Why Gray (or Blue)?

[mtodriscoll]

Artyman,
Sorry to hear of your bad reception. IMO, I think it is still too fresh in everyone's mind to start WWII re-enacting. Imagine re-enacting the civil war in 1911 when veterans from the war were still around. I imagine that would not have been well-received...

As for me,
I was born in NY, but spent 10 of my most formative years growing up in S.C.

I'm not sure what people in previous posts mean when they talk about where their "sentiments" lie. I am against slavery and hate that our fair country kept the practice alive as long as it did. It should have been stamped out at the first founding of Jamestown. However, I also believe in State's rights and the statements made in the Declaration of Independence: "...it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." Both the Blue and Gray had valid points and ideologies - which is what makes that war such a complex and visceral one.

All that being said - NONE of that played ANY role in our decision as to which "side" to re-enact. When my wife and I decided that our entire family (us +3 kids) wanted to take this up as a hobby, we started visiting units as spectators. We looked around until we found a family-friendly unit where we fealt like we "fit in". We came upon our current unit, the 1st Regiment KY Volunteers Co.E of Longstreet's Corps, and at that first meeting it was like we had stumbled on long lost family. We were welcomed as though they had always known us for a very long time. THAT was what made our minds up - not an ideology.

Did it matter to me that it was a Confederate unit? No. Do I feel like I have to defend the 1860's confederate viewpoints to justify my decision on whom to re-enact with? No. It's a hobby. Go where you heart leads you and where you have fun. Do your research and be as accurate as you can - but have fun.

Pvt. Matt O'Driscoll
1st Regiment KY Volunteers, Co.E

[Artyman]

I expected less because I was there with three British tommies and an American airborne ranger. We were all doing the event and had driven to the event in the same van. Two Italians sat in the booth across from us. I did have one thing right though, I WAS the bad guy!

Now, if you go mixing the slavery issue into the Confederate impressions I figure you could have a problem too. So far it hasn't been an issue anywhere I've been, but I haven't asked my buddy to pose as my slave either. He probably would if I asked (he's just that easy going) but I respect him too much for that! Joining the 54th. maybe!

That being said, I gave up doing German after about three events. It was just too politically incorrect. The unit I went with is out of the Mansfield area and has about 6 active members. My uniform was mostly original stuff from my collection, where it still is. Still, I would like to restore a Tiger tank, but I'm about three million bucks short of having enough. Tigers are just plain cooler than Shermans!

Harry

[44thGa]

Bert,
Please tell me you're kidding. I mean, really?? You can wear whatever you want? Please tell me you know better.

[WestTN_reb]

I portray both sides in order to pay homage to all my ancestors. My gg-grandfather was a cavalryman under Forrest, and I had a distant relative who was on General Sherman's staff.

That said, when I started the hobby, I was gray through and through. Part of the reason for this is that I agree with many of the states rights views held dear in the south at the time. I started doing Federal after it became clear to me that many of the reenactors in my area are what I refer to as Rebfederates (this is being polite). I got tired of having to stand in line or be rotated onto the field so I could shoot at the 30 Yankee participants.

I'm getting off my box now.

[marcaverill]

Why Gray?

I choose a Confederate impression and have stayed with it for many varied reasons. I grew up in Maine and was stationed in TN and VA during my time in the Navy, but have loved history all along. I was a late bloomer in CW reenacting but that interest sparked about 10-12 years ago, but I did not start until 2003. My GG Grandfather served with the 8th Maine.

So with that:

History is written by the winner and as I read more and dug more I became very interested in the Confederacy, but more so the stories of the soldiers who fought for it and why. Along with that end the whole material culture of uniforms (esp British Imports), equipment, etc. That grew into a passion to learn more about the Confederate Sharpshooter units, their training and tactics used.

