Category Archives: reenactment

Why do you do this?

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If you are at all interested in military history,this is as close as you are likely to come to actually being there.Wearing the clothes,using the equipment, eating the food is all part of an experience that no book or film will even come close to capturing. As an added bonus, you gain a personal, soldiers-view from a perspective that would otherwise be very hard to convey. And it seems. We learn things in spite of ourselves!

Last, you will meet a lot of people with similar (weird!) interests and will make a number of lifelong friendships! Good people!!! Good times! Good Knowledge!

What are the largest summer reenactments in the mid-Atlantic area?

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It all depends for what time period you wish to check out… for RevWar, places like Williamsburg, Virginia are good. Also, all the Rev War battlefield sites. Really, the whole Eastern Seaboard has reenacting events and something pretty much every weekend.

It’s best to check out the battlefields themselves, as they will have info on events taking place there throughout the year. Same for Civil War battlefields and events. And of course, don’t forget the big Gettysburg event held every year over the July 4th holiday weekend. On what was once the “frontier” in the Midwest, there are many smaller historical events. Our friends at Smoke and Fire News is a great place to check this out.

It all depends on what interests and fascinates YOU. There’s WWI, WWII, Roman, even U.S. Calvary stuff out west, where you can live for a week in an old fort, wearing authentic clothes and eating authentic food. You pull guard duty and might find your self roused out of a night’s sleep to go “chase Indians.” And yes, there are Native American reenactors who take things every bit as serious as any other military group.

Reenacting is allabout rediscovering history and studying the things you are passionate about.

How do people in battle reenactments know when to fall?

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In “scripted battles,” (usually for the public) you are told what to do. In “tacticals” — private or “non-public” events, where the event is actually more of a tactical exercise, one actually uses the “honor system.” Not perfect, but it works.

Sometimes, hits are rehearsed — especially if it’s a “known” death in that particular reenactment such as a noted officer or figure that was killed in the battle. For others, the time to take a hit is when they get tired of charging across the field and need a rest  — that’s quite common… this is, after all, a hobby. Have fun with it. And remember, you can’t have “reenacting” without “acting.”

How Do I Get Started in Reenacting?

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I’m 19 and in college. I’m interested in events during Summer and on weekends. I’m also interested primarily in 18th and 19th century history. How do I get started? What type of costumes will I need?

Answer(s):

First, NEVER call it a costume… 😮 you’ll probably get to hear about it being “clothing” or a “uniform” etc. and they’ll be right. Reenactors tend to like things called correctly and the term “costumes” conjures up the idea of a play or something. Considering the amount of work some people go to to get their reenacting clothing (garb, uniforms, etc.) “just so” and accurate, you can see their point.

So, to get involved: Why not just ask one of the participants? I’m sure they will be more than happy to help you. Most reenactors are friendly folk who will go out of their way to talk about their hobby and help new people get started right! There are many Civil War reenactment clubs and groups in America! Many!! Check out reenactor.Net’s Civil War time/area for this.

In Person

Go to events to watch for a bit. Resist joining right away and DO NOT buy any kit until you join a unit. That advice is worth the whole price of admission and more. Anyway… every year, they reenact the Battle of Gettysburg, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania over the 4th of July holiday — if you can get over there, you could not only observe what the reenactors do, you could also talk to a number of them about their units and requirements. Some of them are dedicated to the point of obsession, but most are in it for fun. Meet the people!

The Internet, your friend

Search for reenactment groups on the Internet; make contact with a number of groups (preferably close to you and not hundreds of miles away) and go from there. Again, we really suggest that you visit a few places that are holding some type of reenactment before you invest money into the hobby. Reenacting can be fun, but remember: we do this for fun and if it’s not fun, why do it? You want to be around people that you enjoy and also, since you’re investing time and money to do this hobby, make it easier and better for yourself by doing a little research first.

Ask Questions

Competition for “recruits” can be intense and it’s best to ask about what the unit “does” and how they act. Most try to let the new recruit know what the unit is “about…” For example, if they’re a “hardcore” group, they will try and let the potential member know this. Conversely, if they’re a family-oriented or Christian group, most groups try to put out that message too. Communication is key. If you like to “imbibe,” a “family” type group might not be your cup of tea. Same with if you’re not into partying, it might be best to find out if the group you’re looking into does this kind of thing.

Other Time Periods

If you’re not into Civil War, that’s okay… Choose a period that you’re really passionate about, and give it all you have. Just get int here. Do your research, and remember… Have FUN!

Contact a local historical society for historical events that may be planned for your area. Search the internet for reenactment groups. Besides the time periods I “do,” I have been to several Renaissance, Civil War, Revolutionary War, and Mountain Men reenactments. The participants are passionate about their involvement, and many of them often travel hundreds of miles to participate — you don’t have to, but some do.

Ende!

Why don’t people do WWII or WWI reenactments like they do with the Civil War and the Revolutionary war?

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They do. There are MANY groups and organizations, not only in the United States (and North America), but also in Europe — places like England, The Czech Republic, Poland and Russia. WWII is not really done in Germany or France…

For some information on WWII reenacting, try going to reenactor.Net’s WWII main page!

In Ottawa, Canada, there is a group of about platoon size that recreates WWII. They are incredibly detailed, and practice Infantry tactics, with real weapons (using blanks), including a Bren Gun (Universal) Carrier, Sten guns, and so on. They do a great job.