Reenactors!? - Anyone Here Reenact History?

[happychick]

If you're a reenactor or know someone who is - please post along with what time period you do!

I've recently gotten into reenacting at a local Living History site (pre 1840) and am also thinking about doing Civil War reenacting.

I'm curious as to how many members here are reenactors themselves? I think the love of doing things 'the old fashioned way' can be carried out with your lifestyle i.e homesteading which might be why you're here in the first place...

[jd4020]

I & my family do. On a very small scale. I'm on the committee & in September I am part of the National Railsplitter Festival held at the Logan County Fairgrounds in Lincoln, Illinois. We kick off the weekend with a Civil War Ball. My daughters & I have sewn ball gowns and working dresses. The Springfield International Folk Dancers have been our dance callers for several years. They are a fun group and we usually have a good crowd of 75 to 100 people attend. One year we were able to have the Illinois 33rd Regiment band play for us. They were awesome.
We try to bring to life how Abraham Lincoln would be living at the time. Lincoln Illinois is the only town/city to be named for Lincoln while he was living and christened by him. There are contests, the main one being splitting a ten foot log into eight rails. There are some pretty fast splitters here as in eight rails in 3 minutes and first prize is $1000.00.
One gentleman brings his horse teams (one is a set of matched percheron mares) to drag the logs into the rings and I believe he is working on trying to get a horse pull for next year.
For the last 2 years we have had the Tenth Cavalry from Springfield set up military style camp and on Friday several schools make a field trip to see them cooking and military drills on horses etc.
In our resurrected farm, we are cooking over the fire, stews, breads, apple butter, candle making, games, laundry just many activities for the family to enjoy. We have a fellow & his wife set up their teepee and several other buck skinners join their area.
You'd be very welcome should you (or anyone else) decide to come visit. We certainly enjoy being part of this particular weekend.
God Bless.
jd

[Ravenlost]

My son was a Civil War reenactor when he was a kid. He was a member of the 16th Alabama Infantry.

[pheasantplucker]

I've always had an interest in the subject. I'll suggest you read the book called Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz. Extremely interesting book that enlightens folks about people who pursue this interest. I'm going to have to reread this book.

[7thswan]

I'm learning a little. Just made my brother 5 shirts in the Mountain man style. diffrent closures on the neck,ties,laceing.....

[Ana Bluebird]

I demonstrate spinning, all dressed up like 1860 or so. But Civil War reenacting is big time business here, done all over the place. Missouri was a border state, you know, lots of battles around here. The reenactors seem to have a great time. But I don't go to war, just quiet wool spinning and fiber art is more my style.

[Micheal]

I'm not into it, but do know a few guys who are into it big time!
Around here it's the American Revolution, lots of history in the local area; from General Herkimer's home to Fort Stanwix - think of the "old" movie Drums along the Mohawk and you can envision why.......

[RebelDigger]

Yep--been a Civil War reenactress for 12 years as well as a historical seamstress. I am a member of the Authentic Reproduction Civil War Merchants team on etsy. DH has done it longer than I have. We are affiliated with the 48th TN (Dixon's) Infantry C.S.A. out of Waynesboro, TN. I portray a middle, middle class farmer's wife and at events I stage my tent and tent fly as if it were my log cabin home. I sit around and sew, knit, spin, do period cooking, give mini lectures on civilian life during the war to the 'taters (reenacting slang for "spectator") and of course, the time honored women getting together gossip sessions LOL. I have even been interviewed and filmed a couple of times for television.

The biggest event I ever went to was Perryville, KY. I will never forget being awake before dawn, sitting on the side of my cot, doing some emergency mending to my corset (wearing my chemise and drawers) by lamp light while outside the sounds of men going to war were all around me. The sounds of tack on the horses, the guys "coutering up" (another term from the hobby--means putting on their accourtrements--the leathers that hold the cartridge boxes and bayonet). In the distance the pop of muskets firing and every so often cannon fire. That was one of the times that reenactor's really strive for--the feeling, however brief, of being "in the period".

