Early War Event

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Gentlemen,

In thinking ahead a few years...

It occurred to me that we have a plethora of oppurtunities to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War (2nd War of Independance). Many sites have had little to no interpretation...many sites that have had interp ops. in the past may be looking to expand their programs during this particular anniversary cycle.

With that said...we have lots of things to ponder as we start the next 50 years of the hobby...and hopefully we'll see a resergeance in the hobby as our economy improves and our Nation prepares to celebrate the war that bonded our Country.

As such...it's important that each of us ask ourselves...do we want to be apart of something "big"? People talk about the 125th cycle with reverance and awe...do we expect the same for the 150th? What level of commitment would you opt for in effort to come together 1-2 times a year (vacation, bloody finger-tips, sewing workshops,...etc.) during the 150th?

Are we looking for "immersive events" or are we looking for 3rd person interp events?

The poll...with regards to an Early-War event (1861)...this poll is geared more towards an event duration commitment vs. type of event scenario.

Other feedback is more than welcome!

Thanks!

Paul B.

[Pvt.Bowz]

Re: Early War Event

As a teacher, if the event happened in the summer I would love to do a week long immersion event!

Bob Bowser

[marktaylor]

Re: Early War Event

I would like a combo of an immersion event and LH. I enjoy both but my motivation for being involved in this hobby is to pass interest/knowledge/ect onto others. I think the mega battle type events draw larger numbers of spectators than a living history type does. Plus, I missed out on all of the 135th cycle mega events (IE Gettysburg) and would love to see 25,000+ re-enactors taking the field.

[mslaird]

Re: Early War Event

I find myself in agreement with the sentiments forwarded by Mr. Taylor. I started working for the Pea Ridge NMP last Summer and I have been paying close attention to the varying degrees of knowlege that our visitors possess. I have also been paying close attention to what the units that come to our site have to offer to educate the public.

One of the items that I have observed is that the average visitor does not grasp how complex military organizations during the mid nineteenth century were. - What I would love to see happen to help alleviate this is a complete program where a larger scale demonstration of a regiment (enough demonstrators to field an average strength battalion would be sufficient for the infantry demonstrations) is backed up with the varying support functions. This would include the Regimental Staff, Medical personel, