Just like soldiers and citizens of the time (1860-1865) they represent a true crass section of America.  In camp you will meet lawyers, teachers, production workers, doctors, skilled craftsmen, and even an occasionally a millionaire but around the camp fire and by their conversation and dress you will not tell who is who.  And that is just how reenactors want it. They want to step back into the past and feel some of what it was like to actually live during America’s Bloodiest Conflict. 

Here in the camps you will find the true southern boy who claims Confederate ancestors to Yankees who put on the Lincoln Coat of Blue simply because “they always need a few more boys down here.” You will also find the descendants of slaves and free blacks learning about the roll blacks played in the “War” and playing the part not because it is raciest but because it is a true historical fact. You will find Hispanics and American Indians, Jews, and Gentiles all playing a roll that teaches you and them American History.  You will find women dressed as men hiding in the ranks hoping not to be discovered.  In the civilian camp you will find families following their husbands just as they did in the 1860’s.  You might find at a larger reenactment ladies playing the part of “Soiled Doves”, not actually applying the worlds oldest profession but playing the characters for the purpose of historical accuracy.  You could even find a doctor’s office or an embalmer’s tent with people knowledgeable about practice of these arts in the 1860’s.   You will find Suttlers, these merchants followed the armies and set up to supply the soldiers and civilians just as you see them today.  In today’s suttler you will also find souvenirs for the public, food and drink.  Suttlers know their merchandise and the period they supply. 

Ask them all questions while there are a few reenactors that do it just to hang out with the guys, most have a passion and a love for historical accuracy and they devote a lot of time and money to make sure that what they are doing is historically correct.  A reenactor will spend hours doing research just to explain why his jacket is a Tyler Depot pattern and not a Columbus Depot style.  Many even get down to the thread count in the fabric, now that is accuracy.  A reenactor can pick up a bullet and tell you if it is an Enfield bullet or a bullet from a Springfield musket. They can tell you the difference between Mid-War and Late –War supplies and clothing.  They know how to perform a “By Files from the right into line” according to Hardee’s Tactics, Casey’s, and Scott’s, which were the most commonly used manuals of that time period.  A reenactor will spend over a $1000 dollars on a new uniform, redo the button holes, then run through a briar patch, then do a belly flop in mud the first time he wears it.  He or she will get drenched with sweat and rain, reek of wood smoke, and then only send their clothing to the cleaners for special occasions and then they will send it only with reluctance.

A reenactor will tell their children it is okay to drink root beer, but not a Coke or Pepsi, but it has to be in a brown bottle and if you can get lemonade that would be better.  They will tell them they can have some ice but not to drinl from a paper cup, it has to be drank from a tin cup or a muket. As you walk around the civilian camp you will see children dressed in period attire playing games and using their imitation not a game boy or other electronic devise and these children are learning something about history. 

Most history buffs are content to read a book, take a driving tour of a battlefield, or watch the revised Hollywood interpretation of what it was like, this is not enough for a reenactor. When reenactors study history they will spend weeks, months, sometimes years studying one battle or one aspect of the period. Then they are not satisfied to just know this information they want to experience it first hand.  They want to sleep on the ground where history happened, march the exact route the army took, hear the long roll of the drum, form a line of battle just as it was done during the historical event they are reenacting.  A reenactor can tell you who did what and why.  They may not know the answer to all the questions but they most likely can answer the majority of them. 

A reenactor wants to feel the rain, the cold, the heat, of the elements to get a feel that you cannot get from books, a documentary, or a movie.  To be standing in a line of battle or in a camp and smell the coffee on a morning before a battle reenactment brings history to life.  A reenactor will sleep where you see them, eat what they cook, wear wool in July and August heat, go barefooted in winter, and get wet when it rains. 

This is not just true of War Between the States reenactors but Medieval, Colonial, World War One or Two or any other period in history.  Another thing reenactors enjoy and that is teaching.  They want to pass their love and interest in history on to people and especially to children.  This is why most reenactments have what is called “School Day” usually the Friday before a weekend event.  These men and women will take off from their jobs and drive hundreds of miles just to speak to a school class or do a “School Day Program”.  This is the reason why they stage elaborate weekend events where they portray a battle or other historical event, spend thousands of dollars of their own money, and do the things mentioned above in this letter, where you the public can learn something about history.

You will find most reenactors a very close community.  You will find that people in the one army’s camp know people in the army’s camp and often if not enough reenactors show up to fill the ranks they will galvanize.  This means that to portray the event more realistically they will join the side where they are needed to fill out the ranks.  This is why a reenactor has to know all he or she can about the battle and how both armies moved and reacted.  In the evenings you will find them talking about the days event or what happened during the real event and how to make their presentation more real.  You will find them talking about the people that took part in the historical event.  You will find that around many camp fires they are doing a Bible study while at others they have a musician in the group conducting a sing-a-long of period music.  Reenactors know who belongs were and that their positions and their children are safe in the camp because they watch out for each other.  There is an unwritten code among reenactors and they quickly get rid of undesirables.  They will also help “New-bees” or “Fresh Fish” learn and build their presentation.  They will often loan new persons equipment where they can “Try On” reenacting to see if it is something they are interested in.  Reenactors are trusting and caring people with a passion for history but they consider other reenactors as family and if you cross one you cross them all.  You will find some reenactors that do “First Person” impressions which means they live, speak, and act out the year they are reenacting.  If you ask a “First Person” reenactor about a subject out of their period they will ast as if you are talking foolish nonsense.  You will find others that provide lectures and demonstrations.  Most reenactments will have a speaker schedule and topics that are to be presented, ask for one.

On Saturday after the day’s activities many reenactmnets hold a dance or social, all are invited.  Many local people attend dressed in modern everyday clothing.  On Sunday morning you will find church and religious services being held.  Not only because it was done during that time period but because they want these services in the camps. They will sing hymns of the period and you will find representatives of both armies, civilians, and merchants worshiping together. You will often find people from the surrounding communities in the services as well.  And if you attend you will be welcomed with open arms.               

Next time you meet a reenactor I hope you now understand why they do what they do and that they are not just dressed up in a costume like a child at Halloween.  They are historically accurate, they are learning history, teaching history and they will talk for hours on end about the period of history they reenact.  Please visit a reenactment or living history event, if you are an educator invite them to your school, if you have a club and need a guest speaker ask a reenactor.     

Major Jim Langley

Regimental Surgeon

1^st Cherokee Mounted Rifles, CSA