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| Posted: Sat Sep 10th, 2005 09:55 pm |
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1st Post |
amhistoryguy
Member
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I'm not a reenactor, nor do I play one on TV, and I haven't stayed at a Holiday Inn Express lately - But, on those occasions that I am able to attend a reenactment I like to talk to the reenactors. Many of them are true living historians, others just like to run around in the woods shooting.
One question I like to ask of reenactors is this; What have you learned by reenacting, that you could not have learned by reading a book?
Even though not reenacting, I experienced learning by doing on a smaller scale. I've always admired the eloquence of the letters and diaries of that time. It was not until I took the time to try and write with a dip pen that I realized what a huge difference that makes in how a person writes. You need to slow your brain down to match the slower speed of writing that is required by dipping your pen, sometimes more than once per word. Soon, you find yourself putting much more thought into your words. And, that does not even take into consideration the care a person would take to make good use of short supplies of paper and ink.
It always sort of surprises me how many reenactors never seemded to have considered what they had learned before.
Over the years there have been some interesting answers. Probably the most common answer has something to do with the confusion of battle. No matter how much a unit seems to drill, withing the smoke and clatter of musketry, comfusion seems to reign.
So, all you reenactors out there, What have you learned by reenacting, that you could not have learned by reading a book?
Regards, Dave Gorski
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12th, 2005 04:43 pm |
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2nd Post |
diva
Member
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Dave, I like to play 'dress up' once in a while. I do some sewing, so making a basic dress wasn't a problem. However, I did draw the line at making a Union uniform! I opted instead to have one made for my husband, a descendent of 2d Sgt. Herbert Mason of the 16th VT. It is made of REAL wool, natural indigo dye, with handfinishing. Expensive, but worth it. He has some accoutrements (not all, yet), and before the year is out (Christmas, perhaps) will have a pair of handspun, handknit wool socks. (Excuse..... but why doesn't my return key work here? HAH?) The reason they do it is to show respect for those who came before; to honor that particular ancestor; to FEEL what it was really like in the stinking hot, sweaty wool uniform with ill-fitting brogans. Believe me, I can feel a difference when I put myself in period dress. Nothing gives one perspective of what went before as much as a little shot of reality! However, do NOT force me into a corset!
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12th, 2005 04:44 pm |
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3rd Post |
Albert Sailhorst
Member
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I just started reenacting this past July. I am in a Confederate artilery unit, called Scott's Tennessee Battery.
I guess the thing that stands out in my mind as to what I have learned is this: the privations of war.
By that, I mean I've learned to appreciate a peice of pie by shared by one of the other men, or a comfortable place to sit when in camp. You see, in our unit, if you can't carry it, you don't need it. So, I bring everything I am going to eat for three days in my haversack. Needless to say, a few pieces of hardtack, some homemade jerky and maybe a small can of oysters (which were considered a delicacy during the war). Also in my haversack is some cigars, a plug of chewing tobacco, a spoon and a jaw harp. That's it! So, when someone brings a pie or a few extra ears of corn to share, it is much appreciated!
Also, sitting on the ground for three days can get quite uncomfortable. Sometimes, there may be bales of straw available; which we take one or two, but they get uncomfortable too!
Reenacting is great! The men in my unit are all very knowledgeable, and many is the "war story" told around the campfire. It is a great learning experience! In watching reenactments and walking through camp, an outsider gets to "see" camp life, etc for maybe a couple hours. The real experience, however, is being in camp 24 hours, fighting boredom, talking, walking to other camps, exchanging ideas and teaching/learning new things. Surprisingly, time goes fast and I am sorry to leave, but I always look forward to the next event, maybe a week or two away!!
Albert Sailhorst
Cannoneer, Scott's Tennessee Battery
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13th, 2005 08:02 pm |
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4th Post |
Albert Sailhorst
Member
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Now that I think about it, there's going to be a big event at Greenbush, Wisconsin Sept. 24-25. Our unit will be there; but, as of this writting, I won't because of child-care conflicts.
