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. There are Federal Zouave units who wear bright red pants, red trimmed jackets, and turbans. It was I who asked historian Shelby Foote some 20 years ago: Is there anything about The War you dont know? I got the quick answer: I still dont know how they did it.. By Robert Arvay. The stitch counters can belong in either the mainstream or the campaigner camp. Mega-events, reenactments where reenactors number several thousand, are likely gone forever now that the 150th anniversary events ended in 2015. Period clothing and accessories can be very expensive -- depending on the period and figure you're portraying. 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. The unit you ultimately join should be in a position to provide the elements that you want to get out of reenacting. Then again in 1938, those same veterans returned. Any unit you contact should be extremely welcoming and do everything they can to have you join their ranks. Most large re-enactment events take place outdoors, so spring through fall are very active times of the year for the majority of these groups. Following are some useful terms to acquaint you with Civil War Reenacting. Both shows used reenactors for the first time, a revelation for Hollywood directors who suddenly realized that their extras knew how to act like Civil War soldiers. Your mentor can also assist you in finding used gear either from unit members or outside resources like eBay or Facebook. However, it is important that you find a unit that is a good match for you if you want to continue to enjoy reenacting over the long-haul. Whats not to like? By now you are probably wondering, "how much is all of this going to cost me? Living Histories at original battlefields are by invitation by the National Park Service or the states that also maintain battlefields. The 125th anniversary of the start of the war in 1986 saw reenacting turn into a serious hobby. "How to Get Started With Historical Reenacting." Although most common in the United States, there are also American Civil War reenactors in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Italy, Denmark . One place to find equipment for sale is at the reenactment events. Their website is: www.CivilWarNews.com, Camp Chase Gazette is a how-to magazine for authentic reenactors. Since the war took place in the South, it is more difficult for Yankees in Northern states to make the events in the Southern states. Germany . Reenacting units are organized in some of the same ways as Civil War companies and regiments. This Forum is for Posting Civil War Event Information. For instance, the 26th Regiment of North Carolina Troops also portrays the 24th Michigan of The Iron Brigade when it reenacts as Federals. Reenacting is at a cross-roads. There are alternative ways to get your history education. 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. While reenacting is a hobby, it has some of the trappings of operating in an actual army. WW1 Reenactment Groups. Little children have no business on the field because they can become separated from parents. No detail about a reenactors appearance should be ignored. 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. Women participate as nurses, vivandieres, cooks, laundresses, or wives and sisters visiting the soldier in camp. It is up to reenactors to know if they have the stamina to participate in the action. An Authentic Civil War Living History Association, Top Five Tips for Getting Started in Civil War Reenacting. Here you can find a list of groups that portray the Great War period. Civil War soldiers or civilians didnt have digital watches or plastic frame eyeglasses. Reenacting Civil War battles began during the War when both sides staged mock battles when heavy snows kept the men in camp from going out and killing each other. Mainstreamers cheerfully accept the nickname TBG- which stands for Tubby Bearded Guys. What did the Gettysburg artillery barrage sound like? Whoever is physically able can take to the battlefield with certain age restrictions. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. As a spectator, you have a great opportunity to get a preview of what volunteering is like. Civilian - A person, male or female, who reenacts any non-military impression during Reenactments. AUTHENTIC Civil War Flag General W.F. The troops do their best to mimic the movements of the actual battle, but as in real war, things often don't go according to plan! or C.S.A. If the unit is a horse-drawn battery, the reenactors are expected to help groom, water, and feed the horses. Confederate reenactors armed with single shot muskets have no choice but to fall or withdraw in the face of men using rifles that could carry upwards of 13 rounds that could be fired in a matter of seconds. Some people do take the "authenticity" to an extreme, but most groups welcome anyone with an interest. That model Springfield was not developed until 1869. 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. Events Could Include: Reenactments, Living Histories, Round Tables, Battlewalks, Shows, Lectures & More. 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. 8th Confederate Cavalry / 7th Kentucky Cavalry, 3rd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Company A, 1st Arkansas US Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment, Co. Stan Honda . As a Civil War reenactor you will become a soldier, or a civilian, wearing authentic 1860s period clothing and learning to live as . How the Civilian Conservation Corps Worked, Historical Reenactment Costumes and Equipment, 2nd Rhode Island Regiment. 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. Reenacting units staged living histories to explain weapons and uniforms at venues like schools and public parks to recruit new hobbyists. 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. Gear - How much a reenactor spends on their gear is a product of individual means, love for the hobby, and type of unit. If the unit is dedicated to historical accuracy, the accommodations will be meager. Most people take their roles seriously and pride themselves on representing history as accurately as possible. Don't be overwhelmed! Some civilian reenactors may choose to portray professions such as mortician or battlefield surgeon with some women roaming the field as nurses. We come from in and around Shelby County. Do your research before making any purchases to ensure that you get the most authentic bang for your buck. Civil War reenacting group in Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, and New Hampshire. 