I was at the re-enactment of the battle of Averysboro (civil war battle) today and it was great. All the detail that the participants put into everything they do. Tents, clothes, uniforms, food, weapons and wagons. It was great.

For those who don't know the battle of Aversboro was where the Carolina 25th Infantry fought a delaying battle against Grant's army. The didn't win the battle, but they achieved their objective as they kept Grant's Army tied up for 3 days allowing Lee critical time to move his troops.

If you get a chance to visit Civil or Revolutionary war re-enactments I highly recommend them. They are enjoyable and your kids might actually learn something from the experience.

I convinced my Dad to do Civil War Re-enactments when I was in 4th grade. We did it for 6 years and I had a blast and learned a lot about history. We did Re-enactments at Gettysburg and Antietam. We even got to do a living history and camped out on the actual Gettysburg battlefield. If I ever have some free time I would love to get back into it. I have a lot of great memories from Re-enacting.

I did it for a few years as well. There's nothing like wool jean cloth in 90 degree temps to make you appreciate cotton.

I know what you mean. I go to the various Highland Games in the tri state area. We wear the tartan of our Clans, 13 ounce wool, in our kilts. At 101 degrees that can get a tad warm.

I'm planning on joining the 25 NC Light Infantry for re-enactors. I can't be a fighter as I'm too broken to run around the battle field. So I talked to the unit's SGM and They said I can either be a Medical Officer or the unit's leathersmith which falls under Quartermaster.

They are leaning toward me filling the role of leathersmith as they have 2 Medical Officers already and none of the NC units have a leathersmith. I think that really just want someone on board who can fix pouches, saddles, tack, scabbards, holsters, and things like that.

We have to have 2 sets of uniforms, one Union and one Confederate in case we have split the unit in half to re-enacte the battle because there are no other units available

quote:

Originally posted by Sekar:
I know what you mean. I go to the various Highland Games in the tri state area. We wear the tartan of our Clans, 13 ounce wool, in our kilts. At 101 degrees that can get a tad warm.

I'm planning on joining the 25 NC Light Infantry for re-enactors. I can't be a fighter as I'm too broken to run around the battle field. So I talked to the unit's SGM and They said I can either be a Medical Officer or the unit's leathersmith which falls under Quartermaster.

They are leaning toward me filling the role of leathersmith as they have 2 Medical Officers already and none of the NC units have a leathersmith. I think that really just want someone on board who can fix pouches, saddles, tack, scabbards, holsters, and things like that.

We have to have 2 sets of uniforms, one Union and one Confederate in case we have split the unit in half to re-enacte the battle because there are no other units available

Yes most units are forced to do both Federal and Confederate. There is never enough Federals to go around at the smaller events. Fortunately much of the equipment was used by both sides making it unnecessary to have two sets of different equipment.

I reenacted with the 37th Virginia for several years, did the 135th anniversary battles, Antietam and Gettsburg and others. Of course it all depends on how far you want to go with your impression. I've known guys who cut back on their food intake months in advance so that they have that gaunt, malnourished look by the time the reenacting season starts. But they were in
serious tactical units, did road marches ect..

Anyway research your impression and throw in what you know on how troops look after being in the field for months. Dirt is good.

Try not to be a Farb.

As you go around the sutlers looking for your kit, try to find used equipment. If it looks like it is nearly destroyed, it is what you want.

I had one of the more realistic mid-war looks going. Even down to the jean cloth trousers with knees torn out and a hole in my a**. I was chosen to be in the film Gods and Generals but had to decline because it required a week away from work. So much for stardom.


It is alot of fun, the sitting around the fire at night and drinking beer is the best part actually. lol Well the smell of powder burning is enjoyable. Just keep in mind you can get hurt. I've witnessed one bayonet wound, the guy had an open ended frog, he fell and the bayonet stuck in his hip. Quite a few burns from muzzle blast, people forget to elevate. The heat also can be a problem for people. And I was present when one guy was shot with a live round. 135th Gettysburg, Pickett's Charge on the final day. A Federal had been shooting live rounds the weekend before and there was still one round in his Navy Colt. He shot a guy in the neck and just missed killing him.

And watch the horses, they can get spooked and go wild.

Did I mention to have fun?


Your idea of a leathersmith is a good one, you will have beaucoup business from both sides.

If I remember correctly I was at the 135th Gettysburg re-enactment. It was my first one and we went around giving everyone ice and water.

Ah sorry I assumed you were new to reenacting and were seeking advice.

