Why Gray (or Blue)?

[brown30741]

To borrow on another thread's theme:

To those who portray men in grey (or blue), why have you chosen that side? Without stirring up a hornets' nest, do you feel this choice reflects your modern politics or some other reasoning? To those who do both without concern, sorry that you've been left out.

[jschw90]

I first came across a Federal Unit when I got interested in the hobby. So naturally I got in with the Union. I also have family that fought for the North. I just can't afford to buy a Confederate Kit right now, but if I could I would do both.

[ScottWashburn]

My great-great-grandfather fought for the Union, and I believe, for the right. So, there was really no choice for me on which side I'd portray.

[Rob Weaver]

I've always portrayed a Union soldier. Last weekend was the first time I ever wore grey instead. My passion for the Union soldier began when I was in 4th grade. I wondered which side I would have supported had I lived at the time. Two things stood out for me then: Union and slavery. Believe it or not, I had a strong feeling that the Union must be preserved even at that young age. I also could not conceive of owning another human being. So I made my choice. Oddly, as I have gotten older, racial reconciliation has become a major theme in my life. My wife and I have adopted transracially. In the terms of the 1860s, I would be considered the blackest of the "Black Republicans." I also recognize at this point that the vast majority of those in my profession, white northern clergy, were fiercely anti-slavery. So my choice to wear blue is supported at those points. One of my ancestors got a Medal of Honor at Fair Oaks, but I don't reenact his regiment, or even troops from his state. My passion for the Iron Brigade has deepened in the years of study that I have done into them. They were just average men who once upon a time committed acts of almost inconceivable bravery. What is it that Jeff Wertz said: "The United States Army has never known their equal."
Sorry, getting a little emotional there. Anyway, my blue runs very deep, and is very much attatched to themes continuing to work out in my life now.

[MBond057]

My Great-Great Grandfather fought for the Confederacy. He was Captain Frank A. Bond of the 1st MD, Cavalry, Company A, C.S.A.

I do federal artillery impression because there were no active federal battery’s in AZ when I moved to the southwest. There were two active confederate batteries in the area when I relocated. I simply switch sides and galvanized to balance the field.

I believe when we take the field we are honoring all the men and women who struggled through the great American experience, and helped forge a new direction for our nation.

My battery has been portraying the Mountain Howitzer’s unit that accompanied the 1st California Column as it fought against the Texas Confederates and hostile Apache Indians in both the Arizona and New Mexico Territories.

[flattop32355]

I do mostly blue because I'm with a reenacting unit that does the 30th OVI.

My sentiments are also with the Federal side. That possibly wouldn't be true if I'd been raised further south.

[Artyman]

I have a long living history background, about 36 years, give or take a month or two. Most of the years were spent doing Rev War American. Got pretty good, and well known with that. One of the problems we had doing Rev War reenactments was there were never as many Brits as there were Americans. Worse than that, many times the Brits we did have were sadly lacking. Sometimes we'd ask buckskinners to play Torry militia just to have any enemy at all! When an excellant and authentic Brit regiment did come to a show, especially a big unit like the 64th or the 23rd or the 42nd (Black Watch) they were treated with great awe and respect, being so short of proper targets as we were. I often mused at what it would be like to be the "bad guys" for once.

So I tried Nazi WWII a few years ago. Bad idea around here. Besides being expensive, I got spit on once at McDonalds. A county Sheriff ordered us to cover up the swastikas with duct tape once. We were 'dissed' by WWII vets just about everywhere we went, even when they came special to see a WWII battle! Who'd of saw that one coming?

But my interest was always, and still is, ACW. Being in Ohio means that the bad guys are Rebs! So, that's what I'm trying out now. 'Course, if I was in Georgia then the bad guys would be the Yankee race!

Bottom line...and this is really, really important....I have no politics involved in this decision. I just want to put on a good show and have some fun. Being different puts a new twist on things. I even put the fun part ahead of teaching the masses about how it was. If there wasn't any fun to it then I'd just go boating instead.

Harry

[Jenn12]

My husband and I chose the Confederacy due to location and that the events that they do are close to home. Personally all my life I had been for the Union (being the great-great-great granddaughter of a union soldier) so it was difficult to see why the confederacy would be a good choice (especially since we have adopted african american children). However, I have since done a lot of research and prefer to be Confederate. I've read a lot of books that show views of the Union that I would not agree with. Plus it has been fun to learn positive things about the blacks in the south and trust me I've learned a lot to disprove a lot of theories that society has nowadays and I'm excited to share and educate others about those things that our modern day society sweeps under the rug.

[TheDude]

[deletion - THP; language] frankly I'm not really sure why you'd expect anything less?

I like to do Confederate cause i can wear almost anything i want, as long as its period. I also like the lost cause image, it gives me something to fight for!

[GBOB]

I prefer the Union because I sneaked a peek at the end of the book and the North wins. I like to win.