Frequently Asked Questions

 

At reenactments we get asked several questions by spectators on a regular basis.  Here are a few of those for you to browse and become "reenactment savvy".  Enjoy!

Q: Do you stay in character the whole weekend?

A: No.  Some of us don't actually take on a first person "character".  We're just ourselves, but specially educated and able to answer history questions til kingdom come.  There are some reenactors who put on a "role" of a person who really did live in the 1860s.  We appreciate them, but most of us prefer to answer the spectator directly from our own point of view.

Q: Do you really sleep out here?

A: Absolutely!  We arrive usually on a Friday evening and set up our tents (the ladies do.  Some of the men bring their bed rolls on their backs and throw down next to the fire on some hay.) We ladies sleep on matresses that are essentially sacks that we have sewn out of burlap and muslin and stuff them with- you guessed it!- hay.  Those are padded with period quilts and wool blankets.  We are usually pretty comfy unless the weather goes to extreme hots (August, Nash Farm, 2006) or extreme colds (November, Sequoyah Caverns, 2006)

Q: (Our personal favorite) When we cook over the open fire and the spectators are heading out we often get this regarding our meal: Are you really going to eat that?

A: Yes!  Some units have a designated company cook who provides several meals (usually supper on Saturday evening and breakfast on Sunday morning) in exchange for a donation of a few dollars to defer the cost of the groceries.  Sometimes we do this, but lately there have not been many of us to feed, so we generally each bring something to contribute and it turns out right tasty!  Cooking over an open fire is not difficult, but some of the more dedicated cooks have turned it into an art form!  You can cook anything from beef stew to biscuits to clam chowder in a cast iron dutch oven.  And the iron skillet possibilities are endless.

Q: Are those real guns? Do they shoot real bullets?

A: Yes, and yes.  But obviously at the reenactments any projectile of any kind is stictly banned.  Safety is our first and foremost consideration when we go to these events.  Think about it for a second.  If we shot real bullets during the battle, there would be a lot of people not reporting for work on Monday morning and there would also be a lot of cold blooded killings to explain.  So, no.  No bullets.  Our rifles and cannons are loaded with a paper cartridge that contains a specific measure of black powder.  They make noise and smoke and fire and no one gets hurt.  Now, during the "off-season" (summer when it's just too hot to don the wool) sometimes we meet at a shooting range and live fire the guns at various targets to compare their accuracy with modern weapons.

Q: During the battle how do you know when to "die"?

A: Several factors tell us when to fall down and play dead.  The most obvious answer is when we get too hot and tired!  But sometimes there are other ways.  One is when we are right in front of a crowd and crave some personal attention.  We do anything to put on a good show.  Anything from falling face first to digging in our heels and flipping over backwards (yes, we're serious!) to get a good reaction from the spectators.  Let's face it; there are a lot of hams out there on the field. :)  Another way we know is if we look up directly into the barrel of someone's gun from the other side and we know that if there really was something coming out of it and we wouldn't make it; we go ahead and play dead.  Or if we run out of cartridges and can't shoot any more.  Common sense, really.  Another way that is useful in large and complex tacticals is to mark one cartridge with a red or black marker.  When we pull that marked one we know to die after discharging it.

Q: Are those uniforms/dresses/costumes hot?

A: Yes!  But there are two things that make us forget about the heat: first, we are in so many layers that when we sweat only the inside cotton layer gets wet.  When a breeze blows the wet layer gets cold and it's actually something like internal air conditioning.  Also, you'll notice that while the spectators and international tourists are getting all toasty and sunburned sitting in the sun, we are using our fans and usually have hats to keep our faces from burning.  Secondly, when you are passionate about the fun of burning black powder and talking to people who come through camp and doing all that we do, honestly, after a while you get used to it.  Unless it's November-January.  Then you wrap up in everything you've got and put another log on the fire.

Q: Was there really a 28th Ga Artillery or 76th Ohio Infantry or 1st Ohio Artillery unit during the civil war?

A: Yes.  When choosing our unit to portray, careful research was done on the locations of the events we would be frequenting.  The 76th OVVI and the 1st OLA were actually in the thick of the Atlanta Campaign and a vital part of Sherman's Siege of Georgia and March to the Sea.  For more information on the original units, please see our page dedicated to them entitled "History 101".

Q: Do you get paid to do this?

A: No.  This is a hobby and hobbies cost money from our own pockets.  However, if we save our receipts and itemize every expense we can claim a tax deduction for "educational and community volunteer work".  Check with your local tax office for printed information from Uncle Sam.

Q: Okay, so you have to pay to go.  How much does it cost?

A: This is a multiple part answer, so stay with me here.  First, to join our unit there is a $12 per family anual dues to cover the cost of postage, ink, envelopes, etc for our newsletter.  (How many other organizations can you join where a whole year's membership costs the same as 2 lattes at Starbucks?)  Second, each event usually has a small registration fee.  These usually run about $5 per person per an event.  Consider, this is about $3 cheaper than a movie ticket. Third, there is the cost of being outfitted. 

MEN: This cost varies greatly depending on where you obtain your uniform/gear/gun/etc.  For the men we have a package deal that covers brogans (shoes), pants, a shell jacket, and leathers (cap box, cartridge box, etc.) for about $250.  This is a very wise and small inverstment when you remember that these things should last around 8-12 YEARS of good wear.  Of course, if you choose not to put that much in at once, you can buy a piece at a time.  Most of us do this at events anyway.  A haversack at Resaca.  A canteen at Tunnel Hill. A couple of shirts at Olustee.  You get the idea.  Artillery is considerably less than infantry as for infantry you must have a rifle/musket and those can run an investment of $400 or so.  But again, with good care they last a LONG time.  We recommend that you have a seasoned reenactor go with you to the sutlers or suggest a good source so that you get the biggest bang for your reenacting buck.

LADIES:  As with the men's clothing, it is possible to be frugal yet fashionable by getting a few pieces at a time.  Most of the ladies in our unit know how to sew and do sew our own dresses.  Period pattern cotton fabric can be obtained at Wal-mart and JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby for as little as $1/yd and the results are beautiful.  We have a formula for determining the skirt size and a jacket or blouse pattern can be obtained from a variety of sources. (we have quite a range of them on hand already.)  Ballgowns can be home sewn.  Don't buy into the myth that 1860s women didn't use sewing machines.  Of course they were not as fast as the electric models we use today, but they were certainly faster than hand-stitching and no one will give you any grief if you use a modern machine to sew your garments rather than a needle and thread and hours and hours of your valuable time.  Or have one of us sew it for you.  A satin ballgown can be made for under $50, usually, where they retail for up to $300 in a sutler or online.  Period style shoes can run anywhere from $30 to $150.  Just check with one of us for help in finding the perfect pair.  A period blouse can be made by finding a standard cotton blouse at a store like Wal-mart or Target that has dropped shoulder seams and by removing the collar if there is one.  Don't listen to people who tell you that a blouse with a Zouave jacket and matching skirt over it is not correct.  Those are the same people who gripe about thread count and etc.  We have documentation that it is correct if that's the style you want.  Hoops and corsets can be home made, but we recommend that you purchase these pieces at sutlers as the extra $$ is worth the frustration of dealing with the boning and lace grommets, etc.  Corsets are not worn to make us skinny, they are worn to help support our backs from the weight of the hoop and layers of petticoats and skirt.  A well made corset will last you 5-8 years good wear.  We recommend The Paper Lady sutler who custom measures you for the right fit.  Her corsets run between $80 and $130.  A 6 bone standard hoop at any sutler runs between $30 and $40.  You don't have to have all 8 layers to start.  Usually you can get away with a period pair of shoes, a hoop, a 3 piece dress (skirt,shirt,jacket), a pair of stockings (knee length) and a pair of pantaloons for your first event or two and add as you go.

Q: How do you decide where to go?

A: Our ears are always open for word of a good event from other reenactors and if we find one that sounds like it might be good, we take a vote and put it on the schedule.  We have two schedules; Spring, which runs from January to June and Fall, which runs from July to December.  We have traveled as far north as Pennsylvania and as far south as Florida and just about everywhere in between.  Generally, we try to meet somewhere and do something at least once a month.  If it is too cold for an event, someone hosts a get together and we have hot wassail and talk shop while we update our unit scrapbooks.  If it is too hot, we get together and either do something where there is AC or we go swimming! 

 

Q: Alright, I'm really interested-where do I sign up?

A: If you would like to join us at a future event, send an e-mail to our Captain, Zack Ray at zar55@yahoo.com or to me, the adutant, Jenny Ray at Lady_civil_war_historian@yahoo.com. We will get you all set up with a copy of our bylaws, a receipt for your dues, the current newsletter and oodles of information as to the best way to get you ready for that first reenactment.  Don't forget to tell a friend- the more the merrier!