Where is it?

[Guy Gane III]

Where is the realism?

I see very little of it at events.

What I mean is that I hear constantly that reenactors "Do this/that for the public". DO YOU? :-?

Because with today's technology and "the public's" expectations - you would expect more out of today's reenacting community.

Look at the way most battle reenactments go... most 'soldiers' are way too stiff and you act like you are at a reenactment.

My question is... if you are doing this for the public... why are you acting like reenactors and not CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS??? :confused:

Maybe this should be taught along with the Manual of Arms.

Some of you may be offended by this. I want to let you know that I am not saying this as a "I am better than you" type of comment.

I ask that you sit back and start thinking about putting yourself IN the moment. Duck. Cover. Look scared/pissed/mad/sad/exhausted/etc.... ALL of the feelings that YOU would feel if you were about to face screaming lead aimed right at your heart.

This is the end of a cycle of posing. Start acting as if...

[terry sorchy]

Guy,
A few years ago I attended a reenactment that my old unit was at as a spectator. I watched the battle and was horrified at what I saw. Men that smiled when they fired, or fired straight into the air like an AAA gunner, walked erect like you stated, rested on their elbows watching the rest of the battle after taking a hit, and all around shenanigans. I really wanted to go up to the promoters and ask for my money back. I felt like I just witnessed a very bad movie.
I think that when we stop acting like we know so much more than the public that watches us, then we will start improving. Very much like our own Government I guess:rolleyes:
Except for the ehah spectators that treat a reenactment like a Nascar event, the rest or a least a good portion of them are well read, educated folks that have read books on this subject. So if we are truly are willing to try to teach to the best of our ablility then we should put into practice more of the diary accounts that we all should read before a specific event.
Cheers
Terry Sorchy

[Rob Weaver]

What you're also talking about is passion. The fight has a context. You have a context. You're mad/sad/glad or scared, the situation is chaotic or not, etc. Many sham battles are sterile. They are really tactical demonstrations, or exercises, or something like that. For them to have passion, isn't necessarily harder. It just involves becoming part of the moment. That doesn't require a massive outlay of cash for the perfect kit, nor does it require the perfect reenactment. It does, however, ask that for a few minutes you take everything you know, and everything you are and mash them together in a magnificent bit of role-playing.

[TParker]

it comes together. Last weekend, at a smaller local reenactment, the Federal troops were out numbered by the confederate forces by nearly 2 to 1. The scenario took that into account, and the Union troops grimly took position crouched behind the barricades and were attacked by confederate troops.

There were no smiles on the Union troops, but only the panic that would be natural under the circumstances if the situation were real and they recognized the hopelessness of their situation. As the attack was pressed, the troops either took hits from the overwhelming firepower or broke and fled, only to be shot down by the pursuit. When unit members took hits, their comrades checked on them and shouted to others if it was an officer or non-com lost. None of the "dead" moved until taps was complete.

While it was a small event. it DID try to meet the reality expectations. It all comes down to, as Mr. Gane says, realism. The troops involved put themselves in the moment and reacted as they thought real troops would have. It was a privilege to be present.

[jat]

At one reenactment my comander told me to get down because we were under fire. I tried to do what I was told but could not beceuse I am about a head taller then a enfield so I had to stand up to load. But I acted scared.:-?

[Memphis]

Where is the realism?

I see very little of it at events.

So, as an organizer of a reenactment happening just under a month from now, how will you make changes to incorporate the realism of reacting to fire?

You have an opportunity to do so.

[Mint Julep]

This is the end of a cycle of posing.

I wasn't aware that posing ran in cycles. What about shamming and glamming on sutler row?

I recall seeing a unit camp out behind the sutlers at the last big Manassas event. They were entertaining themselves by duck fighting on dry land. Looked like real serious stuff. Maybe they've cycled out of it by now?

Guess who it was and I'll give you a cracker,

[Memphis]

Guess who it was and I'll give you a cracker,

Still posing at the wrong events? :eek:

[Sgt_Pepper]

What is "duck fighting"?

[Memphis]

What is "duck fighting"?

Outside of middle Tennessee, the rest of the world calls putting-a-person-on-your-shoulders "chicken fighting." This probably was a period form of entertainment for bored troops. I wonder if it can be documented as such?

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Where is the realism? I see very little of it at events.



Guy,

Still attending events that don't shoot very high, huh? You need to get to some better events. They exist, and are out there.

[Mint Julep]

Outside of middle Tennessee, the rest of the world calls putting-a-person-on-your-shoulders "chicken fighting." This probably was a period form of entertainment for bored troops. I wonder if it can be documented as such?

I've only seen it done in swimming pools, thus "duck fighting".

[Rob Weaver]

All sorts of childish rough-housing games are period. I wouldn't be surprised at all to find it. (I think a similar game is suggested in the 1825 "The Boy's Book.") There's a reference to men of the Iron Brigade playing the Scandanavian children's game "hop skip and a step" using their state issued hats as markers to jump at. How young they were...

[OVI]

Guy...what you are questioning is really the foundation of what reenactors should & could do at events, and not just during the battles. Partly because there is no "rule" book for the hobbies, mainstream reenactors continue to view events as paying participants and not as actors. Twenty some years into this cycle of sham battles etc the idea of a reenacting event as historic theater has not been widely embraced nor, I venture, will it.
Even guys with great kits in most cases cannot see themselves as actors with a specific role of a Civil War soldier. And the whole structure of reenacting units, battalions etc for the most part fails this test. And to me...it is no wonder that folks who do the same "dance" at the same event year after year quickly cycle right out the hobby.

Kent Dorr
"Devils Own Mess"

[wilber6150]

I wasn't aware that posing ran in cycles. What about shamming and glamming on sutler row?

I recall seeing a unit camp out behind the sutlers at the last big Manassas event. They were entertaining themselves by duck fighting on dry land. Looked like real serious stuff. Maybe they've cycled out of it by now?

Guess who it was and I'll give you a cracker,

Was this the reenactment at Cedar Creek? Because I didn't see any camping behind sutlers row, the only camp that was close was the living history area...Or it might have been the heat affecteing my vision :)

[tompritchett]

I've only seen it done in swimming pools, thus "duck fighting".

In Ky, we used to play it in elementary school when the teachers weren't looking.

[bob 125th nysvi]

In Ky, we used to play it in elementary school when the teachers weren't looking.

in the front yard when mom wasn't watching.

It got a LOT more fun as a teenager when we could talk the GIRLS into getting on our shoulders.

And on Long Island the former duck capital of the USA, we called it chicken fighting.

But to get back to the original question.

Guy what rank are you and if above the level of corporal what do YOU do to improve the impression? Heck I'd love to double time everywhere when under fire but if the NCOs/Officers say walk as a PRIVATE you WALK (or run for the rear).

