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This is an email I receaved and I am curious what ya'll think?
Greg Geisel Jr.
Anyone can read history and gain knowledge, but to develop a deep understanding of the period of time you must live it. This is one of the basic truths that draw us into the reenacting hobby. Through our collective hours of research, we put into practice the fundamentals of life in the 1860’s as we believe them to be. We strive for perfection in our uniforms, equipment, and cavalry tack trying to the best of our ability to be as close as possible to what the soldiers of the Civil War had. This is called “Being Period” and referred to as the “Authenticity” of our impression. Authenticity, the genuineness or truth of something, is the backbone or foundation that our hobby is built on. Without it we are wasting our time.
We should research to improve our knowledge and continuously replace equipment that is not 100% accurate. However, that is expensive and not everyone can afford it, especially for the cavalry. With the economy the way it is and if this hobby is going to survive, we need to reevaluate what we are doing and how we do it. Authenticity in our uniforms, tack, camp, and how we fight a battle is important, but it all has to balance out to be successful. I have reenacted 27 years and seen a lot of people come and go, from the ones who are an embarrassment to the hard core re-enactors. Surprisingly, time and time again, those who have done the most damage to the cavalry before quitting were from the ranks of the “Hard Core”.
Take a moment to evaluate the most effective, efficient and authentic way for the cavalry to conduct itself during a reenactment battle. I’ve been to events where the cavalry rode onto the filed, fired a few rounds, then we sat on our horses watching the rest of the battle contributing nothing. For example, at the 125th Manassas we drilled in 100 degree heat, twice a day, for 3 days with only one battle Sunday afternoon at Henry House Hill. To open the battle we rode out in a “Column of Fours”, went into a skirmish line, fired 3 shots at nearby trees, marched off the field before the union infantry was in sight, and sat in front of the spectator line blocking their view for the remainder of the battle. The commander told us because the cavalry didn’t do anything in the original battle we would sit there and prove we could follow orders. The federal cavalry commander sent a courier with a message that they were waiting for us on an isolated part of the land. Regardless, there we sat being historically correct looking very authentic, contributing absolutely nothing to the event, and being totally useless.
Unfortunately, doing nothing is what the union cavalry was well known for during the first two years of the war, as can be seen from these reports: “The Union Cavalry in the Civil War Volume III the War in the West” by Stephen Z. Starr.
After the battle of Shiloh the cavalry was, “In great disrepute among… (the) entire army. At Shiloh the infantry said they had acted badly, and all assumed that all cavalry would do the same.” General Grant said, “The usual cavalry stupidity.” General Sherman talking about the 4th Illinois reported, “A mere squad, and it is worse than a toothache to call upon them for hard work,” and wrote Grant, “He mistrusted their reports.” (Starr 21)
General Albin Schoepf wrote about the 1st Kentucky US Cavalry, “They are a nuisance and the sooner they are disbanded the better.” He asked, “Is there no such thing as obtaining a regiment of reliable cavalry?” (33)
Major C. C. Halpine wrote of the 7th Kansas , “The regimental and company commanders knew nothing of their duties…” and went on to tell of the poor condition of their camps and lack of firearms, no discipline, or knowledge of the drill. (34)
General John M. Schofield wrote, “The only cavalry force at my disposal is a battalion of Germans, utterly worthless for scouting. If I trust them out of my sight for a moment they will plunder and rob friend and foe alike.” (36)
In their defense, these reports were written during the first half of the war when the union cavalry was still learning its job and operating as scattered units. Later they were reorganized into the efficient cavalry divisions that they are remembered for. This doesn’t apply to everyone. There were some regiments who worked hard and did a good job from the beginning of the war, despite the lack of firearms and the limitations of equipment. These reports help to explain where the saying came from, “Did you ever see a dead cavalryman?”
General Sherman’s low opinion of his cavalry still remained on July 4, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign. He received a report that Confederate General Joe Wheeler’s cavalry division was at Roswell, Georgia preparing to use the town as a base to attack his railroad. His ordered to General Garrard read in part:
You may draw out at once and go to Roswell , and if you can force your way to it,
you may gain a secure position from which you can watch that point. In case the
enemy's cavalry get across you must hang to him, opposing him whenever
opposition is possible, and send couriers rapidly to me, and to the points of the
railroad threatened... In case he passes round by Canton to go toward
Cartersville, send notice and hang on his rear...