At the 135th Gettysburg, as you may know Pickett's Charge was to scale, full scale. Over 30,000 troops engaged. I think the only areas lacking numbers were the Arty, there were 100 on hand, and the Cav. I can't speak for the Union side but on the Confederate side each reenacting unit was assigned the part of one of the actual units that took part in the Charge. My company was designated Company I, 53rd Virginia Infantry. It was the brigade color company for General Lewis A. Armistead's Brigade.

It was all scripted to be as accurate as possible. However there were exceptions to that, such as Armistead's brigade in the actual battle breached the Federal line and captured the artillery before being drivin back. We were not permitted to do that.

The assault opened with about an hour long artillery barrage by Lee's artillery corps. After the guns fell silent we began the assault in the support position behind Garnett's and Kemper's brigades. This was the total force of Pickett's actual division of Longstreet's Corps.
Two other divisions from A.P.Hill's Corps were placed under Longstreet's command for the assault. Even though it is known as Pickett's Charge, there were others, namely Trimble and Pettigrew to the left of Pickett and Wilcox to the right.

Anyway by the time the arty stopped we couldn't even see the Federal lines. We marched out into a wall of smoke.

When we reached the wood fence at Emettsburg Road, we climbed the fence and formed again- all under the fire of Federal artillery. Once we had reformed we heard " at the double quick" and we began to run forward.

We had drawn straws to decide who would fall at the Emettsburg Road and who would fall between there and the Federal lines. We were expected to protect the colors, no unit, even in reenacting, wants to lose its colors.

After it was over I looked out across the field it appeared as if the earth was moving. It was extremely surreal.


That and New Market were my final reenactments of any size. Honestly I have mixed feelings about it all. On the one it is a valuable way of keeping history alive, and frankly it is fun burning powder. But on the other hand I had a feeling like we shouldn't have been doing what were doing. Like some voices were coming back to say- don't do it. I still get chills even writting about it now.


It is one thing to visit Gettysburg without really knowing, beyond general knowledge, what happend there. The average tourist really has no idea. But I was at the point where I knew down to brigades and regiments what happend on the ground where I was standing. In fact I once found myself explaining the battle for Little Round Top to a tourist group while an annoyed park ranger looked on. I could explain at the tactical level what happend and why.


I will say this. It was my great honor to accompany the last surviving son of a Confederate soldier on a visit to Gettysburg. He was over 90 years old and was something like the 18th child of his father. His father actually survived Pickett's charge.

We retraced the steps of his father's regiment as he told us stories his father had told him about the battle. Such an opportunity will never exist again.



Anyway- I recommend reenacting as long as all involved keep in mind they are reenacting the greatest tragedy in American history. There is nothing nice about it, nothing cool about it, it was the bloodiest most horrific event to curse our nation. Millions had their lives destroyed by it, lost everything, and as we know over 600,000 were killed.


I think the greatest lesson of all is that never again can Americans raise their hands against each other.

I did Civil War re-enacting for a long time. I was with 3rd MO Cavalry (dismounted), CSA. It was a blast.

I got to do a lot of great events...both local and national. I was at Vicksburg, Chickamauga, and Wilson's Creek. We hosted Wilson's Creek as a national.

It's a great pasttime.

I was (am?) a historical reenactor since 2001. Army obligations prevented me from attending many events and now it seems as though my unit is inactive after its founder left the hobby. My impression is that of a Waffen-SS Pionier; the "bad guy", in other words. When I started I was too impatient for single shot weapons and wanted to partake in a maneuver type of event, so rule out WWI and prior for the most part.

The hobby gave me a chance to meet many veterans from both sides and gain a new appreciation for the "Greatest Generation". A few lessons were also learned pertaining to firepower and tactics. Suffice to say a K98k is not capable of taking on a squad of Garands. Fun times, and I hope to attend more events. I also want to expand my impressions to a WWII 11th ABN and 101st, WWI German and perhaps Confederate Civil War. If it counts I get to wear the 1784 Infantry uniform as a duty uniform occasionally.

I want to do black powder rendezvous once I retire (in eleven years). Here's my first prep for that...


I just bought it last week. It's flintlock. With twelve shots through, it shoots great. I've taken it out to about fifty yards.

I did WWII American for a couple years, Glider Infantry. We had to disband our squad for lack of membership. I never did get back into it, even though I still have my kit. I keep telling my wife I'm going to find a new unit, but I haven't yet.

Erik, MAKE a unit. You don't have a unit in the nearby area they you just make one. You know what is needed, you still have your kit, go for it.

Kurt

Yeah, I could be an "Army of One"

I have thought about participating in local parades in my kit, to see if I could get anyone else interested in forming a unit. I might do that for Veteran's Day and see what happens.