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How to
Become a Re-Enactor
John Miller
You want
to become a re-enactor, but you don’t
know who to ask, where to go, or where
to obtain your period kit. The first
thing you will need to do is pick an
era in which you are interested.
There are events of all sorts dealing
with many types of time periods
ranging from French and Indian War to
present day. Once you go to an event
of a time period that interests you.
Events are a good source to find all
the basic answers you are in search
of. In this article I will give you
some ideals of what is expected from
the person that is interested in
becoming a re-enactor.
The
French and Indian War, Revolutionary
War, and the War of 1812 are going to
be one of the most expensive
investments you make. German World
War One and World War Two are also
going to be a very expensive
investment because of the cost for
period uniforms. Mexican War, Civil
War, and the Indian Wars are usually
the cheapest investments and the most
enjoyable eras to re-enact.
What
does the average re-enactor do? He or
she will portray those who lived in a
time period they choose be part of.
Many units participate in what is
called living histories. This is
where the unit talks to the public and
answers questions that the public may
have. They explain the battles their
unit participated in and the equipment
that they wore. Tourist love seeing
the weapons being fired off in a
company manner and also seeing the men
going over the School of the Soldier.
That means you’ll have to learn what
is called the manual of arms. Every
re-enactor will tell you no matter
what time period you wish to portray,
you will have to learn this manual
which includes School of the Soldier,
Firing details, and Battalion and
Company tactics. If you do not have
time to read these manuals there are
several videos you can watch that go
over exactly what is expected of the
average private.
Re-enactments are the best source that
both re-enactors and spectators
benefit from. Spectators witness the
battle tactics, how armies maneuvered,
formations of battle, and
encampments. They see how soldiers
lived in another time period.
Re-enactors benefit by actually living
the scenes that spectators see and
witness for themselves, and what it
was like for those they portray.
My
family and I have been re-enacting for
seven years and it has been the
greatest hobby we have ever
participated. I have re-enacted the
Civil War starting with Stuarts Horse
Artillery for two years, the 9th
Virginia Dismounted Cavalry, and now I
am the commanding officer of the 22nd
Virginia Infantry Regiment. I started
out as a private until I was promoted
to Corporal in the Artillery until the
unit disbanded. I re-enlisted trying
dismounted cavalry and became a
private. I served in that unit for
about a year, when I found out that
dismounted Cavalry was not for me. I
formed the 22nd Virginia
Infantry with a group of friends and I
was promoted to Sergeant in 1999. The
year of 2000, I was again promoted to
2nd Lieutenant, and 2001,
promoted to Captain and finally I was
promoted to Major in command of a
battalion of about 75 to 100 men. I
also enjoy doing a period correct
first hand impression talking about
the life of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw
of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry,
and the life of Colonel George S.
Patton, commander of the 22nd Virginia
Infantry.
I
participate in events with my Prussian
friends who observe the Civil War.
The group I’m associated with is known
as the Prussian Observer Officer
Corp. As an Imperial Prussian Officer
my duties are simple. I over see the
battles, writing notes on the tactics
used by Confederate and Union
forces. The hardest part of the hobby
is I am currently learning to speak
German to better my impression.
They
wear a period correct uniform
that is a 1840/1860 model. My
Waffenfrock tunic is dark blue in
color with a red collar and red
cuffs. My have cuffs have a rectangle
patch that are piped in blue with a
three button row. The front on my
tunic and the rear that is called a
skirt is also piped in red. My
shoulder straps are white with a under
layer of red wool. My trousers are a
bluish black color and are piped in
red along the sides. You could ware
the Picklehaube helmet that is black
with brass fittings and with the eagle
plate on the front and a spike on
top. You can also wear what is called
a 'Feldmutze' (field cap), which is
more comfortable. This was an
alternative wear in dark blue with a
red band and also piping on the
crown.
When out on the field fighting for the
Confederacy, my uniform has the Irish
Harp representing my Irish heritage
and I also wear the 1813 version of
the Iron Cross representing my German
heritage. My unit and I will
translate commands in the German
Language, and we also had adopted the
European Manual of Arms for the
Enfield rifle to better our
impressions.
I also
participate in living histories of
Post World War Two Germany at air
shows and History meets the Arts in
Gettysburg. I have a first hand
impression consisting of an East
German Artillery officer and a Border
Guard NCO. My kit includes two dress
uniforms, three set of BDU’s and field
equipment. I also have first hand
impression of a West German Artillery
enlistee and my kit includes one set
of summer BDU’s and a set of Winter
BDU’s that are made from wool.
After
talking to many of my Civil War
re-enacting friends, I soon found out
that they also participate in World
War One and Two re-enactments. I am
gathering my equipment for a World War
Two British officer impression of the
Royal Engineers. I am also gathering
information on another impression of a
Swedish soldier. These uniforms are
original and you can usually buy them
really cheap.