I cannot imagine General Lee having to tell General Jeb Stewart, “if you can force your way to it, or hang on his rear, or opposing him whenever opposition is possible.” Sherman even attacked Jonesboro with his army because he couldn’t trust his cavalry to cut the railroad.
This brings up a few questions that are food for thought and each of us should take a moment to reflect on. Why do we reenact? What are we trying to do or prove to ourselves or to each other? Are we loosing sight of what the hobby is all about? Just what exactly is a reenactment?
Let’s face it; a reenactment is anything but an authentic Civil War battle. No matter how much effort we put into obtaining period correct uniforms, drill, or equipment we can never achieve total authenticity. All we can do is try to demonstrate to the best of our ability what we believe a battle could have looked like, within the limitations of the safety constraints. Simply stated, the definition of a reenactment is a demonstration of what we think a Civil War battle could have looked like.
During the time allotment and the scenario of a battle, the infantry demonstrates as many different aspects of what the infantry did during the war as they can. March, maneuver, make a battle line, load a musket, the different ways to fire a musket, advance, fall back, and take hits. The artillery demonstrates how to load and fire a cannon safely, battery fire, counter battery fire, if the gun is mounted, how to limber and unlimber a cannon, etc. The signal corps demonstrates how to send and receive messages. The medical corps demonstrates what a period hospital looked like, help in medical emergencies (if trained), and passes out ice. Each person at a reenactment demonstrates what the person they are portraying could have done during the war.
The cavalry should also try to demonstrate during a reenactment battle everything the cavalry did or was expected to do in the war. They were expected to develop riding skills and horsemanship, trained and cared for their horses, and drilled on horseback in order to be able to march in formation. They manned advance picket post (sometimes miles from the army guarding against a surprise attack), scouting (gathering information on the enemy), knew the drill manual (many times their lives depended on their ability to quickly get into a formation and follow orders), deliver messages, and escorted generals. They protected the flanks of the army, the speed of the horses could be utilized to quickly plug a hole in a wavering line, and they were the shock troops used to attack or counter attack.
They were also expected to be proficient with all three types of cavalry weapons: the carbine, the revolver, and the saber. They needed to know how to load and fire their carbines and revolvers mounted or on foot, along with knowing how to use their saber. Speed (horses can run over 30 MPH) and the element of surprise gave the cavalry its biggest advantage, in the 1860’s as well as today. Our success or failure at a reenactment is measured by our ability to demonstrate the elements of each job of the cavalry.
Most of us were intrigued by the hobby because of an interest in history, and after having read several books on the subject we wanted to experience a soldier’s life first hand. We wanted to know what it is like to camp in the heat, cold, rain, snow, do without modern conveniences, go hungry, cook over a fire, eat hard tack, or participate in a battle. You can read about sleeping on the hard ground with a saddle for a pillow, but until you have actually done it you have no idea how difficult it is to get comfortable.
If you ride a horse at a reenactment you should want to experience all of the elements of being a cavalryman. Not doing so cheats yourself, and everyone present, from fellow re-enactors, to the event, to the spectators, along with the memory of those who served in the war. When the cavalry refuses to carry sabers and does not participate with them they have not only reduced their choice of weapons by 1/3 but have reduced their useful effectiveness and ability to function as cavalry by more than 50%. It’s hard to carry enough revolvers to last an entire battle, so once they are empty about all you can do is sit and watch or fire the carbine at long range. This puts the horsemen out of the action so they are no longer functioning in the vital roll of the cavalry as a fast moving shock force protecting the flanks of the army. Through the years I have seen this on many occasions.
I have heard the saber Melee called “the dance of the Saber Ferries.” Anyone saying this is either completely ignorant or jealous they are not mounted. Not just anyone or just any horse will tolerate the noise and quick turns of a saber fight. It takes a well trained horse and an experienced rider to stay mounted and someone who has been taught how to safely use his saber. Saber fighting demonstrates one’s skill and ability above any other element of the hobby. It takes physical conditioning for the horse and rider, quick thinking, good reflexes, balance, and courage. The number of horses attending the 145th Gettysburg and the 145th Chickamauga reenactments were similar. Yet the cavalry action at Gettysburg was the best ever at a national event, it was head and shoulders over Chickamauga .
The saber is the symbol of the cavalry, once you get used to carrying it you feel incomplete with out it, and the saber Melee demonstrates our skill level. During a reenactment battle the two cavalry commanders should be in tune with each other and constantly aware of their surroundings (keeping track of what is happening with the infantry and artillery). Every battle has its lulls where nothing is going on, whether the infantry is moving into position, regrouping after a charge, or the artillery can’t fire. At some point a dead spot develops where there is nothing happening. These lulls are the defining moments for the reenacting cavalry and where we demonstrate our value to the hobby. The cavalry can signal each other and within seconds a saber charge keeps the action going, preventing the battle from becoming boring. This is more important at smaller local events than the national events with thousands of re-enactors.
