how to join a civil war reenactment group

This can mean everything from uncomfortable clothes and terrible food to inclement weather and a poor excuse for a bed. Each unit has a different function and will provide a much different experience. Reenacting is at a cross-roads. The persona is sometimes referred to as an impression. We are active from Virginia to New England. Reenactors sacrifice immense amounts of time, effort, and money to recreate history. In historical reenactments, people from all walks of life gather together, dressed head-to-toe in period clothing. The same uniforms worn in the summer are worn in the winter. Also welcome are Black reenactors portraying slaves or free blacks, teamsters, horse handlers, or other roles common to the period. Reenacting units are organized in companies and regiments by reenactors from the same geographic area, much as Civil War companies and regiments were organized. 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. Whoever is physically able can take to the battlefield with certain age restrictions. Learn fife or drum. Berdans Sharpshooters were a Federal unit of sharpshooters who wore dark green uniforms as an early form of camouflage. 7th Florida Infantry Regiment, Company F. 21st Georgia Volunteer Infantry Civil War Reenactment Unit, 24th Georgia vols Company B civil War reenacting group, Company A, 2nd Battalion Georgia Sharpshooters, 104th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Company H, First Maryland Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Company B, 4th Texas Co. E / 16th Michigan Co. B Civil War Reenactors, Reynolds' Battery L 1st New York Light Artillery, 75th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company A, Company "C" 2nd Regiment Berdan Sharpshooters. R. Lee Hadden. For reenactments that span several days, this can be grueling. The largest event was likely the 135th Gettysburg reenactment where an estimated 15,000 attended. Camping with ones friends can be an attractive incentive to pack up the gear and drive away rather than staying home doing chores. The exhaustion felt at the end of that reenacting march brings home the realization that the soldiers of the Civil War were tough. Read more. 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. Merchants known as sutlers set up on-site to sell clothing, accessories and weapons. These can range anywhere from $5 a month to $25 a month. Many reenactors are completely outfitted with clothing, packs, gear, and vehicles their typical persona would carry. Welcome to the home of the 52nd Tennessee Co. C. We are a group of living historians centered around the American Civil War. These groups often focus on reenactment of wars, offering members (and sometimes the public) a glimpse of what life was like during the conflicts that shaped history. Hundreds of . Oftentimes, a young person will find themselves interested in living history but struggle to get involved. Are you interested in conducting research into tiny details of soldiers lives? Florida. 21 Virginia F-Company A love of history of all time periods is common though reenactors focus on the 19th century. Reenactors recreate history by portraying the look, actions, and lives of a person from a particular time period of history. Check your local newspaper or search the Internet to find a reenactment near you. Infantry is the easiest branch to learn and to finance. In FULL SLAVE garb. 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. Although most common in the United States, there are also American Civil War reenactors in Canada, the United Kingdom,. A local company commander will be assigned to recruit new members, train them in the basics of military drill, and guide them in the purchase of the correct gear. Most units will be eager to help you select gear that fits with their authenticity standards and will offer up the unit commander, a non-commissioned officer, or another senior member to mentor you through your initial purchases. How do your feet feel after marching 22 miles in a single day in thin-soled brogans? Civilian - A person, male or female, who reenacts any non-military impression during Reenactments. .com/us/military/civil-war-reenactor.html. For example, most reenactors portray common soldiers, but maybe someone wants to portray a foreign-born ancestor so their impression will be augmented by speaking in an accent. 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]. Not all organizations allow family's along for the ride. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/getting-started-with-reenacting-1422852. Reenactments are only fun if there are enough enemies on the other side. Learn how your comment data is processed. Have you often wondered what it might have been like to actually live in the past? Welcome to the official website of the Georgia Division Reenactors Association! A reenactor is a special breed of person. Now that the sesquicentennial is over, the future of reenacting is being debated. In 1913 elderly Union and Confederate veterans met at the 50th anniversary of Gettysburg and put themselves through their pacesbut without the muskets they had used against each other. C.S. Help/Ideas for Organizing a Reenactment - American Civil War Forums 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. Civil War reenacting group in Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, and New Hampshire. The dues are an important aspect of keeping reenactment groups operating. 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. Living History Archive. In summer, many men carry two. *This post may contain affiliate links. https://www.thoughtco.com/getting-started-with-reenacting-1422852 (accessed March 5, 2023). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In 2014 the name was changed to North Florida Artillery Historical Foundation, Inc. was established as a non profit/IRS organization. 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. 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 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. Short of actually traveling back in time, however, there is no better way to learn about history than by living it first-hand as a reenactor. This is especially important when it comes to clothing and weaponry, as we'll see on the next page. But if you want to portray a German soldier from World War II, the uniforms are pricier -- typically $300 to $400 [source: Miller]. The 49th Indiana Volunteer Infantry is Indiana's oldest, largest and best drilled civil war unit. What's more, you could get hurt. Infoplease is part of the Sandbox Learning family of educational and reference sites for parents, teachers and students. There is at least one Civil War era brass band using period instruments and playing period music. Powell, Kimberly. 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. Typical costs for reenacting might include the following. Once you've chosen a time period and character, you need to learn everything you can,from the way they dressed and ate, to their manner of speech, cultural beliefs, and social interactions. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era is a Pulitzer Prize-winning work on the American Civil War. Depending upon your reenactment scenario, this may be a real individual or a fictional one who could have lived during your time period of interest. American Civil War reenactment is an effort to recreate the appearance of a particular battle or other event associated with the American Civil War by hobbyists known (in the United States) as Civil War reenactors, or living historians.. 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. ThoughtCo. Period clothing and accessories can be very expensive -- depending on the period and figure you're portraying. Photos from the time period show some men marching in ranks with M-1 Garands, World War II semi-automatic rifles. Particularly welcomeand neededat reenactments are Black reenactors. 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. The atmosphere is relaxed, allowing reenactors to recruit new members. Living history events include encampments, parades, and school enrichment programs. Reenactment Groups in Central Kentucky - American Civil War Forums Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Jane McGrath 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 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. Mountains might be climbed. Marches can range from a mile or so from camp to the battlefield to more than 20 miles at special events. How To Get Started With Historical Reenacting - ThoughtCo That is also the reason why most leather gear is black, the standard Union color. - Confederate States or Confederate States Army. Farby is a Civil War Reenactment term for anything not typical of the period. This Forum is for Posting Civil War Event Information. 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. They are designed to save you money, help you avoid some of the most common mistakes first time reenactors make, and give you the best chance at enjoying the hobby over the long-term. Being a Civil War reenactor is about stepping back in time to create believable characterpersonaor what reenactors call an impression. A typical period correct firearm will cost upwards of $1000. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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 . Reenacting units organized around a specific regiment with a general type of uniform will not allow a Berdan sharpshooter or a Louisiana Tiger in the ranks. 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. Finding an organization for a child to partake in is not difficult. One place to find equipment for sale is at the reenactment events. Rivers might be crossed. The age restriction on handling firearms does not prevent one from taking part in the hobby. Reenactors need a shirt, coat, pants, wool socks, and a hat.

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