Are you interested in Reenactments?

[Hardrada992]

In keeping with this new poll trend on the ETW forum, I wonder if any of you are interested in attending reenactments that portray this time period (and a little further, up to the American Civil war.) This probably only applies to Americans and Canadians, as the draconian gunlaws in Europe seem to preclude this type of event, but maybe not?

I ask because I will soon be finished with college, and will be able to participate in reenactments again, and if there is interest I would make a thread where I'd post various events in the US and Canada.

[SirAndrewD]

Very much so, I reenact ACW as an NCO in the Cavalry and 1812 US Militia. I've also done ACW infantry and militia at events where my unit wasn't in strength. I've always been interested in the ETW time period and wish I could get into Rev. War, but I don't have the time, money or access to events.
Also, from what I know Europe has an even stronger reenacting community than the US.

[MyOwnSling]

I've always been interested in something like this.

[Nelfe]

I live in Europe so it's not possible for me, but good luck to you
(Personnally I make viking reenactments, my troups is specialized in the Varangian viking from Russia).

[Sargsaft]

i dont like reenactments that much nobody gets ever killed hehe

[Hardrada992]

Very much so, I reenact ACW as an NCO in the Cavalry and 1812 US Militia. I've also done ACW infantry and militia at events where my unit wasn't in strength. I've always been interested in the ETW time period and wish I could get into Rev. War, but I don't have the time, money or access to events.
Also, from what I know Europe has an even stronger reenacting community than the US.

If you do 1812 (like me... : ) ) then you must be using a Brown Bess or something similar, right? That would totally work for Rev War, and the musket is usually the most expensive piece of equipment in the whole set up. And to put together an accurate militia uniform for Rev War is quite cheap, assuming you already have shoes. (Brogans are passable)

i dont like reenactments that much nobody gets ever killed hehe

Yes, that is always disappointing. But when you think about it, lots of us come from hundreds of miles away and don't want to die after fighting for 5 minutes. You get more casualties at the end for sure, but in the beginning it goes slow. Still awesome though.
I participated in the 145th Gettysburg anniversary event, which had something like 5000+ participants on each side. EPIC.

[SirAndrewD]

If you do 1812 (like me... : ) ) then you must be using a Brown Bess or something similar, right? That would totally work for Rev War, and the musket is usually the most expensive piece of equipment in the whole set up. And to put together an accurate militia uniform for Rev War is quite cheap, assuming you already have shoes. (Brogans are passable).

Sadly most of my 1812 equipment is a loaner. My unit does a couple of 1812 events a year and when the time comes we usually pull all our gear from a few of our guys that are major league enthusiasts on the subject. All I own is period civillian clothing and a few militia accouterments (I do have an original powder horn though). I borrow a Bess from a good friend every year I attend. He used to be a pure 1812 hardcore, but he got tired of only getting to go to one to two events a year and joined my ACW regiment. All my money goes to keeping my gear for my main impression up to date, and that's all percussion, my Sharps for my Federal and my Enfield for Confederate. One day I want to branch out, but in my region ACW is essentially the only way to reenact regularly.

[Medieval American]

I've been to a civil war reenactment, it was alright.

[Lagovardos]

i'd like to attend some. i'd also like to be able to vote

[Taran01]

For some reason I am not able to vote on any of these poles.

I am a US Civil War reenactor. I have been involved for 4 years, and I love it.
Although I have not been to a meeting or event for about 7 mo now.
I participated in the 2007 High Tide Gettysburg event. It was awesome. We live and eat, sleep, March, and fight as the troops did in the 1860's.

Click on the link in my sig, and then select the “Home" at the top left of the page.

[Taran01]

For some reason I am not able to vote on any of these poles.

I am a US Civil War reenactor. I have been involved for 4 years, and I love it.
Although I have not been to a meeting or event for about 7 mo now.
I participated in the 2007 High Tide Gettysburg event. It was awesome. We live and eat, sleep, March, and fight as the troops did in the 1860's.

Click on the link in my sig, and then select the “Home" at the top left of the page.

In fact when I get home, Ill upload some good pics of battle, and general living I took at different events.

[rageallday]

nobody 'dies' you normally have 1 oe 2 guys fall at the most.... the atmosphere sways more so to a circus than a battle

as you can see it is.. well you know the rest.

[Vowlesy]

nobody 'dies' you normally have 1 oe 2 guys fall at the most.... the atmosphere sways more so to a circus than a battle

as you can see it is.. well you know the rest.

All that, and he had the Union Jack upside down..tut.. I wouldn't vote for someone who can't hang the flag properly.

[Taran01]

nobody 'dies' you normally have 1 oe 2 guys fall at the most.... the atmosphere sways more so to a circus than a battle

as you can see it is.. well you know the rest.

In the American reenacting community we have two camps so to speak. We have the half ass reeneacters also known as FARBS, and then we have the hard corps ones.

An example of a Half A** reenacter would be a guy who keeps a cooler with beer and modern food under a blanket in his camp. This would also be the person who pulls out his cell phone in the mid of night to use its light to find something he dropped.