We are in some of the hardest economic times since the great depression. In the future we will have to carefully evaluate events we attend and reduce unnecessary expenses. Every dollar not spent on shooting revolvers to make a big bang and smoke is a dollar that can be used to improve our impressions or repair our tack. Attending an event cost the cavalry twice as much as the infantry plus the cost of the tack, horse board, feed, hay, and veterinary. Using a saber cost less than caps and powder.
Historically, there were regiments and companies on both sides that did not carry sabers. On the other hand, there are combat reports and descriptions of saber charges through out the volumes of the Official Records of the Civil War. It is obvious the saber was carried by thousands of cavalrymen and was considered a valuable cavalry weapon all the way through World War One. After the war, to maintain the saber skill of his troopers General Custer held weekly saber fighting competitions. Using padded sticks they scored points for slashes and cuts. They fought at the platoon level with the winners competing at the company level, and then the company winners competed at the regimental level. At the end of the month the overall winner got a 3 day Furlough.
Authenticity is one of the most important elements of reenacting and we should always strive to be 100% authentic in our uniforms, tack, and everything we do. However, it has to be balanced because (like in everything else) when authenticity is taken to point of excess it becomes harmful. I have seen cavalry units who think they are so historically accurate they tend to look down their noses at those who don’t quite measure up to their standards. We look up to them so this attitude has been incredibly harmful to the hobby and damaging to the cavalry. At a reenactment one unit flatly refused to carry sabers while portraying Confederates stating it was for authenticity reasons. During the reenactment after every command they turned to their officer for his approval. If he didn’t give it they would not move, destroying any hope of a cavalry scenario. Preferring to sit on a hill and watching the battle, demonstrating to the world how historically correct they were, rather than fight alongside the rest. In reality all of their authenticity amounted to nothing. They were no benefit to the event or anyone, and only demonstrated what Generals Grant, Sherman, and Schofield had to say about their cavalry. Thus showing first hand what General Schoepf meant when he wrote, “Is there no such thing as obtaining a regiment of reliable cavalry?”
We tend to forget one defining thing that separates reenacting from other hobbies, (within limits) there is a place for everybody. I stated (within limits) because we are a historical origination and there is no room for hate groups, or unsafe acts. For example: in sports such as baseball, football, car racing, etc. you are either a player or a spectator nothing in between. Yet, in reenacting no matter what your physical limitations, gender, or age there is something you can do if you want to participate that adds a valuable element to the overall hobby. Everyone sees the soldier, but some of the lesser known jobs are: camp follower, cook, servant, newspaper correspondent – artist, sailor, messenger, drummer boy, bugler, teamster, foreign observer, lady in a ball gown, widow, senator giving campaign speeches, doctor, nurse, photographer, or portraying a historical figure like Jefferson Davis. There are many more positions that I have not listed, and you can research anything that was done in the 1860’s and portray it; adding an impression that is a valuable asset. We should be respectful of each other keeping in mind that not everyone can afford to buy a hand made uniform. I’m not saying we shouldn’t strive for perfection, because only by striving for perfection can we achieve the desired high level of authenticity. However, we should be considerate and tolerant of everyone.
“How important are the spectators to the hobby?”
People have commented they do not care if the spectators attend. Without them we would not have reenactments because the tickets they buy fund the events. Basically many of them attend for the same reason we do. They watch a reenactment so they can experience, in their own way, what a Civil War battle was like. Most of us who reenact want to share our knowledge of history and make it interesting so people will want to learn more about the war. We know we have done our job well if just one spectator becomes curious enough to read a book on the subject after having seen a battle or living history.
Chances are we would not be re-enactors if someone had not made history interesting to us at some point in our lives. We owe it to ourselves and to the spectators to demonstrate to the best of our ability every element of the cavalry, not doing so brings dishonor to the memory of the troopers who fought and gave their all during the war. The people who come to watch are also an important resource for recruits. Very few of us began the hobby without having first been a spectator. For example; I went to two reenactments as a spectator trying to find out how to get involved. If we expect the hobby to continue we have to do everything in our power to keep it interesting, otherwise it will die out with our generation.
By Mike Brown
Feel free to forward this article to cavalry re-enactors.