The job of a private in any army is to do as told and not freelance. SO bad as it can be I AM playing my part appropriately, I'm doing what I am told.

[Memphis]

Guy what rank are you and if above the level of corporal what do YOU do to improve the impression?

Didn't someone write an article about reacting to fire and what the boys of '61-'65 did when they were hit?

[bob 125th nysvi]

Didn't someone write an article about reeacting to fire and what the boys of '61-'65 did when they were hit?

stuff in CRRC2 about how to act like a CW soldier and I think Kevin O wrote a really nice article (or at least posted it) on taking casualities.

But again I think this type of issue revolves around leadership.

An officer should get in front of the soldiers and yell "On the double quick, forward!" and then take off with the colors and the men following. If he is walking and yelling "Keep the line straight!" then what is a private going to do?

If we get close our group takes a lot of hits BECAUSE our NCOs and Officers are yelling at us to take hits. They take hits. We've finished up fights with 60% of the unit lying out there as casualties. We once finished with 4 privates, everybody else was down.

If you're not advancing or retreating but under fire, as an officer you should tell the men to get down. When advancing through the woods don't worry about the alignment of the men until you need to do something, stopping every twenty paces to dress the line because people can't walk through trees just didn't happen. Have the men move quickly and then train them to form up quickly on the guides when ordered to. When marching to contact, throw out advance, flank and rear skirmishers. That's what they REALLY did.

Oh yeah and shoot the musicians. About all they do is get in the way and give away your position.

[NoahBriggs]

Oh yeah and shoot the musicians. About all they do is get in the way and give away your position.

I think you are going to catch a lot of flak from the musicians among us. The ones I know work hard on their craft. ;)

An officer should get in front of the soldiers and yell "On the double quick, forward!" and then take off with the colors and the men following.

That screams "Hollywood" and "melodrama" to me. In HD wraparound stereo to boot. I believe the aforementioned CRRC articles on taking hits, lying down and so on is a good start in one's reading. Like all books, it's merely an interpretation of the most current research. Hence I would not quote it as gospel, but use it as a springboard for more research. The "double-quick" is nothing more than a real fast walk, and not the gasping dogtrot you see at most events.

If he is walking and yelling "Keep the line straight!" then what is a private going to do?

For the moment, the private is going to follow instructions as best he can under the circumstances. Will he falter and slip out line? Yup. Will someone trip? Yup.

If you're not advancing or retreating but under fire, as an officer you should tell the men to get down. When advancing through the woods don't worry about the alignment of the men until you need to do something, stopping every twenty paces to dress the line because people can't walk through trees just didn't happen. Have the men move quickly and then train them to form up quickly on the guides when ordered to. When marching to contact, throw out advance, flank and rear skirmishers. That's what they REALLY did.

All of this is covered under "Grand Tactics", aka "Gitcher men from Point A to Point B Without Getting Wiped Out". Mahan describes it in his work Outpost, but he only covers the theoretical, not the actual. "Getting down" is covered by the CRRC2 article. And it is true that the "Billiard table drill" (ie, flat open terrain with few obstacles) clashes harshly with reality once you hit terrain which is festooned with obstacles.

Throwing out the flankers, rear and advanced guard makes sense for larger formations. For smaller formations a small squad of skirmishers ahead of the main body makes more sense.

Not flinging accusations, just suggesting.

[Anders]

seems guy recently went to a bad event- care to elaborate?

[bob 125th nysvi]

I think you are going to catch a lot of flak from the musicians among us. The ones I know work hard on their craft. ;) .

I ain't complaining about the quality of the music it is the timing that gets me. And just in case no one ever noticed the sound of a drum carries a whole lot farther in the woods than a cup clanking on a canteen. There was a reason the regimental band fairly quickly became a thing of the past in combat regiments. So if you're moving to contact leave the band in camp and take only the musicians you are going to use for signaling and for heaven's sake keep them quiet when not relaying orders.


That screams "Hollywood" and "melodrama" to me. In HD wraparound stereo to boot. I believe the aforementioned CRRC articles on taking hits, lying down and so on is a good start in one's reading. Like all books, it's merely an interpretation of the most current research. Hence I would not quote it as gospel, but use it as a springboard for more research. The "double-quick" is nothing more than a real fast walk, and not the gasping dogtrot you see at most events..

If you have a better suggestion for giving the command I'm all for it but it is the effect which was important. If you read accounts of veterans, they moved and moved quickly. There are very good reasons why a whole attack force never hit the enemy all at once, they didn't arrive all at once, they didn't all move at the same speed. Yet if you watch a reenactment you'd think that the officers (and men) of rapidly advancing units would hold up and wait for the straggling units to catch up.

Nothing of the sort happened, the intention was to cover the killing ground as quickly as possible and throw yourself on the enemy. The killing ground could be quite wide in the CW. It was the same when a unit withdrew, get out of the killing ground as quickly as possible and reform out of range.

Now would a unit alter its speed for military reasons (like keeping a flank from hanging in the air) sure if they could and it didn't get them killed they'd do it.

As an example Armistead's brigade made the farthest advance at Gettysburg on day three yet they were a support unit. If reenactors were asked to create that charge today with no knowledge of actual events. Armistead's brigade would be walking placidly behind the first wave, waiting for them to dress the lines and for the first wave to get out of the way by slowly walking away from the wall and counting off before they made their move.

YAWN!

The men who survived combat moved, the sluggards got KIA (or WIA if lucky).


All of this is covered under "Grand Tactics", aka "Gitcher men from Point A to Point B Without Getting Wiped Out". Mahan describes it in his work Outpost, but he only covers the theoretical, not the actual. "Getting down" is covered by the CRRC2 article. And it is true that the "Billiard table drill" (i.e., flat open terrain with few obstacles) clashes harshly with reality once you hit terrain which is festooned with obstacles..

And the actual would be a lot messier than the theoretical not prettier. So if the book says (1) reach your objective as quickly as possible (2) keep the men in formation. A combat experienced officer KNOWS that 1 is more important than 2 and puts his emphasis on that. Too many reenactment officers are putting their emphasis on 2 over 1 and would get their commands shot to pieces fairly quickly. (Thus leaving them without a command if they were lucky enough to survive the mistake.)


Throwing out the flankers, rear and advanced guard makes sense for larger formations. For smaller formations a small squad of skirmishers ahead of the main body makes more sense.

We're already pretending 150 men is a regiment and 300 is a brigade. So we either need to do one of two things. Cut everybody's rank so they would actually be assigned to command the number of available men or if we want to pretend there are more of us (to justify rank) then ACT like we are running a larger formation. I don't care which way we go but either we have a structure appropriate to the size of the force or we act like the larger force. I really don't care about the numbers of men thrown out but let's at least throw them out into the appropriate functions.

