Civil War Reenacting - A New Group

I don't mean anything sarcastic, but since I don't know anybody who's actually ever done this, why would anybody want to reenact that awful war? I've certainly read about it in a fair amount of detail, but when I do, my feeling is that I'm glad I didn't have to do that in my life.

Hello Doug, Civil War Reenacting has been around for very long time. We got into it about 5 years ago. The soldiers on both sides, reenact important battles to show people what it was like (as close as they can get) and we also do living history and educate the public about what life was like in the period. I understand your reaction, it's not uncommon. Those of us in this hobby really enjoy portraying historical events. It's done all over the world. There will be 1000 reenactors in Gettysburg, PA this coming weekend to reenact the 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Manassas. So lots of people do it. And I will tell you that the first time my husband walked onto a battlefield to fire his black powder rifle (powder only!) he told me that seeing the Confederates so close that "I would have been a deserter" really opened his eyes! Another reason we do it is to honor our ancestors who fought in the Civil War. We both have them from both sides of the war. So though you've never known anyone who does reenacting, there are plenty of us out there who do! I personally enjoy interacting with children and ladies, showing them how a lady would dress during the period of 1861-1865. I do agree it was a horrible war, it's something not taught anymore in the schools, so we bring it to life to show how it was, warts and death and all.

Civil war reenactment is done all over the world? The US Civil War or do other countries do their own like the Spanish Civil War?

Are you sure the Civil War is not taught in school? I find it hard to believe one of the most significant events in US history would be skipped.

BTW - My Dad was in Vietnam and then taught American History in high school. He always frowned on reenactments. Considered it people glorifying war and playing army man after nearly getting killed in Vietnam. So I never sought them out.

Then a few years ago I went to a WWII reenactment and gained a more nuanced appreciation of the event. Sure some of the spectators were there just to see some noises and action - but walking around and talking with the participants I could see all of the efforts they took in researching their characters and learning about the period.

I wrote up my experience in blog post: https://www.dogfordstudios.com/world-war-ii-re-enactments/

we have civil war reenactments near me, but back in the days when people didn't wear masks and that seemed totally normal. firing muskets and cannons. people sitting and doing nothing, bored out of their minds. random still lives here and there. me tripping over pegs and rope holding the tent up, once nearly into a fire pit. usually its the side that won. and sometimes its the side that lost, much fewer of those.

i went to one that also did ww2.

when they all do their musket drills, you can really tell they don't practice at all. bumbling about trying to load the muskets. all the while ready to fire, when i then adjust my shrt and tear a huge hole in it. about the size of my fist. in the middle. and while also trying to get it with muzzle fire, i'm looking for pins to hide that spot, so that point in time was kind of memorable.

i went to a norsk festival, where i think some of them acted out parts of war. otherwise the people dressed up look like they came from a renaissance fair. which of course act out their wars.

the ones that really get into the spirit, drop dead on the field, to keep that authentic feel up.


they do teach this in school. i know it was discussed a little too much, in graphic detail. it may depend on where you live since i think my general area was a place where they fought. other places may not care as much. in school i remember civil, ww2. but they never much went into ww1, spanish american war or even Vietnam much, but that was a long time ago. there are so many other wars to get into.


----Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

Visiting the German camp before the battle I did have an uneasy feeling. Like what is up with these guys - did they pick this side because they have ancestors who were in the war or are they some kind of sickos?

Someone did tell me that if they find some sickos, they just ban that group from attending.

Chatting up the folks in the US unit, they were proud to explain all about how they obtained authentic vintage tents, restored Jeeps, made props using old tools, researched a character to portray. Some mentioned ancestors who were in the war.

I found the "actors" to be very gracious for photographs. If they saw a camera coming, they would automatically get into poses, like picking up a rifle or leaning on to a jeep.

What was really amazing at the Collins Foundation is their vast collection of working tanks, trucks and Jeeps.

For photographers, my suggestion is to use a wide-open aperture to blow out background details. You don't want some guy in modern clothes wandering into the background.

Also, go early so you can wander around the encampments. Most of the crowd shows up for the scheduled "action" times.

Mike,

RE:..."people dressed up look like they came from a renaissance fair."

I made a tidy income, for 40 years, selling my art, dressed up as a "Renaissance Beachcomber"

When you actually read the history, it becomes real clear that many people only think about these wars as glorious, courageous death in defense of the homeland or whatever sacred cause motivates them to kill each other. Re-enactments miss that fact that in most wars, most of the deaths are due to wound infections and diarrhea, not noble combat poses. That was especially true in the American Civil War, when those messy deaths made up about 2/3 of deaths among soldiers. There were several times more deaths among civilians from disease, starvation and filth. It's nothing I'd like to re-enact.

I feel lucky that the time and place where I was born left me to not have to die in a trench with my feet rotting off.

Doug,

RE:.. "I feel lucky that the time and place where I was born left me to not have to die in a trench with my feet rotting off."

ME TOO

I was drafted between the Korean and Vietnam Wars....And in the eight weeks of basic training, I thought I would die in a trench with my feet rotting off.

I spent the remaining of my 2 year stint, with my feet intact, 40 miles from home (Fort Monmouth, NJ), drawing bugs, not attracting bugs, but with pen in hand, drawing bugs.

Here in Rhode Island, we have some sites that were significant during the American Revolution. There is a site in my home town that was a Revolutionary war fort, that was named for Lt Col William Barton who captured a British general during a night time raid.

There was a fife and drum corps based out of my town called Barton's Raiders. I remember them in all the parades and different town events, dressed in revolutionary war garb marching to the fife and drum music. I also remember seeing revolutionary war re-enactments around the 4th of July. I always felt that it gave me a sense of seeing the history I was learning about acted out in front of me. I felt it was done with a sense of reverence, and not glorification.