One other time I got there. At Franklin when the ladies in my unit put together a period funeral procession. One of our members had twin girls and the night before we staged the tent as if they had typhoid with period medicine bottles, wash basins, etc.-- the whole "sick room" thing. The next morning, we put the girls into real, pine coffins and "laid them out" and DH and some of the other men loaded them into a period wagon. The procession stopped at the sutler area and the wet plate photographer took a picture of the girls in the coffins leaning up against the back of the wagon (historically accurate--you would be surprised how many of those old CDVs are of dead people) then we proceeded to the actual cemetery on that site and dug a grave outside of the fence and had a real period funeral (at that time, our unit had a history teacher whose persona was the company chaplain). The girls had slipped out of the coffins in the wagon, they had a false bottom so no, we did not bury the girls LOL. Walking behind the wagon on the way to the cemetery, I was really crying so it was good I was accurate and had a hanky. Everyone we passed, esp. the Confederate guys doffed their hats and bowed their heads and it got really real for a while there. Don't think I would want to repeat it but, really glad to have experienced it. The girls changed clothes BTW and came back from the funeral "resurrected" as young boys. Later they resurrected back into girls just in time for the dance.

Many of the post SHTF skills I have come from my hobby. We are the go to people when the power goes out due to an ice storm because friends and family know that we have the period equipment and skills to live without modern utilities. I have cooked over an open fire in our backyard when Katrina knocked out our power. Used my cast iron tripod and cooking grates just like at a reenactment only for real. Handy knowledge from our ancestors.

So, if you are interested in Civil War, it can be as fun or a real as you want it but, I warn you, in order to do the Original Cast justice and honor them properly, it takes a lot of research. Forget Gone with the Wind and get into some history books and primary sources.

[RebelDigger]

Originally Posted by pheasantplucker

I've always had an interest in the subject. I'll suggest you read the book called Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz. Extremely interesting book that enlightens folks about people who pursue this interest. I'm going to have to reread this book.

Awesom book, second the recommendation. "Hardcore" is the term for guys like what was the reenactor's name, Rob? I was at an event once where his unit participated. They stayed in the woods the whole time except when they were fighting. Most people in the hobby are not that--ummm--dedicated.

Erzatz in the Confederay talks about shortages of things in the South during the war and the ultimate primary reference is the Diary of Mary Chestnut. These are two books that will get a prepper thinking even if no interest in reenacting. They show what life is like when the "grid goes down" so to speak. The grid in the War of Northern Agression of course, being the Blockade.

[FarmboyBill]

Did medieval reenacting for 25yrs in the SCA. Taught heavy weapons fighting for 10 of those years. Now considered a martial art. Have fractured collarbones, and 2 broke ribs as souviniers

[Tommyice]

I don't do reenactments, but I've made plenty of clothing items for friends that do. In my area the Revolutionary War is the big thing. There were no battles here then, just a lot of encampments--patriot, French and British. Washington retreated several times along our river and we have an old dutch colonial home that it is proven he actually slept in.

[homesteadforty]

Yep... I do living history of circa 1775 civilian life. Until I moved to WV I was VP and Events Director for a historic site called Jerusalem Mill (if you're interested you can google it, I am the guy in the middle of the picture on the homepage) in Harford Co. MD. I actually got to live on site in a house that was built about 1760.

[RebelDigger]

homesteadforty, that is awesome! I have always wanted to do that era in a real house site--so want to do something for a long period in a period home with all the bells and whistles. Lucky, lucky you!

[happychick]

Thank you all so much for sharing! I really enjoyed reading your posts.

- Homesteadforty, that is one awesome historic site - wow! The site near me has the founder of the town's original house (restored) and a 1770's stone trading post. Everyone else just sets up tepees & tents.

- RebelDigger, I know what you mean about those 'moments'. There is another event near me, set back away from the corn fields back in a large hilly woods/wilderness, very hard to get to (let alone park!). Then you start heading in to the event, down these little deer trails in your period dress, passing others along the way...Feels like a time warp!

- Farmboybill, I'm glad there was at least 1 Medieval SCA reenactor here! I don't have any events very near me, (2 hours drive), but do medieval archery and am making my own gear/outfit with my brother anyway.