[skamikaze]

Our unit is progressing with the ACTING part of reenacting. we have all been to the events where guys are out there laughing and smiling in the face of battle and it just looks wrong.

Another thing i have trouble with is falling back in parade order against overwhelming odds. We are fond of breaking and running if the enemy is getting too close to us and the scenario allows it. a few of our guys will drop their knapsacks or muskets even (if a fallen comrade is nearby to keep watch) to flee the field. I guess thats that part that gets me most is the lack of panic.

there are lots of things you can do to improve your on-field impression and your facial expressions are the best place to start.

[Guy Gane III]

K., I'm speaking on a spectator level. I hear it all the time from people.


This goes beyond attending good events.

Events with the intent of teaching history SHOULD be intent on portraying it to the best of our ability.

This goes beyond good equipment and uniforms.

I thought you teach history to keep future generations from repeating the mistakes?

The concept of 'keeping it real' certainly applies here.

[Mint Julep]

If we get close our group takes a lot of hits BECAUSE our NCOs and Officers are yelling at us to take hits. They take hits. We've finished up fights with 60% of the unit lying out there as casualties. We once finished with 4 privates, everybody else was down.


And this is authentic? Doubtful.

There are a few examples of high casualty rates for specific regiments from the war, but they are noted for their extreme waste, not as the norm.

First, officers and NCOs should not be yelling for you to take hits. That is, in and of itself, farby.

Second, is it only when you "get close"? Shouldn't the officers be giving commands to fall back to help maintain a reasonable combat distance? Or are they pressing you forward to make a better show for the spectators as they watch you march into the jaws of death?

Third, why not have casualties taken in proportionate percentages as the original unit portrayed? This is simple math. It gives a much better example for the spectators as to what the battle might have looked like.

[bill watson]

About "yelling "Keep the line straight!" "

If an officer is doing that, he's not doing his "job." He should be focused on the battalion commander if he's a company commander, he should be thinking what the next command will be and what he'll do about it, and his noncoms should be quietly giving specific instructions to specific soldiers that have the result of straightening the line if that's important.

The officers focus on deciding the right thing to do, the battalion commander at his level and the company officers at theirs. The direct supervision of the men falls to noncommissioned officers. They are the ones making sure people are doing things right, not the company commander. Orders are from officers. Making sure they're executed properly is a noncommissioned job.

If you don't believe me read Kautz. Different words, same distinction.

And if anybody is yelling "keep the line straight" or "rectify the line," that's the guy to shoot, not the musicians. It is a particularly useless instruction, since it does not do anything except alert the world to the lack of alignment. Obviously if they guys knew what to do they'd already be doing it, so the correct instruction makes the appropriate adjustment. "touch elbows to the left" or "slower in the middle" maybe, but "rectify the line"? Eek. Sound and fury really and truly signifying nothing. :-)

[Memphis]

As an example Armistead's brigade made the farthest advance at Gettysburg on day three yet they were a support unit.

Judge W. A. Montgomery quashed that rumor in 1904.

[CivilWarBuff1863]

I'm glad people like Guy finally had the balls to come up and post something worth while.

Realism is what should drive everyone in this hobby. If your unit feels it's outnumbered do the right thing, retreat or run like your life depended on it.

Take the Fredricksburg scene in the "Gods and Generals" movie. Something along those lines we should strive towards that type of scene. Remember, war isn't all about the uniform, weapons or the women ;) , it's about having feelings as if you were actually in a situation back in that time period. War isn't glamorous or pretty! Also remember that our troops over in Iraq and Afghanistan are fighting a terrible war on terror. Think of their situations and try to imply them into re-enacting.

[bob 125th nysvi]

And this is authentic? Doubtful..


First, officers and NCOs should not be yelling for you to take hits. That is, in and of itself, farby..

Firing of blanks is?

Look it is part of a reenactor officers/NCOs job to make sure that a unit acts like a real CW unit. If men aren't taking hits, its their job to reinforce what is supposed to be happening. It isn't substantially different than them telling you to button up your coat or dress on the colors. There isn't any way to independently realistically assess casualties on an individual basis on the basis of enemy fire.

Unless you want to go to laser tag like the real army did.


Second, is it only when you "get close"? Shouldn't the officers be giving commands to fall back to help maintain a reasonable combat distance? Or are they pressing you forward to make a better show for the spectators as they watch you march into the jaws of death?.

Being a private I deal strictly with company commanders, isn't it the Colonel/Major's job to tell units to fall back? Our officer falls back or advances as he is told to do.

I've seen our unit take hits as soon as we deploy and the enemy fires and I've seen us lose guys close to the MLR and I've seen us get knocked down like bowling pins when facing a cannon. And every once in a while we only lose a couple.

We pretty much run the gamut and I can honestly tell you going into an engagement I never know what is going to happen casualty wise.


Third, why not have casualties taken in proportionate percentages as the original unit portrayed? This is simple math. It gives a much better example for the spectators as to what the battle might have looked like.

It depends on how big a scale you're working with. If one company loses 60% and another loses 10% it washes out on a battalion level. SO we're back to scale, if we say 500 men represent a brigade and the brigade lost 25% then that's 125 guys down. Unless a lot more events start handing out fate cards it is going to be really hard to enforce a number because you might be doing it exactly right on your small part of the field but other units could be over-doing it or under doing it.

The other problem is generally we know how many men a unit mustered going into a fight and coming out but how, where and when each unit lost each man just isn't available from the records.

So even "simple math" isn't really much more than an educated guess. But it is better than no guess at all.

[bob 125th nysvi]

About "yelling "Keep the line straight!" "

If an officer is doing that, he's not doing his "job." He should be focused on the battalion commander if he's a company commander, he should be thinking what the next command will be and what he'll do about it, and his noncoms should be quietly giving specific instructions to specific soldiers that have the result of straightening the line if that's important.:-)

An officer's job is to keep his men organized enough to perform the mission. Has been since the first guy was given command over another. If the NCO isn't doing the job (or are all gone due to casualties) then he does it.

If the higher up is yelling to straighten the line then your company commander had darn well better be relaying that instruction.


The officers focus on deciding the right thing to do, the battalion commander at his level and the company officers at theirs. The direct supervision of the men falls to noncommissioned officers. They are the ones making sure people are doing things right, not the company commander. Orders are from officers. Making sure they're execited properly is a noncommissioned job.:-)

Yeah right. When I was in the army talked about 'individual initiative'. And then slapped anybody who tried to exercise any. The officers do what they are told, right or wrong, unless they have the marbles to do the "right thing" and then if it works brilliantly they get away with it.

A company officer jumps to perform his superiors commands and if the sargents ain't getting it done he doesn't say to the major "Gee sir I'm sorry my sargents can't get it right we have to wait till they do." He lights a fire under the sargents and the men to get it done NOW.


