The Mutterings of a old Pard.

[S.D.Swart]

I don't want to start a fight, but I must be some kind of strange hybrid reenactor. While I enjoy soldiering, I don't like " powder burning." I enjoy camping, cooking, marching, maneuvering and you can not drill me enough. But I do like to shoot. Doesn't have to be 100 rounds - I'm cool with 10 - but if I'm going to carry a musket around, I want the opportunity to fire it. without that, it's just a poor walking stick. I don't like living histories. They bore me, no offense to those who like them. I have next to no acting skills, so it takes me a long time to "get in character;" in fact, I have my best moments when I'm really just being myself funnelled through the filter of the 19th century. I think where we're going here isn't really impression or event style but "fit." You've got to like the people you're with. An experienced reenactor can go crazy with a bunch of less-experienced beginners. By the same token, a firper fanatic is frustrated among people who don't value, or have the chops, to keep up with that style. Army drill was all about 4 man comrades in arms, so is reenacting. If you know 4 guys who are like family to you, you will have a rewarding experience.

LoL!! I feel the same way to a point. And you very correct about the 4 pards comment. I am not a powder burner. I never carry if I can more than the required 40 rounds. *(Shiloh was the exception to the rule)* I hate it when some take out the tins and stuff 100 rounds or more in their boxes. Part of the thrill for me, is knowing I have limited ammunition. Just as the men in day would have had. I enjoy the drill also, PERIOD camp life, sitting around when time permits and play period games, and sing period song. I really enjoy speaking in period jargon. Even reading my period bible. PERIOD.

* Because of the condition due to rain, the wagons were not going to bring extra ammo to the front, and we were told to pack our arsenal packs on us to simulate getting resupplied. I packed a extra 40 rounds to represent that refill and put them in my haversack on top of my food.*

[civwarhistory]

LoL!! I feel the same way to a point. And you very correct about the 4 pards comment. I am not a powder burner. I never carry if I can more than the required 40 rounds. *(Shiloh was the exception to the rule)* I hate it when some take out the tins and stuff 100 rounds or more in their boxes. Part of the thrill for me, is knowing I have limited ammunition. Just as the men in day would have had. I enjoy the drill also, PERIOD camp life, sitting around when time permits and play period games, and sing period song. I really enjoy speaking in period jargon. Even reading my period bible. PERIOD.

* Because of the condition due to rain, the wagons were not going to bring extra ammo to the front, and we were told to pack our arsenal packs on us to simulate getting resupplied. I packed a extra 40 rounds to represent that refill and put them in my haversack on top of my food.*

Great points guys, as I do like the camp life atmosphere, as opposed to just burning powder.

Rob, your points on living histories is well taken, but I submit to you that a third-person impression, where you are not completely in character and do not need to be a good actor to pull off well would be a great option for you. I enjoy it, as it allows me a closer interaction with the public, as I am speaking their language and can explain things better, especially to younger audiences. For me, it is the local history festivals that I like over the big events.

[Rob Weaver]

I haven't had a lot of good experiences at living histories in the last few years, so I suspect that's part of my dissatisfaction with them. The ones that are "5 guys on the lawn" are the ones I dislike. More than once I have gotten buttonholed with the fanatic who cannot be dissuaded from asking the wildest question. I avoided the public for about a year after having to deal with "So, do you think Joshua Chamberlin was a Christian?"
We're several serious reenactors here who are not progressive-only, postage-stamp-size event participants, so I just had a thought: What if we simply said "Not any more?" No, I'm not bringing 100 rounds to fire as fast as I can while standing 40 yards from my opponent. I'm bringing 20 per engagement (Shiloh excluded ) and when they're gone, I'm taking a hit. Remember those? Probably been a while since you saw one of those! Unless they're straw-men to begin with, it wouldn't take very long to whittle powder burning events back down to size.

[Tarheel57]

Great points guys, as I do like the camp life atmosphere, as opposed to just burning powder.