Anyway, I wondered if this might be close to where you live. If it is, I thought you might like to go.
In August, we were in Boscobel, WI and will be in Coon Valley, WI in October.
Albert Sailhorst
Cannoneer, Scott's Tennessee Battery
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15th, 2005 07:24 pm |
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5th Post |
KELLY B
Member
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I have been reenacting for 6 years. It is not so much as what I learn from the experiance, but what I can pass on to the visiting public. Yes, I love the smoke, noise and confusion of battle. The evenings around a campfire with good friends, listening to sporadic music throughout the camps lifts my spirits. Meager rations, cold nights and hot days wearing thick wool helps me appreciate the commitment and sacrifice made by the men and women that helped make this Country what it is today. Since we live this every other weekend, sans real bullets, I have true and personal answers to questions so I am not just telling them something they can read in a book.
In direct answer to your question, I have learned how fortunate we are with all of the modern conveniances we have today, and how hard you had to work for the simplest of pleasures back then. I have learned to appreciate.....EVERYTHING....
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20th, 2005 02:32 pm |
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6th Post |
Albert Sailhorst
Member
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Speaking of the confusion of battle, I serve in an artillery unit. In the interest of the safety of my fellow cannoneers, my attention is directed to the cannon and the commands given by the corporals and sergeants. As a result, I place my trust in them and don't have time, or awareness, to experience the confusion of battle. My concern is to clean, load and fire the piece....clean, load and fire again....move the piece to another location...fall back....etc.....
Maybe I am missing out on something. In the artillery, there is not much time to watch the battle, per se.....But, I'll tell ya this, it sure is a "blast" firing off a 3 inch rifled ordinance gun or a Parrot rifle!!
Albert Sailhorst, Cannoneer, Scott's Battery
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| Posted: Sun Sep 25th, 2005 05:43 am |
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7th Post |
Rocket
Guest
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Years ago, I worked in the living history department at Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park. The historian "Dan Brown" at the time was a history book in itself. He made us think we were transformed into the war years. We had to think, breath, talk, in terms of 1861-1865. By doing so, we found ourselves finding a good newspaper on daily happenings a fond event.
Soldiers of the Civil War by in large were either marching or in camp. The actual battletime action was far and few between. An example would be in the year of 1863. The Army of North Virginia fought for a total of five days in a major battle. Two at Chancellorsville, and three at Gettysburg. By all means those five days were days which shaped the outcome of the war, Gettysburg in the cost of men, and Chancellorsville in the loss of T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson. The question of "what if Jackson were at Gettysburg?" is a talked about issue of the "what if's" in the war.
The comman soldier was a simple man, of simple thoughts. he fought not of love, but of duty. The long days that they went without family and friends were compounded many times than today. Being that most of those men were never further away than a days ride from their birthplace. It was hometown boys that now were seeing other aspects of life other than a ten mile circle.
A farmer seeing the cities of Richmond, Atlanta, Washington D.C, New York City, they were taken away from rolling hills and small towns to things they had only read about. Being all brought togeather in fields where over 100,000 men were running, shouting, and bleeding to death. Most of those men had only been around just enough of a gathering to make a small regiment at best.
Being part of a reenacting group, also made me relize what bond you had in your brother in arms meant. Learning from the others, cooking, sewing, tales that were told about certian things now had meaning rather just being just some trival crosstalk.
I still look back at those I served with, and call them my friiends, and we never had to face an enemy that wanted to kill us. We may of faced a few angry park visitors when they threw their frisbie into our camp, and we would return it by way of us fixing bayonet and stabbing it and going over to them and asking if this was their pie plate that seemed to fly into our camp.
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| Posted: Wed Oct 5th, 2005 03:07 am |
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8th Post |
Harry
Member
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I think, as reenactors, we interpret living history to those who come to observe. It's difficult to get that from a book. When the public sees the living conditions while in garrison or in the field, the food that was consumed, what a "normal" day was--they get a feel for what these soldiers and civilians we portray went through to survive.
Harry
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