And if anybody is yelling "keep the line straight" or "rectify the line," that's the guy to shoot, not the musicians. It is a particularly useless instruction, since it does not do anything except alert the world to the lack of alignment. Obviously if they guys knew what to do they'd already be doing it, so the correct instruction makes the appropriate adjustment. "touch elbows to the left" or "slower in the middle" maybe, but "rectify the line"? Eek. Sound and fury really and truly signifying nothing. :-)

Never stumbled or tripped or had to step over a casualty or walk around a tree or bush have you?

Or maybe had some guys walk faster than others or have one unit break run or dissappear in a cloud of smoke either.

Hmmmm .... nice neat little war you're fighting there, can I come over and play?

We don't know what the officers actually said in the heat of the battle and if you think absolutely every command ever given was by the book, you've never been in a real furball.

[Sgt_Pepper]

Mr. Sandusky, you're getting a bit cheeky here. Tone down the sarcasm.

[bob 125th nysvi]

Mr. Sandusky, you're getting a bit cheeky here. Tone down the sarcasm.

Sargent!

(And you're not the first NCO to say that.)

[OVI]

It has been my experience and observation that within typical reenactment units, both companies and battalions, only a relative few officers and NCOs really know their jobs and apply themselves as to the situation.
How many companies at reenactments are cobbed together from the 6 or 7 guys from each unit that showed up? You are lucky to find a good 1st Sgt and a company officer who know their stuff and can function on the same page. How many times do these ad-hoc companies of 12-15 men even have a good 2nd Sgt, which is vital if you are doing battalion work? Most of the time some less than willing short Corporal gets the job and is clueless?
This situation is what compells the officer to take on all the roles instead of focusing on the commands of the Colonel or wing commanders.

Kent Dorr
"Devils Own Mess"

[Kevin O'Beirne]

I'm glad people like Guy finally had the balls to come up and post something worth while.

Realism is what should drive everyone in this hobby.


Realism as defined by who, or what? What's "real" or "authentic" to one person is dumb, frivilous, and a waste of time to others. Many folks have said for years, "It's only a hobby", and other excuses. Both you and Guy have, on occasion, taken the opposite position from much of the "authentic" reenactor community about "how far" to take the hobby.

Could many elements of the hobby try harder for a more-accurate portrayal? Absolutely. However, telling them to make those changes is a bit akin to peeing into the wind, and it's certainly not an original or revolutionary thought to opine that reenactors should try to be "more authentic" than they do.

E-gads, this has all the makings of another "us vs. them" thread. If you don't like what you see at the events you attend, then try going to different events until you find something you like and find to be consisitent with your own reenacting style.

"There's two kinds of events: Those I attend, and those I don't." - Joe Smotherman, reenactor-philosopher

[bob 125th nysvi]

It has been my experience and observation that within typical reenactment units, both companies and battalions, only a relative few officers and NCOs really know their jobs and apply themselves as to the situation.
How many companies at reenactments are cobbed together from the 6 or 7 guys from each unit that showed up? You are lucky to find a good 1st Sgt and a company officer who know their stuff and can function on the same page. How many times do these ad-hoc companies of 12-15 men even have a good 2nd Sgt, which is vital if you are doing battalion work? Most of the time some less than willing short Corporal gets the job and is clueless?
This situation is what compels the officer to take on all the roles instead of focusing on the commands of the Colonel or wing commanders.

Kent Dorr
"Devil's Own Mess"

We should be drilling on Saturday morning instead of going to the sutler to whip that 'company' into shape.

But I think we are coming around again and again to the same problem that bedevils our portrayals no matter how we classify ourselves.

Too many chiefs for too few men and too little time working together.

And even if someone is willing to "step down" in order to get the right force ratios, how do we know we have the right guy stepping down and we're leaving the right guy in command?

[vamick]

Guy,
A few years ago I attended a reenactment that my old unit was at as a spectator. I watched the battle and was horrified at what I saw. Men that smiled when they fired, or fired straight into the air like an AAA gunner, walked erect like you stated, rested on their elbows watching the rest of the battle after taking a hit, and all around shenanigans.

GAWD YES! some of my pet peaves..jeysus I know all that safety stuff but really guys! I've seen foilks taking shots at flying ducks er some such at 50 +++ yards!..my fav is tha 'amblin charge'..no need to get ina hurry men!..I know thos two packs a day slow a feller down!..and after all we're 50 + years old...then theres tha stand in line blastin away at 20 yards...kinda like some of tha movie "Gettysburg" its enuf to make ya cringe. If I were that director my standard line would have been 'CUT'!!..'we' did much better playin war as kids!

[8thILCavalry]

I have watched a few reenactments myself not many because I am mostly in them but as a spectator I have noticed it is very boring watching them. I say that some of our battles are just way to long for the damage it should be causing. I know we get out there and we want to shoot as many rounds we can and not die because its boring just laying there, So I say we need more battles during the day and then we can show the casuality and the realism of a battle, by having soldiers taking hits left and right and many wounded screaming and crawling would show a better battle. And having more acting from everyone would be an important part of the battle because they would not just be out there to go BANG with there guns.

I myself when I get shot in front of a crowd I find it hard to not breath, so I have to act like I am wounded so it is time to start Hamming it up.
I also when in line firing I act scared silly.

I have just recently been promoted to Sgt. and my duty is to teach new and old troopers so I will mention this good point to the men on ACTING and Hamming it up in the mist of battle.

[bill watson]

Bob S:
"Never stumbled or tripped or had to step over a casualty or walk around a tree or bush have you?

Or maybe had some guys walk faster than others or have one unit break run or disappear in a cloud of smoke either.

Hmmmm .... nice neat little war you're fighting there, can I come over and play?

We don't know what the officers actually said in the heat of the battle and if you think absolutely every command ever given was by the book, you've never been in a real furball."
------------------------
You're setting up a straw man. What I said was it's the noncommissioned officer's job to keep the alignment where it should be, if it matters. So when guys walk faster, the noncoms slow them down. Not the officer, who should be looking to make sure the company is actually going where it needs to go. What could possibly be wrong with that? Is it that important that you not be made aware of alternatives to your paradigm? Or are we all to be limited by your own experiences? Kautz didn't write all this out to amuse himself, he wrote it out because it's how things get effectively done.

You've read in this thread what guys do when officers fail to exercise actual leadership and are cavalier toward the morale and physical wellbeing of their men. I'm showing you what leadership should look like. Don't you feel bad when your company moves out late on "forward, march" because your company officer was busy managing the rank and file when he should have been listening for what to do next? I do. If you're going to be an officer, why not do it right? It's actually less work than doing it wrong. Ask my noncoms.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

But again I think this type of issue revolves around leadership.

Welcome to the biggest problem in reenacting. Somone oughtta write some essays on that topic...

