Whoever is physically able can take to the battlefield with certain age restrictions. Special Thanks If you are having any kind of encampment and want it in a certain order, let them know ahead of time. Berdans Sharpshooters were a Federal unit of sharpshooters who wore dark green uniforms as an early form of camouflage. Get a feel for the atmosphere and conditions of a living history event before you rush to buy vintage style military uniforms & equipment. Sutlers Merchants who followed troops during the Civil War. Check your local newspaper or reenactment Web sites for listings of upcoming reenactment events in your area. Perhaps a particular company or regiment in the war had distinctive uniforms. Learn more about the world with our collection of regional and country maps. The dues are an important aspect of keeping reenactment groups operating. Speculation among reenactors is that smaller, focused events is where the hobby is headed. 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. They are encouraged to buy their opposite impression as soon as they can afford the cost. One can read the history of how Confederate Major General Ambrose Powell Hills Light Division marched 22 miles from Harpers Ferry, Virginia to Sharpsburg, Maryland. For further reading suggestions and links to many of these online resources, please see the Stonewall Brigades Recommended Reading list. As a Civil War reenactor you will become a soldier, or a civilian, wearing authentic 1860s period clothing and learning to live as . 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. Learn fife or drum. Some larger units will have majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels. Artillery reenactors are expected to know how to work all of the positions of the cannon, which can cost upwards of $15,000 and likely belongs to one person. Their website is: http://www.citizenscompanion.com/. (2020, August 26). Living History Archive. First-person - When a reenactor speaks to fellow reenactors and the public as a person during the 1860s. Hard-core reenactors give up all amenities of modern life, from deodorant to modern wristwatches. Before you start investing cash in reenacting, attend enough events to ensure that its a hobby that you truly enjoy and want to purse. Check with your reenacting unit before buying any gun. There is at least one Civil War era brass band using period instruments and playing period music. 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. If you can find material written by men from the unit you portray, even better. By Robert Arvay. The largest event was the 135th Gettysburg reenactment which involved 15,000 reenactors. Odds are that youve already read a decent amount about the war, but most Civil War books focus on the movements of vast armies and the leaders who directed them. Reenactors often do more interacting with the visiting public such as performing drill and firing demonstrations, and giving flag and equipment talks. Also welcome are Black reenactors portraying slaves or free blacks, teamsters, horse handlers, or other roles common to the period. The United States Marines wear distinctive crossed white belts. But if you want to portray a German soldier from World War II, the uniforms are pricier -- typically $300 to $400 [source: Miller]. Welcome to the official website of the Georgia Division Reenactors Association! 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. Once youre sure that the discomfort (sleeping on cots or bedrolls, wearing uncomfortable clothes, and generally avoiding anything farby) is worth it, then find a unit to join. Attend a few such reenactment events and talk to members of the involved groups to learn more about their reenactment focus and activities. Civil War News is a monthly newspaper that covers news about battlefield preservation, and reenacting. Sutlers set up large tents at reenactments and also sell on-line. The weapons that reenactors carry are real -- and loaded. Read more. One place to find equipment for sale is at the reenactment events. If you have an interest in our American History during the period of 1861-1865, we invite you to join our ranks. Brush up on your geography and finally learn what countries are in Eastern Europe with our maps. And, if one wants, one can carry original muskets if they are safe. 2nd Rhode Island Regiment. In other words, you can try it out and see how you like it. Some states require even single shot, reproduction muskets to be registered with the government. Since 1974, we have represented Indiana's civil war heritage in movies and documentaries, for newspapers and TV, and at schools, museums and reenactments across the US. Many organizations, particularly Civil War, offer family friendly scenarios. It is ultimately more important that you be happy and fulfilled in reenacting to ensure the hobby remains vibrant than for any particular unit to add an additional musket to the ranks. 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. They will speak as though the War Between the States is current. 1) Put the Credit Card Away: The absolute best advice anyone can give you is to delay purchasing any gear. That could be in California, Wisconsin, or even Russia. C.S. 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. Or, Dad can stay in the military camp while Mom and the kids stay in a civilian camp. 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. We strive for accurate historical depiction of our original unit." YouTube Video Creator "History Boy" Drummer, 8th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Co. 5) Purchase Slowly and Strategically: When you are ready to start purchasing gear, take your time and make your purchases strategic. Reenactors believe that a weekend playing soldier or civilian brings them closer to understanding the experiences of the men and women who lived in that time. "How to Get Started With Historical Reenacting." 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. Infoplease knows the value of having sources you can trust. 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. The age restriction on handling firearms does not prevent one from taking part in the hobby. Infoplease is a reference and learning site, combining the contents of an encyclopedia, a dictionary, an atlas and several almanacs loaded with facts. Just as in the Civil War armies, men who take on the rank must be able to perform at that rank. 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. These organizations will often have a camp life where young ones can partake in 1860's life styles. Mountains might be climbed. While the uniforms are generallywelluniform, hats (at least for Confederate portrayals) can be a matter of personal choice. Only a handful of men will make generals and they must know how to command at that level. While we are based in Middle Tennessee, we have active and semi-active members in many states from Florida to Arizona and Alabama to Iowa besides our core Tennessee and Kentucky group. Particularly welcomeand neededat reenactments are Black reenactors. Instead they staged brigade-sized snowball fights. 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. The Stonewall Brigade is an authentic living history association concentrated in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania dedicated to accurately portraying the common soldier of the Civil War. The soldier in the rear rank must always keep his three-banded muskets middle band at the ear of the file partner in the front rank. It is particularly valuable for its calendar of upcoming events, and book reviews. Muster A gathering, especially of troops, for service, inspection, review or roll call. Here you can find a list of groups that portray the Great War period. Learn about one of the world's oldest and most popular religions. For instance, the Stonewall Brigades list is located here. 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. In historical reenactments, people from all walks of life gather together, dressed head-to-toe in period clothing. 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. Sometimes, you'll be able to find authentic uniforms to wear to reenactments, especially for 20th-century wars. Home Research Top Five Tips for Getting Started in Civil War Reenacting. For many people, there's nothing drier than a dense history book. The further that is away from the face, the better. 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. Reenactors carry everything with them with no resupply from a vehicle, speak in first person and essentially lose themselves entirely in the war for the weekend. I show up. 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 ]. 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. There are alternative ways to get your history education. 2 nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment, Co. American Civil War Reenactment Groups Historical reenactment groups and living history groups offer an insight into how men and women lived in past times. After all, every one of the reenactors at an event arrived in a 21st century vehicle of some kind. Reenactor A person, male or female, dedicated to recreating the War Between the States or Civil War. Too far back and the soldier in the front rank is too close to the muzzle blast. Infantry is the easiest branch to learn and to finance. A love of history of all time periods is common though reenactors focus on the 19th century. If youre interested in an immersive, authentic experience, joining a mainstream unit will be a poor fit. Not sure about the geography of the middle east? Reenactors adopt what they call impressions based on the type of person they want to portray. CIVIL WAR REENACTING | How to Join a Unit 9,438 views Premiered Mar 6, 2019 405 Dislike Share Save Studio T Reenacting 3.33K subscribers https://28thmass.org Lately I've noticed quite a. Reenactments vary greatly in size, with events in New England typically showcasing 100500 infantry, while the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg in 2013 is expected to field more than 15,000 reenactors, plus thousands of civilian interpreters, 400 horses, and 100 cannon. 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.