Do You Know What It Was Like?

[TRPutman]

Re: Do You Know What It Was Like?

Hi All-

Thanks very much for these thoughtful posts. I've contacted several of you via PM, though others have full inboxes.

To David-

I was particularly intrigued because you mentioned Maryland, My Maryland, an event that has come up with several of my other respondents. I attended this event as well, and I'm working to gather information about it from a variety of perspectives. I wonder if you'd be willing to discuss this event and some other questions/thinking points in more detail. If so, I'd be happy to correspond by email or on the phone, whichever you find more convenient. If email, please reply here or to trputman@udel.edu, and I'll send along the points. Thanks very much for your time and consideration.

Best Regards,

-Tyler Putman

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Do You Know What It Was Like?

I had forgot about the shakes and the dry heaving.

[Old Reb]

Re: Do You Know What It Was Like?

Boss Wickett pretty much hit the nail on the head. Temporary soldierly misery can be duplicated well enough. Misery should be a big part of any event. Of course, you got to get folks right far off in the scary wilderness and keep them there for more than a week end.

[Rob Beebe]

Re: Do You Know What It Was Like?

John, I was Army (11Bravo), OEF, and OIF, multiple trips on both. I completely agree with your comment, the smell is definitely the "factor" it stays with you and I know it pops into my nose randomly. I started reenacting with my Father in Texas portraying the 5th Texas (family ties) we were a progressive unit and very active. Since having left the active Army I have come back to reenacting belonging to the CVG until the unit disbanded, now I am sort of homeless attaching myself to random units for events. Reading this article and your comment has kind of kick started my brain and I have had some thoughts.....First I believe that people who strive for authenticity in mock combat who have never actually been directly involved in combat have a skewed sense of what its "supposed to be like". I also believe that people who have actually been directly involved in combat operations have a tendency to be a bit skeptical of those who weren't. I don't know if you have ever been approached by another reenactor asking you what combat was like with the express purpose of improving his impression. I have, and when I tried to answer the question I found myself comparing my knowledge of civil war combat (limited to what I have learned) and my own experiences (what I lived) and found that outside of technological advancement and tactics the emotional base (educated guess here) is almost the same. The one common thread between these two factions (lack of a better term) is that neither group ever fought in an actual civil war engagement, and it is up to the individual involved to make their experience what they want it to be.

[Rbsmith7]

Re: Do You Know What It Was Like?

I hope it is alright responding to an old thread. I'm a graduate student at The University of Alabama and I am curious to know how Tyler's reenactor section of the dissertation went over with his committee. All I have ever heard from academia, in lectures and in articles, has been extremely negative and condescending towards reenactors.