Seriously, it takes a very large amount of knowledge to portray a private somewhat correctly per the period, and the higher one goes in rank the greater the knowledge level and expectations on you by those in subordinate positions. Sadly, as I see it, few who portray even commissioned officers are competant in their role.


An officer should get in front of the soldiers and yell "On the double quick, forward!" and then take off with the colors and the men following.

Actually, a commissioned officer impressionist should be in the location where he's supposed to be when in line. This way, his men know where he is, and so do his superior and subordinate officers. The idea that all officers are supposed to be "out front" (in reenacting and the movies, often with their sword ridiculously pointing the way toward the enemy, as if the men cannot figure out from which direction the bullets are supposedly coming) is bunk. That I know, only the field officers and certain men of the color party should be out front during a battalion's advance.


Oh yeah and shoot the musicians. About all they do is get in the way and give away your position.

That's a darned unfortunate statement, reflecting that Bob attends events where officer impressionists apparently fail to understand the proper uses of field music and their role during a battle. Buglers are used for directing troop movements. Field musicians and bandsmen go to the rear, usually to assist the medical staff with collecting the casualties. Needless to say, it was probably quite rare that field music stood behind the lines playing loudly during a battle in the Civil War. That said, music in the Civil War played a crucial role that I believe is rarely appreciated by reenactors, hence statements like the above quote.

[Mint Julep]

Firing of blanks is?

This line of thought isn't valid. We fire blanks because we don't want to really kill each other.

I guess next you'll ask if I walked to the event site or rode in my car.

But I see no reason for officers to be ordering "hits" to the rank and file. The participants should be informed prior to the battle how many dead and wounded their company is expected to suffer during the battle and ask if anyone wants to claim one of those roles. Everyone looks around and knows who is doing what. Is this hard?

The higher quality events have addressed this issue with fate cards for each participant. Each man gets his card and learns his fate and what he should expect. We don't have to have officers yelling "Let's take some hits here, okay?" That kind of stuff really wipes a booger on my window to authenticity.

[Mint Julep]

That's a darned unfortunate statement, reflecting that Bob attends events where officer impressionists apparently fail to understand the proper uses of field music and their role during a battle. Buglers are used for directing troop movements. Field musicians and bandsmen go to the rear, usually to assist the medical staff with collecting the casualties. Needless to say, it was probably quite rare that field music stood behind the lines playing loudly during a battle in the Civil War. That said, music in the Civil War played a crucial role that I believe is rarely appreciated by reenactors, hence statements like the above quote.

Hood's army at Franklin started their charge with all the bands out front playing as they came down off the Winstead Hills. The rare nature of the situation caused it to be noted by survivors on both sides of the field.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

a few of our guys will drop their knapsacks or muskets even (if a fallen comrade is nearby to keep watch) to flee the field. I guess thats that part that gets me most is the lack of panic.


Maybe it looks a bit like this? Ah, it was fun to lead that retrograde movement! :D

http://www.columbiarifles.org/Images/Thumbs/CRRuns1.jpg

[Rob Weaver]

The higher quality events have addressed this issue with fate cards for each participant. Each man gets his card and learns his fate and what he should expect.
In our company, which is admittedly full of wargamers, we've hit upon another solution. We draw cards off a standard deck. Clubs and diamonds = survived. Shoot up a cartridge box if you'd like. Hearts = wounded. Role play it up. Crawl away, limp away. You get the picture. Spades = well, what do you use a spade for anyway? The numbers indicate the rounds you fire before meeting with your destiny. Face cards are 10, aces are 11. (Rules of etiquette still apply. If your musket malfunctions, you feel you've had enough or if the enemy fires at you in an obvious manner, take a hit.) In a long scenario where the casualties are grafted in again, we re-draw. It's even more effective if you don't show you card to those around you. We've had mixed results but on the whole it has produced relatively proportional casualties, a certain sense of drama and the officers and NCOs don't have to assign hits.

[skamikaze]

Maybe it looks a bit like this? Ah, it was fun to lead that retrograde movement! :D

http://www.columbiarifles.org/Images/Thumbs/CRRuns1.jpg

Yes! much like a mix of that and the castle scene from monty python's holy grail.

but seriously, there are MANY accounts of individuals and groups breaking and fleeing like mad men. I think that is underreppresented in the hobby.

[Memphis]

Retreating?

Balderdash!

Those men look as if they have just been paid four months back wages, and are heading for the nearest house of ill repute for refreshment!!!! :D

Some of them are even digging for their wallets.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Come to think of it, in that photo I'm not really leading the retrograde movement. I'm actually right in the middle of it. I guess I was jsut fleeing along with the rest of the crowd...

[flattop32355]

That said, music in the Civil War played a crucial role that I believe is rarely appreciated by reenactors, hence statements like the above quote.

My son, now well past 15 yrs. old, has been our unit drummer, and also serves our umbrella organization in that capacity. This past weekend, he tried his hand as a soldier in the ranks for the first time (and did quite well).

One of his comments, as we marched out to the field to the sound of three drummers beating out what seemed to be seven different rhythms simultaneously was, "(Expletives Deleted), I never realized until now just how important a good drummer really is!" All within earshot of him agreed.

Equally important is a bugler who can actually hit the notes, in proper sequence and time. I had never heard a bugler miss every single note of Taps before....until last weekend. I believe God cringed.....

[flattop32355]

That kind of stuff really wipes a booger on my window to authenticity.

Somehow, I keep seeing Joe, covered in boogers....

[Mint Julep]

Somehow, I keep seeing Joe, covered in boogers....

I am making reference to a line one of my former pards used when trying to explain why a farbism was a problem.

"I only have this small portal window in which to view things in an authentic way. This is my window to authenticity. What you are doing is smearing a big booger across that window and ruining the view."

[skamikaze]

Just a random thought I came upon during the more tedious hours of work tonight:

Has anyone ever led (or considered leading) a workshop on improving the ACTING of the on field reenactor? I know there are classes for etiquette and dancing and all other sorts of things but what about the part that is the focal point of most mainstream and many c/p/h events: the battle?

Things such as proper hit taking and how and when to break and run. Gathering wounded comrades and officers and how to portray the actions of men in battle. Period correct rallying would be fun to see done well. It would probably work better as a workshop for established companies but could work for individuals as well.

I don't know. I just get bored at work sometimes.

[bill watson]

"Needless to say, it was probably quite rare that field music stood behind the lines playing loudly during a battle in the Civil War."

Franklin, Tenn., and it was a sight to see when it was reenacted back in the mid 1990s at one of the mega events there. One of those hair-on-your-arms-stands-up moments when we marched by on the long, long walk up to the entrenched federal lines. That may be one of the Franklin events Mint Julep was involved in helping to host, not sure. I will not forget how that field looked, ever.

[bob 125th nysvi]

I guess next you'll ask if I walked to the event site or rode in my car.

