how to join a civil war reenactment group
As you build your knowledge, there is a wealth of information available in online archives and books drawn from soldiers letters, diaries, and post-war memoirs. This list is by no means complete. 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. Before you start investing cash in reenacting, attend enough events to ensure that its a hobby that you truly enjoy and want to purse. To those who do not do it, reenacting may seem like an odd hobby; spending the weekend recreating a war that killed upwards of three quarters of a million people when the United States population was just 31 million. Once the leather gear, muskets, and bayonets are purchased, only the opposite sides coat and pants are a necessary purchase to correctly portray the other side. By joining such a society, you'll have time to try out your persona before committing to any major purchases for your own kit. 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.. That is my indication and EXPRESSED consent to be treated like a slave by all participating confederate soldiers. How to join a unit, where and how to k. Reenactors wanting to get as close as possible to how the soldiers lived will use this resource. Sutlers Merchants who followed troops during the Civil War. Reenactors refer to their clothing and equipment as theirkit. "I decided to join the Civil War reenacting group that helped to make the movie." . Here are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about. Find WW1 Reenactment groups to join now! During the Civil War Native Americans, Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics fought on both sides. Learn more about the world with our collection of regional and country maps. 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. 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. Reenactment also takes time, but this can be as little as a 2-3 hour event once or twice a year, to a half-dozen three-day weekend encampments. 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. The main thing one has to learn is the infantry drill, and to follow orders to execute maneuvers. Many units keep a stock of uniforms and other equipment on hand in order to let people try the hobby out rather than invest in it only to discover that they do not really like playing the role of a 1860s soldier. 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. 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 English Civil War Society UK: English Civil War: 1642 AD 1651 AD Combat reenactment, living history, educational visits, film and TV work Ermine Street Guard UK: Roman army: 50 AD 200 AD Combat reenactment, living history, TV and film work, education work, research Historia Normannis UK France USA: Middle Ages: 1100 1215 Combat reenactment . That will mean pushing long hair under a hat, taking off ear rings, and doing their best to hide the evidence of being female. Family Friendly Units - If reenacting is to become your next family adventure, you're going to have to find a family friendly unit. Reenactments are family events, so feel free to bring the kids, too. The exhaustion felt at the end of that reenacting march brings home the realization that the soldiers of the Civil War were tough. We are a Union regiment of the Southern Skirmish Association which aims to bring the history of the American Civil War to life with battles, drill displays, and a taste of 19th century camp life. Civil War News is a monthly newspaper that covers news about battlefield preservation, and reenacting. Aside from physical distance, a reenactor needs to take into consideration a few factors. Are you looking for something you can do with your family? Required fields are marked *. Hard-core reenactors give up all amenities of modern life, from deodorant to modern wristwatches. There are a wide variety of canteens including wooden ones that Confederate soldiers carried, but which would not be appropriate for Union soldiers. Being a Civil War reenactor is about stepping back in time to create believable characterpersonaor what reenactors call an impression. Between a quarter and a third of the Union army was made up of European immigrants so real or imitation Irish and eastern European accents are welcome. Reenactments are only fun if there are enough enemies on the other side. Time and place generally work together, so while you're picking your time period, you will generally have a certain location in mind as well. 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. A group of men this size can engage in brigade drill, practicing the same types of maneuvers the Civil War soldiers learned in order to face an enemy coming from any direction. BOOK TIP: "The Illustrated Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era". Need a reference? The age restriction on handling firearms does not prevent one from taking part in the hobby. 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. Read more. Events Could Include: Reenactments, Living Histories, Round Tables, Battlewalks, Shows, Lectures & More. 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. 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. 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. 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. Can one really hear a Civil War era term the rattle of musketry? While military reenacting is popular in many countries and covering many wars, Civil War Reenacting has been a growing hobby since it began in the 1960s spurred on by the Centennial. There is no age requirement for being a Civil War reenactor, but, of course, minors will need to have their parents approval and support. 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. Photos from the time period show some men marching in ranks with M-1 Garands, World War II semi-automatic rifles. You must have a passion for history and an active imagination. Reproduction clothing can cost several hundred dollars, and reproduction period rifles as much as $1000. 