You can
obtain a German 8mm Mauser or a 303
British Enfield for under one hundred
dollars. If you chose to be an
American Infantry soldier the uniforms
are reasonably price, however if your
infantry weapon is a M1 Grand then
your investment will cost between 700
to 900 dollars. Even the World War
one and Two German uniforms are very
expensive costing on average between
300 to 400 dollars. It depends on how
much you want to spend and how
accurate you want your impression to
be.
No
matter what period you want to
re-enact, it is a very physical, and
very dangerous hobby. Re-enactors use
real guns that fire real powder. One
must be in good shape during the hot
summer months. The uniforms
re-enactors wear, are made of wool or
jean cloth. If you have a medical
condition, you should come to the
events prepared. Because of the
dangers in re-enacting, many units
offer insurance for 10 to 20 dollars a
year. This covers everything while
you are away from home incase of
injuries.
Never
buy anything up front and research
your impression first. Every unit has
regulations on what the enlisted man
wore. I can tell you that even the
re-enactment sponsors have their own
regulations as to what can be worn out
on the field. Re-enacting is a hobby
that is not cheap, but it is one of
the most challenging and rewarding
hobbies you will ever participate in.
You can do any impression of history
that you want. From the days of the
French and Indian War up until believe
it or not Desert Strom. Many veterans
will come out and talk to the
re-enactors telling their stories of
WW2 till present. I have seen
Veterans from the Vietnam era
re-living their stories wearing their
uniforms with a complete kit that
includes M-16 Rifle and camping
supplies.
I will
use Civil War re-enacting as an
example of what a family or even
oneself could expect. The average
Civil War re-enactor will pay in the
ballpark of $850 to $1500.00 for a
period correct uniform and
accessories. That includes the
uniform, canteen, leatherwear and your
rifle. However, this does not include
your tent if you wish to have one and
other items of comfort. Now I'm not
saying you need to get all this stuff
at once, many units will allow you to
borrow items, but its always a good
idea not to do this for a long period
of time. Many units give a period of
one year for the new enlistee to
obtain the basic things he or she
needs.
A
three-hour trip is considered a short
excursion to a re-enactment. I
participated in events that are four
to six hours away. This depends on
where you are located and how far you
will want to travel. An average
re-enactment season is March through
December with one to two events
scheduled each month.
You may
have a family that you want to
participate, and you don’t know what
they can do. Most units allow and
welcome family participation. Families
can participate in activities such as
pan throwing, baseball, and even
shopping at the Sutlers. Believe me,
this is an excellent way of spending
time with your love ones. When
re-enacting Civil War history, there
is no modern facilities that can
intrude in your time away from home,
unless you bring a cell phone or
something else in this category.
Families will discover how time flies
and how relaxing just sitting around a
campfire can be.
Children
are encouraged to come out to the
events, and most units try to give
them the hands on learning of what the
Civil War was about. It's a good
history lesson that public schools do
not teach. There's always something
for the children to do. Most kids play
with the toys of the days of old and
are quite content to watch the other
soldiers walk by. You'll soon find out
that children love being outdoors and
doing things with other children.
Re-enacting teaches children a way of
life that is forgotten, and they have
a different view of history.
Re-enacting is a way of life and most
re-enactors will tell you it's an
experience children of any age will
not soon forget
Women
played an active role in the Civil
War. They supported their beloved as
they went off to war trying to
maintain a home life the best that
they could. Many times not only doing
their part as mistress of the house
but also playing their role as head of
the household. This is why it is
important for women to also play an
active role in Civil War re-enacting.
Every re-enactment has scheduled
events planned just for the ladies of
the blue and the gray. Ladies’ Tea,
Period Crafts, Southern Belle
Pageants, Parades, Quilt and Art show
to name a few.
Where
can you go to purchase the items you
need? Almost every re-enactment event
will have what is called a “Sutler
Row”. There you will find everything
you need to start and complete your
impression. The Internet is a very
good source to find items and
accessories that you will need. The
best advice I can give you is to wait
and talk to a group that you feel
comfortable with especially one that
is local to you. The unit itself will
guild and help you to obtain the items
for your kit. They will give you a
list of sutlers they recommend and
where they are located if they are in
a reasonable driving distance.
Before you buy and your not sure if
re-enacting is for you, may I suggest
you try an event first. Maybe Civil
War re-enacting is not for you, but
you like what you see in another time
period at least this way you didn’t
spend a huge amount of money on your
uniform for a time period you may not
enjoy. You will have to research the
time period of your choice and make
your decision based upon the facts you
have come up with. Re-enacting is a
big investment but one I’m sure you’ll
enjoy.
Read
other articles by John Miller
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