You already know the answer to that one on how authentic it is. You just choose to accept it.


But I see no reason for officers to be ordering "hits" to the rank and file. The participants should be informed prior to the battle how many dead and wounded their company is expected to suffer during the battle and ask if anyone wants to claim one of those roles. Everyone looks around and knows who is doing what. Is this hard?

The higher quality events have addressed this issue with fate cards for each participant. Each man gets his card and learns his fate and what he should expect. We don't have to have officers yelling "Let's take some hits here, okay?" That kind of stuff really wipes a booger on my window to authenticity.

See INFORMATION is the key and you have hit that right on the head.

It is the lack of information that causes things to be 'farby'.

So then where does the responsibility to provide information lie? And why do some people see withholding information as a form of power?

Then you have the secondary issue where people in power work against the available information (ex: marching in rigid lines to within 30 paces of each other to exchange multiple volleys).

[lazyrebel2]

Even in the early 80's when I got into reenacting,there were folks wearing work pants and biker boots. My father in law did the 100th aniv. of several battles and he thought we were great in the 80's. Just wanted to remind some of the younger folks that realism has come a long way.

[bob 125th nysvi]

That's a darned unfortunate statement, reflecting that Bob attends events where officer impressionists apparently fail to understand the proper uses of field music and their role during a battle. Buglers are used for directing troop movements. Field musicians and bandsmen go to the rear, usually to assist the medical staff with collecting the casualties. Needless to say, it was probably quite rare that field music stood behind the lines playing loudly during a battle in the Civil War. That said, music in the Civil War played a crucial role that I believe is rarely appreciated by reenactors, hence statements like the above quote.

certainly have their place in the Civil War and in both living history and reenactments.

Again it appears that too many officers think of everything in parade ground terms.

For example advancing with the prospect of contact, you don't go with the band playing the "Gary Owen" at the front of the column. Musicians shouldn't be standing behind a line of infantry doing a tattoo on their drum because their bored. Might as well send up a flare to mark your position.

A good bugler, even a good drummer can be worth his weight in gold for sending commands across the battlefield. There just aren't enough of them out there and fewer officers who understand how to use them appropriately.

Where's RJ when you need him?

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Again it appears that too many officers think of everything in parade ground terms.

Bob, you really oughtta tell this type of thing to the folks who lead the group(s) you typically work with. Opinions on this forum are like ___holes--everyone has one and uses it. To effect some change, you need to speak to the folks who matter where you reenact.

And I'd say that the more-accurate phrase might not be "parade ground terms" but rather, "grossly inaccurate per history" terms.


For example advancing with the prospect of contact, you don't go with the band playing the "Gary Owen" at the front of the column. Musicians shouldn't be standing behind a line of infantry doing a tattoo on their drum because their bored. Might as well send up a flare to mark your position.

Ah, I see you were at Grant vs Lee 1999 too.


A good bugler, even a good drummer can be worth his weight in gold for sending commands across the battlefield. There just aren't enough of them out there and fewer officers who understand how to use them appropriately.

Drummers were not usually present on the battlefield--the function of intoned communications on the field was borne by the bugler. Drummers, being part of the field music, were usually sent to the rear before the bullets really started flying. Field music was used in keeping cadence on the march and for a lot of camp-call functions.


Where's RJ when you need him?

As the expression goes, probably out blowing "The General" on his horn. :-)

[texyank]

I don't know about you guys but my over-riding goal is to attend events that don't make it necessary to clean my rifle afterwards.

Neither of the two best experiences in my time in the hobby involved shooting my weapon.

1. Live firing 10 pdr parrot rifles

2. Marching in column of companies up the bank of Antietam creek, and watching my comrades storm across the bridge after I was "wounded."

battles are very difficult to portray with realism so I tend to not enjoy them anymore (though I haven't been in the field since 2004).

Oh, yea, another great experience was taking a pee with R. E. Lee at the
125th of Gettysburg (hey that kinda rhymes).

yer pard,

Jason Hamby
In memory of Thomas Jefferson Humberson, private, Waul's Texas Legion

[8thILCavalry]

A good bugler, even a good drummer can be worth his weight in gold for sending commands across the battlefield. There just aren't enough of them out there and fewer officers who understand how to use them appropriately.

Where's RJ when you need him?


This is so true. Our bugler and RJ are excellent at moving us around by the bugle. I need to hear it more often because I get rusty on the calls. It would be great to get more and more buglers and more officers that understand how to use them.

[flattop32355]

It would be great to get more and more buglers and more officers that understand how to use them.

Is it just me, or does it seem reasonable that if you take on the privilege of becoming an officer, you should also take on the responsibilities thereof, one of which is learning the bugle/drum calls? And then teach them to your men?

And maybe learn the drill manual? And how to move troops? And......

Just asking.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Is it just me, or does it seem reasonable that if you take on the privilege of becoming an officer, you should also take on the responsibilities thereof, one of which is learning the bugle/drum calls? And then teach them to your men?

And maybe learn the drill manual? And how to move troops? And......

See here, Bernie, now you're espousing some pretty radical and seditious thoughts that are challenging the status quo in some quarters.

Hear hear! :-)

The only thing I'll add about officers teaching the music calls to their men is this: Usually they need a proficient musician to accompany them in these teachings. I can buy a bugle-call tape or CD, but it's difficult to teach it to the boys without A) A bugler (thankfully we have part-time one in our group), and B) The men need to be at events where they hear and are expected to respond to these calls, so they get used to them. It's nearly useless to teach them if they are not used at events.

There's a lot that field-leaders in the hobby need to know, both "technical knowledge" (stuff they can learn from a book, such as drill, military procedures, and stuff like that) and "non-technical" (stuff that you need to either inherently possess or learn by following an example, like basic leadership and "people" skills). Unfortunately, in reenacting way too many officer impressionists and non-comm impressionists get the rank and don't bother to learn the job.

[Rob Weaver]

I'm a musician, and I pick up music very easily. It has been a continual surprise to me how tone-deaf the majority of people really are. There's a reason a lot of people don't play anything but the radio. Was it different then? Did more people read and play music, making it easier for an officer to learn calls? I don't know and although it would be fascinating, this is a virtually impossible area to research. I have a lot of sympathy for officers who don't know drum or bugle calls. If you're not musical, everything sounds like "Fix bayonets," with the possible exception of "Taps." And maybe "Reveille." We also tend to operate on those small battlefields where a command that's given verbally will be obeyed before the musician even finishes playing it. It's really cool when you can maneuver an element by the bugle. I've done it, but I have a lot of sympathy for people who simply can't. As a former field musician, my sympathy is also with all the musicians who learn to play, keep themselves in playing condition off the field, learn all this stuff, then could play "Roast Beef" 12 times a day for all that those around them comprehend.
My Father-in-law spent his entire life studying communication in animals, notably frogs in Panama. He and I spent several evenings comparing how people seem to interpret musical communication and how frogs seem to interpret them as well. It all started with the question, "At what point in the command do you know what is being trasmitted?" With a couple exceptions, most seemed to be within 3-4 notes. The same seemed to hold true for frogs as well. Of course, frogs only discuss food and sex, near as we can tell, so they obviously want to get to the point as succinctly as possible. Sorry, didn't mean to threadjack.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Rob,

When I used to attend "mainstream" events, and even at a number of "campaigner" events, I observed that there were often proficient musicians present who, naturally, wished to use what they've worked so hard to learn. So, they'd play, and few would pay attention to them. At many events, the bugler sounds his horn and everyone ignores it. It's frustrating to be the only person who responds to "Officers' Call" more than a few minutes after the call is sounded, and you can observe other officer impressionists standing around in their company area talking with their men.