Rob, your points on living histories is well taken, but I submit to you that a third-person impression, where you are not completely in character and do not need to be a good actor to pull off well would be a great option for you. I enjoy it, as it allows me a closer interaction with the public, as I am speaking their language and can explain things better, especially to younger audiences. For me, it is the local history festivals that I like over the big events.

I agree 100 percent. Like the OP, I found myself caught between one end of the spectrum, the people who just want to blow powder, then drink beer and complain about the guv'mint; and on the other end, people more concerned with cronyism than History. I no longer reenact ACW, but I do Living History demos at schools, parks, libraries, and community events in an interpretive role. As a Librarian, I coordinate as many Living History events as I can at libraries throughout my county. Nothing is more rewarding than sharing History, particularly local History, to patrons, especially young people. Most of them have no idea about events that happened where they live or work each day; the role NC played in the ACW; or the significance of the conflict. They walk away with a whole new appreciation. Being able to handle equipment or even try on a uniform part adds another dimension. A year or so ago I visited the local school for the blind to give a presentation to two high school classes. This ended up being three classes when a teacher overheard the presentation. I do enjoy shooting, but I get my fix with my WWII group. When I get the ACW urge, I visit battlefields, or attend Civil War events as a paying member of the public in my period civilian clothing (thereby hangs a few tales, as Long John Silver said), and usually I end up talking at length with other spectators about the historical event being protrayed. Living History allows me to share my love of history with the largest number of people. But if only one person goes away and reads a book or does a little research, it was all worth it.

[civwarhistory]

I haven't had a lot of good experiences at living histories in the last few years, so I suspect that's part of my dissatisfaction with them. The ones that are "5 guys on the lawn" are the ones I dislike. More than once I have gotten buttonholed with the fanatic who cannot be dissuaded from asking the wildest question. I avoided the public for about a year after having to deal with "So, do you think Joshua Chamberlin was a Christian?"
We're several serious reenactors here who are not progressive-only, postage-stamp-size event participants, so I just had a thought: What if we simply said "Not any more?" No, I'm not bringing 100 rounds to fire as fast as I can while standing 40 yards from my opponent. I'm bringing 20 per engagement (Shiloh excluded ) and when they're gone, I'm taking a hit. Remember those? Probably been a while since you saw one of those! Unless they're straw-men to begin with, it wouldn't take very long to whittle powder burning events back down to size.

Oh, some of those questions are the best . My buddy, who also reenacts told me about some folks who asked if the fire was real (you wanted to say, go ahead and stick your hand in it and find out). I like your point on the events where you bring only so much ammo and take a hit when you run out. We did something like this at Wilson's Creek last August, where a bunch of us decided to take a hit when the cannon went off. Needless to say, the crowd loved it and we had fun with it (and got covered with crickets).

[Rob Weaver]

The "Alice's Restaurant 20 Round Anti-Massacree Movement" and all ya gotta do to join is sing the next time it comes around on the guitar...

[Anders]

Just have to go to the right events...

Pards,

[Radar]

The "Alice's Restaurant 20 Round Anti-Massacree Movement" and all ya gotta do to join is sing the next time it comes around on the guitar...

Great Arlo Guthrie tune. Love it. Of course the youngsters have no idea about this.

[RJSamp]

Great Arlo Guthrie tune. Love it. Of course the youngsters have no idea about this.

We had a guy in summer camp in 1970 who could recite the entire lyrics.

[Radar]

We had a guy in summer camp in 1970 who could recite the entire lyrics.

Grew up in that era. Have the original vynal alnum. I have seen Arlo in concert a multitude of time, and always does Alice. He did a week working with the University of Kentucky symphony, has a concert at the end and Alice was the only thing he did with out the symphony. I was at summer camp in Sep 1970 at Fort Ord, CA compliments of the Ohio National Huard and Uncle Sam.