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. Other less expensive options are impressions of a civilian water boy, drummer boy, messenger, or just a regular kidthey were certainly, if unfortunately, caught up in the war. Did you have ancestors who participated in a particular war? Civilian - A person, male or female, who reenacts any non-military impression during Reenactments. Germany . You'll have the Web at your fingertips to research an object's authenticity -- and to compare prices from multiple vendors. Once you do, it's time to create your own historical persona. Not sure about the geography of the middle east? Check out our article How to Join a Reenactment Group. Although most common in the United States, there are also American Civil War reenactors in Canada, the United Kingdom,. By the time Ken Burns PBS special The Civil War debuted in 1990 interest in the War was on an upswing. Brogans are broad-soled half boots with leather soles worn by the common foot soldier. Otherwise, the 60 grains of powder and a piece of paper wadding for each charge is authentic. That means most Union forces on Southern battlefields likely talk with Southern accents even though they are in blue. The further that is away from the face, the better. Most reenactment groups are very welcoming to new people and will show you the ropes and even outfit you until you can gradually acquire your own kit. The United States Colored Troops, the freemen and runaway slaves who joined the Union army in numbers around 180,000, are a small, but highly appreciated branch of reenacting. How to Get Started With Historical Reenacting. No one in the 21st century really knows what it was like in the 19th century, but one can develop an idea from reading about the time period and convert that idea into a reenacting reality. The most stare-inducing women reenactors are those ladies portraying Catholic nuns who served as nurses during the war. City, county and state governments and private entrepreneurs with connections to those reenacting units saw the tourist potential of staging mock battles on private or public land. Many units have loaner gear or special requirements. 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). Women have to make the effort to disguise themselves as men. Load more. One place to find equipment for sale is at the reenactment events. When you're starting out as a volunteer, the unit you're working with will probably have a spare uniform you can borrow. While doing their impression many will do a first-person impression. Which branch reenactors join is up to their interest in each branchand their financial resources. Little children have no business on the field because they can become separated from parents. Now i ma Period clothing and accessories can be very expensive -- depending on the period and figure you're portraying. WELCOME TO THE 49TH INDIANA CO.F. First-person When a reenactor speaks to fellow reenactors and the public as a person during the 1860s. Finding a reenactment unit has gone 21st century. Also: Post Your Event Photos, Reviews, & Wrap-Ups. When looking through our list of reenactment groups, be sure to really think about what is important to you. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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. 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. 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. The Texas Rifles are seeking men and women of valor to join us and thousands of other history-minded hobbyists to experience, first hand, one of the country's fastest-growing, most unique recreational activities. Be sure to look into this. Living history events include encampments, parades, and school enrichment programs. 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]. . Infoplease is part of the Sandbox Learning family of educational and reference sites for parents, teachers and students. Cavalry and artillery reenactors have the added burden of worrying about their horses and mules stepping into holes on the field. Tacticals are unscripted battles which are usually not open to the public. 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. Join us for a captivating reenactment of a Civil War skirmish, brought to life in stunning detail! Are you interested in conducting research into tiny details of soldiers lives? Here is a sampling of an infantry soldier's kit from the website of the 28th Massachusetts, Volunteer Infantry, 4th Regiment, Irish Brigade: Federal issue forage cap (dark or indigo blue) Real sticklers discourage men from wearing wedding bands as that custom was not around during The Civil War. We've got you covered with our map collection. They will take on the persona of one who is living through the period and will not speak in modern language. There are essentially three types of reenactors; mainstream, campaigners, and stitch counters. Reenactors sacrifice immense amounts of time, effort, and money to recreate history. Discover more about American history at one of these events. In a reenactment, a persona is a character and role that you choose to portray. Focused events try to recreate parts of battles. Powell, Kimberly. 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. If you've gotten this far then hopefully you've put some thought into this endeavor. 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. 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. A more specialized type of reenactment is living history, which requires reenactors to adopt specific historic personas and engage directly with the public to educate them about a certain period. Learn fife or drum. In summer, many men carry two. They, in turn, showed the VHS tapes to younger historians, who learned that the soldiers on screen were not actors, but young men acting out their historical fantasies. Young Civil War Reenactor (photo by D. Farr). To take part in high quality reenactments a reenactor should expect to drive at least a day for quality events. Learn how your comment data is processed. Hundreds of . The atmosphere is relaxed, allowing reenactors to recruit new members. People come to Civil War reenacting in a myriad of ways. 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. Experience being part of bringing our nation's most turbulent and tragic era to life. 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. Speculation among reenactors is that smaller, focused events is where the hobby is headed. It might be a good idea to spring for the unit's annual fee for insurance coverage in case of an injury. Mountains might be climbed. For official duties, these youngstersoften between 10 and 14were called on to fill supporting roles such as drummers, buglers, messengers, and field assistants. Although most common in the United States, there are also American Civil War reenactors in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Italy, Denmark . *This post may contain affiliate links. 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. If they try for officer ranks like lieutenant and captain, they must take even more rigorous tests to demonstrate that they know the commands that moved men around the field. You will need to visit a sutlery (supply store run by a civilian, a "sutler"), either online or in person, in order to get your basic gear, called a "kit".
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