"Was I supposed to pay attention to that horn-like noise?"

I'll also offer this: When an officer has an appreciation of military music and knows how and when to use it, he will not hollar commands (often making him hoarse) when he can use a drum or bugle to convey the command. The first time I really commanded a battalion for an entire weekend, for the first day I often reverted to treating the battalion as a large company by hollaring commands. The bugler--Dan Torisi (a very accomplished bugler and all-around good pard on the march and in camp)--was very patient with me and typically sounded the appropriate call in the wake of my hollared commands. I finally "got it" that I didn't need to treat the battalion as a large company and I could save my voice and not insult Dan, all at the same time: All I needed to do was turn to Dan and quietly tell him what command to sound, and the blew the bugle, and the battalion executed the command. Wow, that was a revelation for me. At the end of the weekend, I had learned something important, and still had my voice. :-)

[bob 125th nysvi]

tone-deaf the majority of people really are. There's a reason a lot of people don't play anything but the radio. Was it different then? Did more people read and play music, making it easier for an officer to learn calls?

I can't carry a tune on a sheet of paper and can't tell if you'r playing in the right key or not but I can tell the difference between two pieces of music.

It isn't THAT hard to tell too different bugle calls apart.

[flattop32355]

"At what point in the command do you know what is being trasmitted?" With a couple exceptions, most seemed to be within 3-4 notes.

A number of the calls begin and end with the same phrases, so what you say is borne out by repeating of the initial phrase.

Personally, I've been working intermittantly to learn the bugle calls for about a year. I'm a musical illiterate, though not badly tone deaf. Just listening to the calls repetitively is good, but learning them with verbal cues works better. I've made up my own lyrics to some of the calls, and know that RJ has done the same on his unit's webpage. Not all the calls are conducive to such technique, but most have some hook to hang your hat on.

For example, the Dinner Call hasn't lent itself to a lyric I can remember, but also being known as Roast Beef, I keep in mind that it takes a lot of "tongue" to sound the call, and so associate it with food. Likewise, 1st Sgt's Call is recognizable because it bounces herky-jerky all over the scale like no other call.

Hearing the calls used in context during the course of a reenactment day is also a great help. Many of the calls are specific to certain times of day.

Getting the drum calls will be harder for me, but I have to do it or my drummer son will not be pleased.

[Rob Weaver]

Personally, I've been working intermittantly to learn the bugle calls for about a year. I'm a musical illiterate, though not badly tone deaf. Just listening to the calls repetitively is good, but learning them with verbal cues works better. I've made up my own lyrics to some of the calls, and know that RJ has done the same on his unit's webpage. Not all the calls are conducive to such technique, but most have some hook to hang your hat on.
You examples (that I cut out of the quote) are spot-on. I do that sort of thing all the time, not only with military calls, but folk music ballads and even church music. Those who have this level of talent (and you don't think of yourself as talented, do you? Folks almost never do.) don't realize that there really are people who simply can't comprehend what's going on musically. Quick: Don't think too hard but what song is in your head right now? Can you believe there are people who don't have an internal soundtrack? Who are blessed that a song never gets stuck in their head?
It's not enough that the officer understand the calls. They're originating with him; he's the transmitter. The junior officers and NCOs have to receive them and make them happen. File closers need to facilitate the execution by "translating" "That's 'Cease Fire.'" "That's a 'Left Turn.'" "That's 'Officer's Call.' Must be something's up." Also given the nature of reenactng with ad hoc companies and battalions, never enough drill, we need to make the most of our time together. Drill should happen at every gathering, no matter the size, first thing to get command and control sorted out. That, obviously should include music. And oh, be generous to the less-than-stellar musicians, too. Every guy isn't Maynard Ferguson; some of us are CPL Hannibal Dobbs. I have seen a lot of posturing and intimidating among musicians rather than encouragement.

[Cornfedrat]

One of my best "moments" came at Chick-a-dusty several years ago. I was still a relative newbie and very impressionable. We were formed up on a hillside in reserve while assaults were being made on the yanks in front of us. When, out of nowhere, this young man comes flying up the hill at us, running away from the fight. He had tossed most of his gear and was wild eyed and looked terrified. Our Sgt. caught him by the collar and tried to calm him. He kept on tugging out of the Sgt's hands and kept yelling on about how the yanks were tearing them to bits and that his whole company was wiped out. While all this was going on, the men in our ranks began muttering among themselves. Those out of earshot were asking what he was saying, those that could hear him were getting really aggitated, some even started to back out of line to retreat too. Our officers and non-coms had their hands full for about 10 minutes just getting us to remain in ranks. I tell you, the hair stood up on the back of my neck for the rest of that day. I wish I could have found that young man later, I would have liked to thank him. He made the whole weekend for me.

Mitch Halcomb
Yellowhammer Rifles.

[Mint Julep]

I'm glad people like Guy finally had the balls to come up and post something worth while.

Are you saying all of Guy's previous posts were not worthwhile?

English is a funny language.

[Memphis]

Maybe Guy does have a point concerning setting the mood for a reenactment by spending a little quality time reading period accounts and to some extent modern works about the campaign, the regiments, and the battle itself. I notice more and more event websites have fairly large amounts of information free for the enjoyment of participants and non participants alike, so they can get a leg up on the background information instead of repeating the typical Monty Python or Animal House jokes. Otherwise, we'd just have Hood after Frankling shouting across the lines, "Thank you, Sir! May I have another?"

And in a few days, he did.

[Guy Gane III]

You don't even need period accounts... if I was shooting a loaded (fill in the blank) at you... what would you do? How would you react? What would your friends and pards think of you if you turn and run? Will my wife get my back pay to feed my family?? Etc...

Valid questions. If you have imaginations, by God, use them!

