of the Black Civil War soldier through an authentic presentation of living history activities including battle reenactments, interpretive programs, training seminars, and similar programs. CIVIL WAR REENACTING | How to Join a Unit - YouTube Whats not to like? While still too small in numbers to simulate actual Civil War battles, the mega-events at least gave reenactors a sense of what the major battles would have been like. Florida. For the Bray family in Brunswick, American Civil War reenactment is more than just a historical hobby it's a family affair. 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. Children were active participants in the Civil War. 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. Reenactor A person, male or female, dedicated to recreating the War Between the States or Civil War. 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. Civil War reenactment in Florida ends after 40 years - WJXT Photos from the time period show some men marching in ranks with M-1 Garands, World War II semi-automatic rifles. They'll have fun watching the excitement, and you'll get to teach them about history. The reason is obvious. While reenactors do like authenticity, they draw the line at paying upwards of $30 for registration fees, but finding over-flowing port-a-johns by Sunday morning. No reenactor will respond to an unknown general who walks onto the field and tries to take command of units who do not know him. The problem with modern day reenacting for USCTs is that they were not at many of the major battles because the original Union generals refused to put them into ranks beside white soldiers and because significant numbers werent enlisted or trained until the middle of 1863. . (May 8, 2009) http://www.salary.com/personal/layoutscripts/psnl_articles.asp?tab=psn&cat=cat011&ser=ser032, Miller, John. Perhaps you attended a reenactment as a spectator and found yourself wishing you were in the midst of the smoke and confusion rather than watching it from afar.