how to join a civil war reenactment group

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. Unit Dues - Unit dues are typically the cheapest of all expenses. Welcome! Our principal reason for existence is to promote an authentic portrayal of Civil War history to the . Civilian - A person, male or female, who reenacts any non-military impression during Reenactments. When looking through our list of reenactment groups, be sure to really think about what is important to you. For instance, Revolutionary War-era equipment is generally more expensive than Civil War weapons. At battles where the 24th Michigan with its distinctive long frock coats and tall black hats was not present, the men of the 26th North Carolina Troops put on common Union shell jackets and portray whatever Union units were present. These events help reenactors immerse themselves in the reenacting experience, gaining first-hand knowledge of war, battle strategy, and the hardships of combat. After all, every one of the reenactors at an event arrived in a 21st century vehicle of some kind. 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. While the majority of soldiers were in the 1840 age range, in many enlistment cases birth years were overlooked, or were fabricated. This can mean everything from uncomfortable clothes and terrible food to inclement weather and a poor excuse for a bed. But if you're more interested in other wars or time periods, don't despair. At the reenactments of those battles, Federal reenactors with access to repeating rifles like the 1860 Henry or the Spencer rifle or carbine will brigade together to recreate those particular actions. Focused events try to recreate parts of battles. All races and ethnicities can reenact. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/getting-started-with-reenacting-1422852. While those shows inspired then young, now-middle aged reenactors to study the war, the producers paid little attention to authenticity. Reenacting is at a cross-roads. The largest event was the 135th Gettysburg reenactment which involved 15,000 reenactors. 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. She teaches at the Genealogical Institute of Pittsburgh and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Mega-events, reenactments where reenactors number several thousand, are likely gone forever now that the 150th anniversary events ended in 2015. Larger regiments will combine those companies to form a state-wide organization. Both sides tolerate them. The unit you ultimately join should be in a position to provide the elements that you want to get out of reenacting. 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. A reenactor could choose that impression by joining a reenacting unit following those uniform guidelines. The 125th Franklin, Tennessee event was held in minus 10 wind chill. Just as in the 1860s, some reenacting gear can be shoddy (a Civil War era word), so taking knowledgeable advice from other veteran reenactors in ones unit makes sure newcomers do not buy the wrong gear. While headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, our membership encompasses Maryland, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Welcome to the official website of the Georgia Division Reenactors Association! st croix zillow dollar genetal near me bnha x innocent reader. The thinking is that events where only several hundred troops are participating can be much more manageable and affordable to stage than the huge events that required hundreds of acres of land for the reenactment itself, plus parking for thousands of participants and spectators. Beginners should start by attending Civil War Reenactments and observing what goes on. 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. Reenactors do not dwell on that terrible human cost. 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. And that's not including weaponry: An M1 Garand will put you out $700 to $900, while other period guns cost less than $100. Reenactors enjoy camping, cooking over an open fire, guns, loud noises, marching, military discipline, and telling stories. As they learn how to be a soldier, they take tests and advance through the non-commissioned ranks to corporals and sergeants. Children as young as 8 have been seen at many reenactments partaking in field music. 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. If you asked to galvanize (switch sides) for a battle or event, dont complain. (May 8, 2009) http://www.2ri.org/become_a_member.htm, Bromer, Zachary. Brush up on your geography and finally learn what countries are in Eastern Europe with our maps. Here you can find a list of groups that portray the American Civil War period. And that will generally be a four-wheel-drive SUV as all reenactors will one day find themselves in a muddy field wondering if they will be able to get out in time to get back to work on Monday. Buy at a reenactment or with the help of an experience unit member. If youre interested in an immersive, authentic experience, joining a mainstream unit will be a poor fit. Before you purchase a musket and show up to your first event, you may find the following tips useful. 8th Confederate Cavalry / 7th Kentucky Cavalry, 3rd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Company A, 1st Arkansas US Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment, Co. 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. Civil War reenacting group in Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, and New Hampshire. While Confederate regulations called for a kepi, most men opted for a slouch hat, a broad-brimmed hat of varying styles. (2020, August 26). It is particularly valuable for its calendar of upcoming events, and book reviews. I show up. A canteen holding about two quarts of water is critical. These organizations will often have a camp life where young ones can partake in 1860's life styles. 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. Here are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about. For instance, the 26th Regiment of North Carolina Troops also portrays the 24th Michigan of The Iron Brigade when it reenacts as Federals. These events were often staged with paying spectators in mind, leading to sights that irritated reenactors such as rushing the enemy in a chargebut with multi-tiered bleachers behind the enemy. 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. 4) Read As Much As You Can: The best way to start your career in reenacting out right is to read extensively. Women have to make the effort to disguise themselves as men. You'll have the Web at your fingertips to research an object's authenticity -- and to compare prices from multiple vendors. Period clothing and accessories can be very expensive -- depending on the period and figure you're portraying. Reenactors sacrifice immense amounts of time, effort, and money to recreate history. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era is a Pulitzer Prize-winning work on the American Civil War. Most organization will not watch your 10 year old kid all day. Then again in 1938, those same veterans returned. That means most Union forces on Southern battlefields likely talk with Southern accents even though they are in blue. Arch supports were not invented in the 1860s, but feel free to put anything inside that helps you march. 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. Do not buy from sutlers on-line then select which unit you want to join. Civil War Reenacting makes an effort to list the websites of reenacting units, but, as might be expected, many units are not listed here. Members may portray either a military impression, or one of many civilian roles which are appropriate to the Civil War period. Historical reenactment groups and living history groups offer an insight into how men and women lived in past times. Two TV mini-series, Blue & Gray (1982), and North & South (1985) drove interest in reenacting in the early 1980s. 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. Experience being part of bringing our nation's most turbulent and tragic era to life. Emmitsburg Area Historical Society.http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/articles/misc/re-enactor.htm, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security, How the Civilian Conservation Corp Worked. It is where the Civil War soldier carried his food and where the reenactor will carry his food, wallet and car keys. 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. If the idea of volunteering in historical reenactments is appealing to you, the first thing you should do is attend some of these events as a spectator. Infoplease is part of the Sandbox Learning family of educational and reference sites for parents, teachers and students. 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. Marches can range from a mile or so from camp to the battlefield to more than 20 miles at special events. Most reenactors collect their kit over a period of time, borrowing from generous fellow soldiers until they are fully outfitted. Civil War News is a monthly newspaper that covers news about battlefield preservation, and reenacting. How does a starving man march 20 miles then go into a three-hour battle? [1]. They'll have fun watching the excitement, and you'll get to teach them about history. We have members in four states Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Arkansas. Living histories take place at the actual battlefield by invitation from the National Park Service. Each unit has a different function and will provide a much different experience. Reenactors take their jobs very seriously. Required fields are marked *. Reenactors put themselves in the shoes of those from an earlier time where food was scarce, disease was rampant, and a good nights sleep might mean sleeping in the mud. Reenactors recreate history by portraying the look, actions, and lives of a person from a particular time period of history. Learn more about the world with our collection of regional and country maps. Perhaps the most famous civil war in history began on April 12, 1861, when secessionist Southerners attacked the United States Army garrison at Fort Sumter, South Carolina . Don't buy a uniform or other equipment until you've joined a unit, which might have its own particular rules for attire. These can range anywhere from $5 a month to $25 a month. 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. The Author (far right in a Derby) with Shelby Foote at a Reenactment in the Early 1990s, Photograph provided by: Color Sergeant Clint Johnson 26th Regiment of North Carolina Troops, Shelby Foote, a historian who spent more than 20 years writing a three-volume history of The Civil War, was surrounded by several reenactors outside of a university where he was speaking. Just how much does it cost to be a Civil War reenactor? Subscribe to our newsletter * indicates required. But, there are legitimate roles for reenactors in their early teens to act as runners, or fifers or drummers if they are musically inclined to join units which have field musicians. Did you have ancestors who participated in a particular war? 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. Leather cartridge box, belt, bayonet scabbard and cap box come in a variety of types and colors such as russet brown, but most men choose black so the same accoutrements can be used for both Confederate and Union impressions. Extreme Points of the United States (States & Territories), Federal issue forage cap (dark or indigo blue), State issue forage cap with McDowell visor (dark or indigo blue), Federal fatigue blouse ("sack coat," dark or indigo blue) with four brass buttons, Federal trousers, foot pattern (sky blue), Issue muslin shirt (or other period pattern), USM1855 cartridge box, .58 caliber, mid-war model (black leather), USM1855 bayonet scabbard (black leather, one-piece Springfield style), M1853 three-band .577 caliber Enfield rifle musket and bayonet, Musket sling for M1853 Enfield (untreated leather), Haversack, U.S. regulation wartime issue (black tarred canvas), USM1858 smooth side canteen (jean cloth or dark blue wool cover) with strap (leather preferred over cotton drill or linen). The problem with modern day reenacting for USCTs is that they were not at many of the major battles because the original Union generals refused to put them into ranks beside white soldiers and because significant numbers werent enlisted or trained until the middle of 1863. Do your research before making any purchases to ensure that you get the most authentic bang for your buck. Check with your reenacting unit before buying any gun. Most reenactors join the infantry, which is followed in popularity by the artillery, then the cavalry and there are a few naval interpreters. Infantry is the easiest branch to learn and to finance. A Civil War Reenactment will have various units such as artillery, cavalry, or infantry units. Perhaps you have a friend in the hobby who has encouraged you to give it a try. There is nothing inherently better or worse about any of these clusters they are each different ways of experiencing the hobby and it is important that you pick the one that most closely matches what interests you. 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. All reenactors come into the unit as privates. Kimberly Powell is a professional genealogist and the author of The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy. In addition to special uniforms, some reenactors will be tempted to get special firearms. olg pick 4 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. 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. Our editors update and regularly refine this enormous body of information to bring you reliable information. Reenactment groups and societies can be found all over the world, although they are especially active in the U.S., UK, Germany, Sweden, Canada, and Australia. Whether you've chosen to be a fur trapper, a soldier or a medieval princess, this clothing and accessories you select for your kit should match your persona.

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