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. Reenactors take their jobs very seriously. Cavalry reenactors have uniforms that are patterned after original cavalry uniforms. The state of Pennsylvania hosted thousands of former Union and Confederate soldiers during the weeklong event. 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. Reenactors living near each other form around a company that comes from that same geographic area. And that will generally be a four-wheel-drive SUV as all reenactors will one day find themselves in a muddy field wondering if they will be able to get out in time to get back to work on Monday. If there were other units at the events you attended who seemed like a better fit for what youre looking for, consider contacting them about falling in at their next event. With the exception of events where rains flood the battlefield, reenactments are rarely cancelled for heat or cold. Family Friendly Units - If reenacting is to become your next family adventure, you're going to have to find a family friendly unit. Over the past weekend, the Brays hosted the first encampment training of 2021 at their home for the 3rd Maine reenactment unit, the largest in Maine. 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. That inattention to historical details led to groan-inducing scenes (for reenactors anyway) in Shenandoah where Jimmy Stewarts teenaged son grabs a Trapdoor Springfield and starts fighting. Infantry is the easiest branch to learn and to finance. What period of history most grabs your interest? Keep attending reenactments until you find a period that suits your specific interests and talents. If looking to dive into Vietnam reenacting, the number one piece of advice is to speak to a unit before making purchases. Units portraying the Vietnam War aren't nearly as prolific as World War 2 or Civil War impressions. If you wear eyeglasses, consider purchasing period frames high on your shopping list as well. Many units have loaner gear or special requirements. They are encouraged to buy their opposite impression as soon as they can afford the cost. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Jane McGrath Reenactors often do more interacting with the visiting public such as performing drill and firing demonstrations, and giving flag and equipment talks. Which branch reenactors join is up to their interest in each branchand their financial resources. We've got you covered with our map collection. Sometimes, you'll be able to find authentic uniforms to wear to reenactments, especially for 20th-century wars. Also welcome are Black reenactors portraying slaves or free blacks, teamsters, horse handlers, or other roles common to the period. If you have any specific ideas, try to make those known as far in advance as possible so the re-enactors know what to expect and can plan to do what you wish. Three factors come into play, and the United States demonstrates all of them. The fully equipped reenactor will spend around $2,500 to $3,000, but that gear, with the exception of brogans, will last as long as the reenactor will. If you have the time, it can even be fun to learn to make some of your clothing or items yourself, just as it was done in the past. Authenticity, while ignored in the 1960s, is now universally required by reenacting units. Local video entrepreneurs filmed those 125th anniversary reenactments on VHS tapes, selling them to the reenactors who hoped to see themselves acting as Civil War soldiers. Some states require even single shot, reproduction muskets to be registered with the government. Reenactors do not dwell on that terrible human cost. For instance, the Stonewall Brigades list is located here. Our editors update and regularly refine this enormous body of information to bring you reliable information. Perhaps a particular company or regiment in the war had distinctive uniforms. 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. The organization has grown to include dozens of civil war reenactors and their families. The easiest way for children to get involved in reenacting is to do it as a family. Each reenactment is a unique experience that allows participants to see through the eyes of a historical person and undergo all the hardships that go along with the times -- short of actually being killed in battle or catching typhoid. 2 nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment, Co. Becoming a historical re-enactor requires an unquenchable thirst for history and abiding patience with uncomfortable accommodations and ridiculous outfits. "How to Become a Re-Enactor." Most reenactment organizations also won't allow children under 16 to bear arms. Women reenactors portraying soldiers are not uncommon, just as there were women in ranks during the Civil War. There is nothing inherently better or worse about any of these clusters they are each different ways of experiencing the hobby and it is important that you pick the one that most closely matches what interests you. Aside from physical distance, a reenactor needs to take into consideration a few factors. Young Civil War Reenactor (photo by D. Farr). 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. 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. 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. Before you start investing cash in reenacting, attend enough events to ensure that its a hobby that you truly enjoy and want to purse. Too many curious volunteers have spent hundreds of dollars on costumes and equipment only to find out that the experience is more grueling than they bargained for. Typical costs for reenacting might include the following. Otherwise, the 60 grains of powder and a piece of paper wadding for each charge is authentic. By the time Ken Burns PBS special The Civil War debuted in 1990 interest in the War was on an upswing. How do I join a unit as a reenactor? The 49th Indiana Volunteer Infantry is Indiana's oldest, largest and best drilled civil war unit. "How to Get Started With Historical Reenacting." Mainstream is exactly what it sounds like, reenactors ranging in age from teenagers to well-beyond middle age who like the hobby, but who also do not fit the Civil War image of soldiers being thin and between the ages of 18-25.