(K. pretty period street you're fleeing on! haha :cool: )

[Rob Weaver]

I often brush up on an upcoming event by reading even a few secondary sources on the actual battle. I can't remember everything anymore, if I ever could. A couple hours of cramming with the Time/Life books, B&L, the CW encyclopedia and maybe an article or two from the history net generally suffices to make me smart enough to be a man in the ranks but not so smart that I'm tempted to show off and become a jerk.
Sometimes I'll wargame the battle, to get a feel for some of the tactial problems. If the event is at or near an actual battlefield site, I visit the site and play tourist. I go to the visitior's center and walk the ground and ask myself questions. Soaking up the atmosphere really helps me to bring something fresh to the event.

[hanktrent]

Here's an example of how specific information sometimes helps at an event.

Before Payne's Farm, the assistant surgeon Noah Briggs and I (his orderly) were sharing information we were reading on casualties at the battle to be portrayed. According to the regimental history, one would a lower-ranking officer, whose name showed up earlier in the account when he'd gained the support of his men and gotten publicly chewed out by an officer, for allowing his men to break ranks to march around a large puddle in the road.

At the end of the event, when we were marching out at rout step, there happened to be a huge puddle in the middle of the road, which everyone naturally spread apart to go around. Noah said something to me about that reminded him of Captain so-and-so (whatever the fellow's name and rank was), and of course I knew what he was talking about--as I probably would have in the past too, if the incident was memorable enough to make it to the regimental history.

While the men didn't have extensive knowledge about the battles that were occurring around them, they often had other knowledge that we can only begin to touch.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Guy Gane III]

While the men didn't have extensive knowledge about the battles that were occurring around them, they often had other knowledge that we can only begin to touch.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net


AMEN!

Each soldier's experience was different. When we classify them with "them/they - 'would have...'", it does a great injustice to the individual who was filling out his (and I hate to say, her) uniform. The difference of opinion not only on a national but also an individual level is like trying to get the finite number of stars in the sky... there are just too many.

We, as reenactors, have to strive to respond to our fellow reenactors and the public, alike, with answers that are correct and not something you just make up as you go along with the conversation. I hear people doing it all the time. It makes me mad to know that if someone doesn't know the answer that they honestly can't turn in any direction and not seek out the truth. :?

[flattop32355]

AMEN!

Each soldier's experience was different....It makes me mad to know that if someone doesn't know the answer that they honestly can't turn in any direction and not seek out the truth.

Ah, but what is truth?

Taking the two statements above, truth may well vary all the way from the individual soldier all the way up to corps level, depending upon how they were engaged at a given fight, or even how they were encamped over a winter. Same goes for commanders' views. It is all very subjective, and all can be "the truth", even when contradictory from locality to locality withing the larger field.

At tlmes, we are called upon to answer questions that there's no particular way we can honestly answer. We weren't there, and can't speak for those that were. That's when we have to make it clear that "I don't really know, but my best guess is..." Sometimes, it's the best we can offer, especially if offered with some study and research backing it up.

It's also possible I'm missing what you mean, however.

[NoahBriggs]

I see a general trend in the remarks on this particular thread. They all seem to cycle back to the following -

Some of us feel in order to improve our experience oin the field we need to improve ourselves. In this case, attitude. We need to have a better understanding of the soldier of the period and what he did, as much as what he was supposed to do.

Fortunately one of us has actually taken the time to research and write up a list of expectations for all ranks and all the various positions of a typical battalion, from private to the colonel, from orderly to the adjutant. The list also helps tie the various duties together, which is how a battalion operates in the field to begin with. Odds are good said list is online, in downloadable, PDF, with those magic words - free of charge.

The original cast figured this out quickly, because they had to. They also learned how to streamline the duties for efficiency. I do not understand why we persist on reinventing wheels. I mention "battalion", not "brigade" because my experiences dictate the typical numbers fielded by reenactors amounts to battalions.

Also, we should have some sort of idea of who we were as citizens before we joined. At the least fill out any number of "character sheets" available online which list name, home town, parents sibs, religion, and so on. Even if this information is not necessarily shared at the event, knowing it in advance will help you to decide how you'd react to the situation at hand. People had different careers before they enlisted or were commissioned. A miner working the dirty towns of western Virginia is going to have a different approach to hygiene as opposed to the prissy Boston paper-collar dude with no clue, recently appointed as an adjutant.

This helps put you into the mindset of the original cast. They have different ideas on life, death, birth, disease, illness, morals, religion ad infinitum. Reading diaries and letters is the closest we can get their minds. Let's not blow that opportunity. All too often we as reenactors appear to spring from the dust all ready to soldier, with no ideas on previous experiences.


Is it easy? No. Emperor Palpatine asked the right question, though - Can it be done? Oh, yes. Back to us. Will it require some additional skull sweat? You betcha. The results will be personal pride and satisfaction that in addition to knowing the minutae of the Battle of X, you now have an idea of who was in the army at that particular time and how they reacted.

That's the summary of this thread as I see it. But what would I know. I'm just a clueless assistant surgeon.

[Rob Weaver]

Also, we should have some sort of idea of who we were as citizens before we joined. At the least fill out any number of "character sheets" available online which list name, home town, parents sibs, religion, and so on. Even if this information is not necessarily shared at the event, knowing it in advance will help you to decide how you'd react to the situation at hand. People had different careers before they enlisted or were commissioned. A miner working the dirty towns of western Virginia is going to have a different approach to hygiene as opposed to the prissy Boston paper-collar dude with no clue, recently appointed as an adjutant.

This helps put you into the mindset of the original cast. They have different ideas on life, death, birth, disease, illness, morals, religion ad infinitum. Reading diaries and letters is the closest we can get their minds. Let's not blow that opportunity. All too often we as reenactors appear to spring from the dust all ready to soldier, with no ideas on previous experiences.

Without some character research and development, there's not much difference between reenacting and live wargaming.Putting some thought into who you are outside the uniform makes all the difference. I'm a terrible actor, so I'm not going to advocate developing a "character" for everyone. If you like that level of role-play, have at it. I ask myself "What are the things I like?" and then "How can I find a period expression of my likes?" A few examples: I like games. A deck of cards is in my pocket and comes out every time there's a break in the march. I like science fiction, so I've read a lot of Poe (who is coincidentally one of my favorite authors). I have traveled extensively in Latin America, and I'm old enough now that talk of taking "the long walk" isn't out of place. I tend to be a relatively neat individual, so although my appearance might be on the shabby side, I try not to present an unkempt appearance. I learned to shave with a straight razor, and do so often, because this is another way to express this tendency toward neatness. I think some sort of bio work-up, whether using a carefully designed character sheet or simply sitting down and thinking about these things deliberately, adds hugely to the experience of reenacting. It also allows you the awareness to be internally motivated, rather than needing an event organizer to provide the continual stimulus for event interactions. I would add one more thing: although a full character work-up is fun, unless you can find a way to incorporate what you've learned into your actions, i.e. what you use and how you act, it's going to be useless. This uselessness may be a disappointment.