Greg Geisel Jr.
Anyone can read history and gain knowledge, but to develop a deep understanding of the period of time you must live it. This is one of the basic truths that draw us into the reenacting hobby. Through our collective hours of research, we put into practice the fundamentals of life in the 1860’s as we believe them to be. We strive for perfection in our uniforms, equipment, and cavalry tack trying to the best of our ability to be as close as possible to what the soldiers of the Civil War had. This is called “Being Period” and referred to as the “Authenticity” of our impression. Authenticity, the genuineness or truth of something, is the backbone or foundation that our hobby is built on. Without it we are wasting our time.
We should research to improve our knowledge and continuously replace equipment that is not 100% accurate. However, that is expensive and not everyone can afford it, especially for the cavalry. With the economy the way it is and if this hobby is going to survive, we need to reevaluate what we are doing and how we do it. Authenticity in our uniforms, tack, camp, and how we fight a battle is important, but it all has to balance out to be successful. I have reenacted 27 years and seen a lot of people come and go, from the ones who are an embarrassment to the hard core re-enactors. Surprisingly, time and time again, those who have done the most damage to the cavalry before quitting were from the ranks of the “Hard Core”.
Take a moment to evaluate the most effective, efficient and authentic way for the cavalry to conduct itself during a reenactment battle. I’ve been to events where the cavalry rode onto the filed, fired a few rounds, then we sat on our horses watching the rest of the battle contributing nothing. For example, at the 125th Manassas we drilled in 100 degree heat, twice a day, for 3 days with only one battle Sunday afternoon at Henry House Hill. To open the battle we rode out in a “Column of Fours”, went into a skirmish line, fired 3 shots at nearby trees, marched off the field before the union infantry was in sight, and sat in front of the spectator line blocking their view for the remainder of the battle. The commander told us because the cavalry didn’t do anything in the original battle we would sit there and prove we could follow orders. The federal cavalry commander sent a courier with a message that they were waiting for us on an isolated part of the land. Regardless, there we sat being historically correct looking very authentic, contributing absolutely nothing to the event, and being totally useless.
Unfortunately, doing nothing is what the union cavalry was well known for during the first two years of the war, as can be seen from these reports: “The Union Cavalry in the Civil War Volume III the War in the West” by Stephen Z. Starr.
After the battle of Shiloh the cavalry was, “In great disrepute among… (the) entire army. At Shiloh the infantry said they had acted badly, and all assumed that all cavalry would do the same.” General Grant said, “The usual cavalry stupidity.” General Sherman talking about the 4th Illinois reported, “A mere squad, and it is worse than a toothache to call upon them for hard work,” and wrote Grant, “He mistrusted their reports.” (Starr 21)
General Albin Schoepf wrote about the 1st Kentucky US Cavalry, “They are a nuisance and the sooner they are disbanded the better.” He asked, “Is there no such thing as obtaining a regiment of reliable cavalry?” (33)
Major C. C. Halpine wrote of the 7th Kansas , “The regimental and company commanders knew nothing of their duties…” and went on to tell of the poor condition of their camps and lack of firearms, no discipline, or knowledge of the drill. (34)
General John M. Schofield wrote, “The only cavalry force at my disposal is a battalion of Germans, utterly worthless for scouting. If I trust them out of my sight for a moment they will plunder and rob friend and foe alike.” (36)
In their defense, these reports were written during the first half of the war when the union cavalry was still learning its job and operating as scattered units. Later they were reorganized into the efficient cavalry divisions that they are remembered for. This doesn’t apply to everyone. There were some regiments who worked hard and did a good job from the beginning of the war, despite the lack of firearms and the limitations of equipment. These reports help to explain where the saying came from, “Did you ever see a dead cavalryman?”
General Sherman’s low opinion of his cavalry still remained on July 4, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign. He received a report that Confederate General Joe Wheeler’s cavalry division was at Roswell, Georgia preparing to use the town as a base to attack his railroad. His ordered to General Garrard read in part:
You may draw out at once and go to Roswell , and if you can force your way to it,
you may gain a secure position from which you can watch that point. In case the
enemy's cavalry get across you must hang to him, opposing him whenever
opposition is possible, and send couriers rapidly to me, and to the points of the
railroad threatened... In case he passes round by Canton to go toward
Cartersville, send notice and hang on his rear...
I cannot imagine General Lee having to tell General Jeb Stewart, “if you can force your way to it, or hang on his rear, or opposing him whenever opposition is possible.” Sherman even attacked Jonesboro with his army because he couldn’t trust his cavalry to cut the railroad.
