The 150ths

[reddiamond]

Fellows,
What does the hobby, both the event sponsors and attendees, need to do to make the 150th Anniversaries better than past cycles?

I realize that this is opening a big can of worms, but new ideas and better ways to do old ideas should be taken into account.

I know that the hobby was all charged up for three years in anticipation of a 125th First Manassas that may or may not have happened. Units pulled together and make special kits just for this event. I've never seen anything close since. A whole battalion of Louisiana Tigers. The First Minnesota fielded in spades, red shirts and black hats. The Iron Brigade was recreated for the 125th Gettysburg. I saw 100 Berdan's Sharpshooters take the field that weekend. There was a whole battalion of mid westerners in grey uniforms. Any kind of buzz like that or are we too stuck in our own company impressions to actually do an 1861 impression?

The powers to be need to hear from us. Without us the events will not go.

Scot Buffington

[reddiamond]

So,
Is anyone out there making plans for special impressions for the 150th Manassas, or any others for that matter? I assume the "Regulars" are going to turn out in spades. Anyone else?

We have a year and a half. It takes a LOT of time to get impressions together.

Or, are we just going to attend Manassas with our same old kits, corps badges, buck tails, Richmond II's, etc.

I want to see the 33rd VA in blue, the Wisconsin guys in grey shell jackets, the Tigers in all their insanity, the 1st Minnesota in their red shirts, The Black Horse Cavalry, the "Regulars" with their polished brass, the Rhode Islanders with their red blankets and overshirts.............

C'mon guys!!!!

Scot Buffington
farby dude

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Another good post, of which I can only comment from my view as a private in the cheap seats. Guys that I run with all got crazy prepared for the 140th's and 145th's, buying and making alot of gear and clothing that could only be used once every five years, and at great expense. Alot of folks can't do that anymore with the economy, a real war, and families at home. The younger guys have grown up, the older guys like me are really older, so unfortunately, I just don't see the days of 100 guys doing any special impression coming back. I remember just a few years ago and the 145th Manassas/Bull Run event that I spent months preparing documented battleshirts for a unit, just to have 8 guys show up (out of 40 who "planned" to go). I for one will be wasting little energy on a one time impression for the 150th's, and with all likelihood will be portraying a citizen from here on out at larger events.

[reddiamond]

Do you think that we should give up?

The 125th Anniversary events occurred in the middle of the collapse of the steel industry. 1986 was tough.

I don't think it is the cost that keeps people from doing a special impression. It is the will and the mindset. The same people who wear buck tails at Cedar Creek and carry inappropriate flags just don't care about historical scenarios.

The very least that folks can do to improve their 1861 impressions are things like removing corps badges, choosing an issue cap instead of a slouch hat, sew some trim on that CS jacket, polish their brass, blacken their leathers, clean those dirty trousers, etc. The leadership all around the hobby is frightened to ask for these simple things, let along have their guys buy a battle shirt or even a $10 havelock.

I fear that the 150th Manassas will look just like the 150th Cedar Creek.
Why even have it?

Scot

[hiplainsyank]

At the 145th Manassas a few years ago there was a 33rd Virgnia where everyone wore blue frock coats (Federal design mostly, but an attempt was made), there were plenty of battle shirts, a battalion of Marines, plenty of Zouaves, and lots of havelocks. Not perfect, and perhaps not as gaudy as the 125th Manassas, but many put in an attempt to create an early war impression, and if not a perfect one then at least they didn't look the same as 09 Cedar Creek.

[MD_Independent26]

Comrade Buffington. I'm down to working part time. I've got a baby on the way in the spring. Real life is kicking me around. That's ok, though. Build an event that I'd want to attend and I'll beg for, steal, or build the necessary kit. Tell me we'll be marching for a few miles, picking black berries, wading a stream, and smashing up some rebs before we run away, and I'll be there with the proper kit. Add other extras to make it unique, and I'll provide the firewood. Just thinking out loud.

[Jim of the SRR]

This has been discussed already among groups and leaders in the hobby. I can tell you we have TWO DISTINCT hobbies and will have TWO DISTINCT series of 150th events. This does not mean that reenactors won't attend events in both series of events.
But, to your original post, what do you specifically wish to improve upon? Lets be logical here, the mainstream, megafests won't have any enforced guidelines, so I don't see how you are going to get much improvement there. Actually, I see some a lot of regression and very poor impressions flocking to these mega-events. Why? Because you will have guys who have never attended an event wanting to drop in to the 150th cycle with no training, no guidance, poor impressions and no historical knowledge. You will also likely get some veteran reenactors come back out, but with that their old and unimproved impressions from years past (also hoping there won't be 10 ambulances out on the field for every battle as there was at Gettysburg 135th). Since they will be 'for profit' events expect a circus like atmosphere where anything will go.
The other hobby will primarily focus on living history programs at battlefield sites across the country. These will likley have some minimum standards and documented scenarios/demonstrations/camps for the public. Focus will be on a quality vs quantity. Educating the public based on history and not Cirque de Solei.

Jim Butler

[zouavecampaigner]

Scott,

you can believe that Marc, me, and a bunch of b'hoys will be paying our respects to the 1st US Fire Zouaves. We do our best, and get as many guys to come along with, and follow the historical garb of the 11th NY. We had a great time at 145th Manassas, especially coming across the entire field to save your green colours

My personal goal is to have the white Fire Dept. flag of Ellsworth's Zouaves made for the event.

Regards,
Shaun

[KeystoneGuard]

To go along with everything already mentioned, don't forget the officer types. Let's see some regulation uniforms more so than fatigue. All I need is a new frock and I'm set.

[reddiamond]

Welcome home Shaun!

You've got a year and a half, old pard. Get recruiting! Last time was AWESOME!

Here in the east we have the potential for nine Federal battalions who typically come out to the larger events. The difficulty is that these are more or less generic Federal organizations. One of the hurdles is getting guys to think out of the box. That might mean forming cooperative groups according to impression. This was done in fine spirits during the 145th Manassas by groups such as the "Regulars."
It takes a great deal of trust for guys to assemble together outside their normal command structures and put their political assertions aside. Politics should always come second to history.

I do realize that many folks will never change. I expect to see some of the same old stuff. But I am hopeful, maybe naive.

I've got a lot of sewing to do before then......

Scot Buffington
3rd USV