Thank you all again for posting, I hope there are more of you who find this thread!

[FarmboyBill]

Whats different in medieval archery than in regular archery. I have a 50lb long bow, and 3 50lb fighting crossbows. One, an over and under.

History Channel is going to have or try to get the sport of jousting going again by takeing a couple groups called Full Metal Jousting, and Medieval Meyhem on the road to different cities. They had a casting call that ended in July looking for anybody who would learn to joust for a week, than go against the pres of the Full Metal Jousters for a Grand. Dont look like hes used to being unhoursed. Its Full Contact, Not corieographed like all that ive seen. Id like to see it, but cant.

[Ravenlost]

Rebeldigger...you really took me back! I remember my son talking about those moments...at Shiloh they were able to slip over the fence and camp in the actual camp ground of the 16th (with park ranger permission) and he came home talking about how the past just crept in and sat with them as they gathered round the campfire in the dark.

Another time was when he went to Gettysburg to participate in the 135th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. He said standing in that line about to take off across the field for Pickett's charge just gave him chills. There were 40,000+ reenactors there and he said when he looked from left to right the line of soldiers stretched farther than he could see. In that moment he felt like he was right there at the actual battle. It's a memory he will never forget.

[lemonthyme7]

We (our family of 4) have done the French & Indian War time period. We don't do reenacting for a crowd mostly just go to rendezvous with like minded people in period clothes and have the gun shoots and trading, etc. We also have done, several different years, educational field trips for the local 8th grade history class. We held it at our home in the country. We have a huge yard and had friends who did the same time period come and set up their tents. The kids would go through and at each tent learn different things. We had animal tanning where they could try their hand at fleshing a deer hide. There was a blacksmith display, firestarting, Tomahawk and knife throwing (yes real one's) and of course muzzleloader shooting. The reenactors shot the muzzleloaders from behind a line the kids couldn't cross and than we would let them shoot with just a patch and powder (no ball). There was lots of time period items for them to look at and they got to try all the skills for themselves so they were really learning. We haven't done it for a few years now as their awesome teacher was deployed to Iraq several times and has since retired as a teacher. We had a lot of fun doing it and of course after the kids left for the day we cooked something good over the fire and had a few drinks and swapped tales!

[FarmboyBill]

My X took my kids to Gettysburg 25yrs ago thereabouts. He got up one morning and walked to a fire where there was a few guys gathered round. After awhile, a guy came up and asked where everybody was. They said it was only 5 and it would be a couple hrs before assembly. He said he had been sleeping near his car when he heard a holrseman rideing by. He looked up and saw him. He thought that he was going to assembly so he got up and around also. They said they hadnt seen or heard a calveryman. Somebody said, that happens here alot. The cavelryman was a ghost.

[RebelDigger]

Originally Posted by Ravenlost

Rebeldigger...you really took me back! I remember my son talking about those moments...at Shiloh they were able to slip over the fence and camp in the actual camp ground of the 16th (with park ranger permission) and he came home talking about how the past just crept in and sat with them as they gathered round the campfire in the dark.

Another time was when he went to Gettysburg to participate in the 135th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. He said standing in that line about to take off across the field for Pickett's charge just gave him chills. There were 40,000+ reenactors there and he said when he looked from left to right the line of soldiers stretched farther than he could see. In that moment he felt like he was right there at the actual battle. It's a memory he will never forget.

That's what keeps us hooked. Almost like a drug LOL.

[RebelDigger]

Originally Posted by FarmBoyBill

My X took my kids to Gettysburg 25yrs ago thereabouts. He got up one morning and walked to a fire where there was a few guys gathered round. After awhile, a guy came up and asked where everybody was. They said it was only 5 and it would be a couple hrs before assembly. He said he had been sleeping near his car when he heard a holrseman rideing by. He looked up and saw him. He thought that he was going to assembly so he got up and around also. They said they hadnt seen or heard a calveryman. Somebody said, that happens here alot. The cavelryman was a ghost.

Shiloh and Gettysburg are notorius for reenactors having paranormal experiences. Makes sense when you think about it. If ever a place was going to be haunted, those would be up there towards the top of the list, at least for the U.S.