This brings up a few questions that are food for thought and each of us should take a moment to reflect on. Why do we reenact? What are we trying to do or prove to ourselves or to each other? Are we loosing sight of what the hobby is all about? Just what exactly is a reenactment?
Let’s face it; a reenactment is anything but an authentic Civil War battle. No matter how much effort we put into obtaining period correct uniforms, drill, or equipment we can never achieve total authenticity. All we can do is try to demonstrate to the best of our ability what we believe a battle could have looked like, within the limitations of the safety constraints. Simply stated, the definition of a reenactment is a demonstration of what we think a Civil War battle could have looked like.
During the time allotment and the scenario of a battle, the infantry demonstrates as many different aspects of what the infantry did during the war as they can. March, maneuver, make a battle line, load a musket, the different ways to fire a musket, advance, fall back, and take hits. The artillery demonstrates how to load and fire a cannon safely, battery fire, counter battery fire, if the gun is mounted, how to limber and unlimber a cannon, etc. The signal corps demonstrates how to send and receive messages. The medical corps demonstrates what a period hospital looked like, help in medical emergencies (if trained), and passes out ice. Each person at a reenactment demonstrates what the person they are portraying could have done during the war.
The cavalry should also try to demonstrate during a reenactment battle everything the cavalry did or was expected to do in the war. They were expected to develop riding skills and horsemanship, trained and cared for their horses, and drilled on horseback in order to be able to march in formation. They manned advance picket post (sometimes miles from the army guarding against a surprise attack), scouting (gathering information on the enemy), knew the drill manual (many times their lives depended on their ability to quickly get into a formation and follow orders), deliver messages, and escorted generals. They protected the flanks of the army, the speed of the horses could be utilized to quickly plug a hole in a wavering line, and they were the shock troops used to attack or counter attack.
They were also expected to be proficient with all three types of cavalry weapons: the carbine, the revolver, and the saber. They needed to know how to load and fire their carbines and revolvers mounted or on foot, along with knowing how to use their saber. Speed (horses can run over 30 MPH) and the element of surprise gave the cavalry its biggest advantage, in the 1860’s as well as today. Our success or failure at a reenactment is measured by our ability to demonstrate the elements of each job of the cavalry.
Most of us were intrigued by the hobby because of an interest in history, and after having read several books on the subject we wanted to experience a soldier’s life first hand. We wanted to know what it is like to camp in the heat, cold, rain, snow, do without modern conveniences, go hungry, cook over a fire, eat hard tack, or participate in a battle. You can read about sleeping on the hard ground with a saddle for a pillow, but until you have actually done it you have no idea how difficult it is to get comfortable.
If you ride a horse at a reenactment you should want to experience all of the elements of being a cavalryman. Not doing so cheats yourself, and everyone present, from fellow re-enactors, to the event, to the spectators, along with the memory of those who served in the war. When the cavalry refuses to carry sabers and does not participate with them they have not only reduced their choice of weapons by 1/3 but have reduced their useful effectiveness and ability to function as cavalry by more than 50%. It’s hard to carry enough revolvers to last an entire battle, so once they are empty about all you can do is sit and watch or fire the carbine at long range. This puts the horsemen out of the action so they are no longer functioning in the vital roll of the cavalry as a fast moving shock force protecting the flanks of the army. Through the years I have seen this on many occasions.
I have heard the saber Melee called “the dance of the Saber Ferries.” Anyone saying this is either completely ignorant or jealous they are not mounted. Not just anyone or just any horse will tolerate the noise and quick turns of a saber fight. It takes a well trained horse and an experienced rider to stay mounted and someone who has been taught how to safely use his saber. Saber fighting demonstrates one’s skill and ability above any other element of the hobby. It takes physical conditioning for the horse and rider, quick thinking, good reflexes, balance, and courage. The number of horses attending the 145th Gettysburg and the 145th Chickamauga reenactments were similar. Yet the cavalry action at Gettysburg was the best ever at a national event, it was head and shoulders over Chickamauga .
The saber is the symbol of the cavalry, once you get used to carrying it you feel incomplete with out it, and the saber Melee demonstrates our skill level. During a reenactment battle the two cavalry commanders should be in tune with each other and constantly aware of their surroundings (keeping track of what is happening with the infantry and artillery). Every battle has its lulls where nothing is going on, whether the infantry is moving into position, regrouping after a charge, or the artillery can’t fire. At some point a dead spot develops where there is nothing happening. These lulls are the defining moments for the reenacting cavalry and where we demonstrate our value to the hobby. The cavalry can signal each other and within seconds a saber charge keeps the action going, preventing the battle from becoming boring. This is more important at smaller local events than the national events with thousands of re-enactors.