Maine has several interesting links to the Confederacy: Edward William Drummond (Born and raised in Winslow {Town where I work and across the river from where I was raised}, but moved to Savannah, GA in 1859; married there and fought with 1st GA and I believe with 7th GA). Brigadier General Danville Leadbetter (Born in Leeds, ME). Brigadier General Zebulon York (Born in Avon, ME). And some sources say Brigadier General Joseph Robert Davis (Some say he was born in Woodville, ME – though I will leave this unconfirmed, but he was Jeff Davis’ Nephew). Add to those the bank robbery in Calsis by Confederate agents July 18, 1864 or the seizure of the Revenue Cutter Caleb Cushing and sailing her out of Portland Harbor.

Just a few stories and subjects that interest me that I like to share and that I wish I had more time to delve deeper into, but a very small snapshot of why I wear gray.

Time to go to work now…

Y.O.S.,

[Leif Christensen]

When i went as a spectater to my first reenactment I was hooked immediately.
I hadnt speculated in which side to choose but talked with both sides to learn about the hobby.
After some talks and a few phonecalls I desided to choose the local union infantry, meerly because they were the ones that suited my opinion, of doing a hobby, (later a lifestyle).
They were serious, had a good structure and the NCOs did their best.
They had, and still have, a policy of each new member have a talk with a recruting officer.
Now 5 years later I can sit and wonder if there were other reasons why I choosed as I did.
I had my "lost Cause" when I was younger.
The unit I am in were called the Scandinavian regiment, the 15th. Wisconsin.
Not to criticsize the LOCAL reps, and taking the risk of getting verbal attacked; THEY are more unstructered and anarchistic. Sorry Reps !
Liwing in the Kingdom of Denmark, kind of exclusive the geograffical division, here we all live "around the corner".

regards
2nd. Lieuntenant, Leif Christensen
15 th. Wisconsin Co B.
Denmark

[flattop32355]

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.

Without it turning into a p*ssing contest (we are guests at Mr. Szabo's table), I'd be curious as to what you've learned.

[removal of deleted material; THP] 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!

And yet, respectfully, you might wonder why someone would want to do the same to you as a Confederate reenactor sitting in a McDonalds in some parts of this country.

Whatever uniform the reenactor wears, no matter the war being reenacted, they are no more than that; reenactors. They can eat where ever they choose. That their choice of wars occurred more recently is no excuse to do harm to them.

As for the fascination with the "lost cause image", we who (mostly) do National troops also have something to fight for; preservation of the Union and, later in the war, ending slavery. Admittedly not so noble and gallant as causes go, but we take what we can get.

[Poor Private]

As my tag line shows I do both union and confed. This year I have done mostly confed (2nd Kent, Morgan's Arty). One of the reasons are that right now both union units in the area are going through some political issues. and aonther reason is that the Confed unit is more user freindly. Meaning they don't just pack up and leave at the end of an event, they help each other pack, and as one person (wife of the capt.) stated "we don't give out handshakes, we give out hugs". You can't get more friendlier than that.
Sometimes it's not your personal outlook on which side to defend, it's more on who you can get along with in reenacting.

[Regular3]

Like Mr. Schweickhardt, my first encounter was with a Federal unit and so - sort of like real life, where I talked only with an Army recruiter and so didn't end up in another branch - I went Blue and the only time I have ever worn gray was as a movie extra.

I had ancestors on both sides. I have come to believe through my own study and research that the South was wrong to secede after having basically held the very founding of the nation hostage to the continuation of their economic system, and continuing to hold it hostage throughout its brief history. And every time someone brings up States' Rights, I point out this clause in Article VI of the Constitution (which those same states ratified):

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. [My emphasis]

Having said all of that, it would be hard for me to say I would have gone with the Union if I had lived back then. I grew up in what is now the border region between Virginia and West Virginia, just west of the Shenandoah Valley, an area that contributed to two companies of the 33rd Virginia. So (like my Confederate ancestor) it may well be that I would have gone with my friends, neighbors, brothers, cousins, etc., and enlisted to fight for the South.

[tompritchett]

IMO, I think it is still too fresh in everyone's mind to start WWII re-enacting.

One of the former members of my previous unit left CW reenacting for WWII reenacting and found that many of the old WWII were very receptive and appreciative of the WWII reenactors.