The fife and drum corps actually used to practice in my neighborhood so I grew up hearing them quite a bit. I remember these things gradually dying off in the early 80's.

I lived on the Fort Monmouth base back in the early eighties.

Fife and drum corps are alive and well. We used to see a large muster of them in Westbrook Ct. More likely your life took you elsewhere and simply haven't notice them.

There is a reenactment in Concord every year.

These get ups are no joke. The actors spend a lot of time and money on them.

There is an interesting book called Confederates in the Attic that illustrates some of the lengths certain people (the "hardcores") go in these reenactments to relive life as a civil war solider, at least as they understand/believe it. The book is 20 years old, and things have changed quite a bit since then. I read it because I was moving into a new part of the country, and figured it might give me a bit of cultural insight.

This photo is from Ohio, in a place where there was never a real battle, but where locally there is an interest in the war.

In some ways, I think celebrations like the Scottish games serve a similar role. And if I can find a good one nearby I tend to go.

I a very pleased to see this active discussion! Yes they do reenact the Civil War in other countries. Out unit and regiment try to be as accurate as possible and yes, we do have soldiers "killed" in action. We have noticed that younger people are now going for WWII reenacting and occasionally in Gettysburg, PA on a weekend, you might see Civil War and WWII reenactors at the same time walking about town. So it's something we do, some may think it's boring, it is indeed in the eye of the beholder. Enjoying all the pictures posted here very much!!

Edward Fielding, yes indeed they do reenact our Civil War in other countries! Seems odd doesn't it? We do have fifes and drums at our reenactments also. I think we are bringing a tough history to life for those who are interested. The cannons firing, the horses and the rifles and the action, can be exciting to many. Gary Whitten, I agree that Highland Games also show history in action.

Civil War reenactments have decreased in size and scope over the years. At the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, there were 15,000 reenactors. So the 1,000 going to Gettysburg this weekend is very small in comparison.

I only know what I have been told and that is that some schools no longer go into depth about the Civil War. It was a sad time in history, but it is our history and we honor those who gave their lives.

Here are some my fellow Renaissance/ Medieval Reenactors, 30 years ago, that, in the most part, have done very well since, wearing this type of garb.

Roger, before the pandemic (wish I didn't have to even say that) a huge Renaissance Fair was held outside of Pittsburgh, PA. They even have a dedicated piece of land with buildings, etc, where they held it. It was fun, probably like most all of them. We sure enjoyed it. Hope they start it up again.

Karen,

At one point in my life, I participated at that show

Reenactments are exciting because everyone knows it's make-believe. No doubt the real events were scary as hell.

Interestingly enough in the beginning of the Civil War, people road out with picnics to watch the action like it was a sporting event.

Found this interesting -

"staged battles began while the war was still underway. Known as 'sham battles,' 'mock battles' or 'mimic battles,' these battles were enacted for a variety of reasons: entertainment, practice and to demonstrate to civilians back home what happened during the war."

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/civil-war-reenactments-were-thing-even-during-civil-war-180967405/

Edward Fielding, the fact that people actually took picnics to watch the fighting is really something. Considering how many eventually died from all sorts of causes, it makes you wonder if those spectators ever regretted watching. I have never heard about the "sham battles". How extraordinary. So reenacting actually started during the Civil War!

Our history is something that we should never forget and anything we can do to foster interest in it is a good thing. I for one find the Civil War and particularly the politics leading up to it fascinating.

I don't think most Americans realize just how precarious of a position our Republic was in the days leading up to that battle. Only one or two rolls of the dice and the Confederacy could have easily won that battle and no doubt the war-weary North would have sued for peace.

What if Jackson wasn't killed 2 months earlier at Chancellorsville? I have no doubt he would have captured Culps Hill and or Cemetary Ridge.

What if Longstreet launched his attack in the morning of the second day instead of the late afternoon? I have no doubt they would have captured Little Roundtop.

What if on day three, the Confederate's canons had the proper fuses? I have no doubt they would have pushed the Union off of Cemetary Ridge.

I think it would have been fascinating to be in Gen Lee's tent after day one of the battle. I suspect the chat between Lee and his staff would have been interesting.

I wonder what was running through President Lincoln's mind as he opened his window to hear the largest canon exchange in the western continent some 80 miles away. Was he fearful? Was he confident? Was he thinking of the upcoming election and the consequences of the battle?

I wonder what Gen Hancock was thinking on day 3 while on Cemetary Ridge as 15,000 plus men came out from under the trees?

Finally, I can't even imagine the despair Gen Armistead must have felt after he got his men over the Angle only to look back and see that there was nobody coming to his support.

Our history should be cherished and protected and learned from.

General Armistead died at the field hospital that was set up at my cousin George Spangler's farm. He died in the summer kitchen. The Union took over the farm and George and his family lived in one room of their farmhouse for six months. It has been so beautifully restored. Chicago in Photographs: You pose some very interesting what if's! One thing my son always says to me is: "Why do you want to live in the past?" and I tell him that the past is where he came from and what we learn from.

George Spangler's farm! Very cool tidbit, thanks for sharing!

This was a political cartoon in the Chicago Tribune from 1938. 9 months later WW2 started. The crap that's going on right now in our world can clearly be seen in the pages of history. Ignore history at your peril.

@ Chicago in Photographs ... exactly.

I agree ... learn from it.

I have a few images from a few Civil War battlefields ... (none from re-enactments). Walking through the battlefields, alone, can be a very deep and meaningful experience. Perspective ... from yesterday ... onto today.

Valuable stuff.