We are in some of the hardest economic times since the great depression. In the future we will have to carefully evaluate events we attend and reduce unnecessary expenses. Every dollar not spent on shooting revolvers to make a big bang and smoke is a dollar that can be used to improve our impressions or repair our tack. Attending an event cost the cavalry twice as much as the infantry plus the cost of the tack, horse board, feed, hay, and veterinary. Using a saber cost less than caps and powder.
Historically, there were regiments and companies on both sides that did not carry sabers. On the other hand, there are combat reports and descriptions of saber charges through out the volumes of the Official Records of the Civil War. It is obvious the saber was carried by thousands of cavalrymen and was considered a valuable cavalry weapon all the way through World War One. After the war, to maintain the saber skill of his troopers General Custer held weekly saber fighting competitions. Using padded sticks they scored points for slashes and cuts. They fought at the platoon level with the winners competing at the company level, and then the company winners competed at the regimental level. At the end of the month the overall winner got a 3 day Furlough.
Authenticity is one of the most important elements of reenacting and we should always strive to be 100% authentic in our uniforms, tack, and everything we do. However, it has to be balanced because (like in everything else) when authenticity is taken to point of excess it becomes harmful. I have seen cavalry units who think they are so historically accurate they tend to look down their noses at those who don’t quite measure up to their standards. We look up to them so this attitude has been incredibly harmful to the hobby and damaging to the cavalry. At a reenactment one unit flatly refused to carry sabers while portraying Confederates stating it was for authenticity reasons. During the reenactment after every command they turned to their officer for his approval. If he didn’t give it they would not move, destroying any hope of a cavalry scenario. Preferring to sit on a hill and watching the battle, demonstrating to the world how historically correct they were, rather than fight alongside the rest. In reality all of their authenticity amounted to nothing. They were no benefit to the event or anyone, and only demonstrated what Generals Grant, Sherman, and Schofield had to say about their cavalry. Thus showing first hand what General Schoepf meant when he wrote, “Is there no such thing as obtaining a regiment of reliable cavalry?”
We tend to forget one defining thing that separates reenacting from other hobbies, (within limits) there is a place for everybody. I stated (within limits) because we are a historical origination and there is no room for hate groups, or unsafe acts. For example: in sports such as baseball, football, car racing, etc. you are either a player or a spectator nothing in between. Yet, in reenacting no matter what your physical limitations, gender, or age there is something you can do if you want to participate that adds a valuable element to the overall hobby. Everyone sees the soldier, but some of the lesser known jobs are: camp follower, cook, servant, newspaper correspondent – artist, sailor, messenger, drummer boy, bugler, teamster, foreign observer, lady in a ball gown, widow, senator giving campaign speeches, doctor, nurse, photographer, or portraying a historical figure like Jefferson Davis. There are many more positions that I have not listed, and you can research anything that was done in the 1860’s and portray it; adding an impression that is a valuable asset. We should be respectful of each other keeping in mind that not everyone can afford to buy a hand made uniform. I’m not saying we shouldn’t strive for perfection, because only by striving for perfection can we achieve the desired high level of authenticity. However, we should be considerate and tolerant of everyone.
“How important are the spectators to the hobby?”
People have commented they do not care if the spectators attend. Without them we would not have reenactments because the tickets they buy fund the events. Basically many of them attend for the same reason we do. They watch a reenactment so they can experience, in their own way, what a Civil War battle was like. Most of us who reenact want to share our knowledge of history and make it interesting so people will want to learn more about the war. We know we have done our job well if just one spectator becomes curious enough to read a book on the subject after having seen a battle or living history.
Chances are we would not be re-enactors if someone had not made history interesting to us at some point in our lives. We owe it to ourselves and to the spectators to demonstrate to the best of our ability every element of the cavalry, not doing so brings dishonor to the memory of the troopers who fought and gave their all during the war. The people who come to watch are also an important resource for recruits. Very few of us began the hobby without having first been a spectator. For example; I went to two reenactments as a spectator trying to find out how to get involved. If we expect the hobby to continue we have to do everything in our power to keep it interesting, otherwise it will die out with our generation.
By Mike Brown
Feel free to forward this article to cavalry re-enactors.
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