Hard corps events are just that. If it did not exist at the time, it does not exist for us.
We make our own hard tack. We sleep on the ground with out tents most of the time, rain or shine. We pull guard duty at night and use actual military 1860's formations and drill.

If you are a history geek as I am, the opportunity to live the life for 3 to 4 days at a time is a gift. I have been on the field with thousands. To see regiments in full battle order, with their flags fluttering in the breeze, to hear the drums roll, and see the glint of sunlight on the hundreds of bayonets is awe inspiring!

and then at night, after the camp choirs are done, you wander from one regimental camp fire to the next (under the stars) to visit and sing while enjoying a good clay pipe full of tobacco, and maybe get a nip of whisky here or there. The whole time, three to four days, there is nothing modern to suspend the feeling that you are really back in the 1860's.

I love history, and to be able to do these things is very special!
The fellow company is also very good, as almost everyone is like minded and trying to make the experience as close to what life was like in those days.

This is one of my passions, and I could go on and on.
So I’ll spare you all, and end here.

[Hannover]

In the American reenacting community we have two camps so to speak. We have the half ass reeneacters also known as FARBS, and then we have the hard corps ones.

An example of a Half A** reenacter would be a guy who keeps a cooler with beer and modern food under a blanket in his camp. This would also be the person who pulls out his cell phone in the mid of night to use its light to find something he dropped.

Hard corps events are just that. If it did not exist at the time, it does not exist for us.
We make our own hard tack. We sleep on the ground with out tents most of the time, rain or shine. We pull guard duty at night and use actual military 1860's formations and drill.

If you are a history geek as I am, the opportunity to live the life for 3 to 4 days at a time is a gift. I have been on the field with thousands. To see regiments in full battle order, with their flags fluttering in the breeze, to hear the drums roll, and see the glint of sunlight on the hundreds of bayonets is awe inspiring!

and then at night, after the camp choirs are done, you wander from one regimental camp fire to the next (under the stars) to visit and sing while enjoying a good clay pipe full of tobacco, and maybe get a nip of whisky here or there. The whole time, three to four days, there is nothing modern to suspend the feeling that you are really back in the 1860's.

I love history, and to be able to do these things is very special!
The fellow company is also very good, as almost everyone is like minded and trying to make the experience as close to what life was like in those days.

This is one of my passions, and I could go on and on.
So I’ll spare you all, and end here.

Dear sir I am defiantely not trying to flame or dash any of your reasons, but "stitch counters", ruin it for the ones that are just starting, some time periods are not as easy to start out in, AWI and F&I are not credit card hobbies that you go into with your sarge and buy ur kit at any sutler, the community is smaller in alot of ways more expensive.

The point that I am trying to make at this juncture is; we as renactors must remeber that we do not just do it for ourselves to escape the 20th c. but as the title says we are actors, and we have a social responsibility.
The most important reason that alot of us do this; is simply to show support to the sites, that we go to draw in the tourists so that they may stay open for another year in this blasted economy.
Ticondoroga with its fiscal problems (they are always looking the gift horse in the mouth) and the closure of Johnson House, Fort Klock, Bushy Run, Fort #4, the loss of Fort Duquesne or Pitt to developmnet and more inevitebly to follow in attempt to leave no child behind while giving the sites that make the childs imagination go wild, sadly behind in history. Sadly the Bi-centiannial waning 34 years ago alot of the old guard has left to join the ancestors we represent and with them our want to keep history alive.


PS your sentries let you pass from regiment to regiment thats not historically accurate
I am guilty of going over to the French side to watch them make asses out of themselves in their taverns.

[Hannover]

for great pics of events check out http://wayne861.smugmug.com/Old-Fort-Niagara

[SMIDSY]

Has anyone thought about merging laser sensors in the firearm and on the reenactors? The sensors and lasers could be made quite small and no more noticeable than a rubber bayonet.


Has this been tried?

[666-The Beast]

would be cool to see one, Waterloo for instance. Nice in the summer with some beers and BBQ-ing some meat.

And I would like to have a working real life shooting Baker rifle, but that's pretty hard to do I suppose with the European gun regulation

[Vade101]

In keeping with this new poll trend on the ETW forum, I wonder if any of you are interested in attending reenactments that portray this time period (and a little further, up to the American Civil war.) This probably only applies to Americans and Canadians, as the draconian gunlaws in Europe seem to preclude this type of event, but maybe not?

I ask because I will soon be finished with college, and will be able to participate in reenactments again, and if there is interest I would make a thread where I'd post various events in the US and Canada.

Gun laws? not at all - there is a very active re-enactment community in the UK. Most smoothbore black-powder firearms can be held on a shotgun license reasonably easily.

If anyone is interested i'd suggest

http://www.skirmishmagazine.com/

or

http://www.nares.org.uk/

as good places to start

[Hardrada992]

@ vade: That's great to hear- I have met whole units from England that participate in ACW events, but I had no idea how they dealt with the whole rifle thing.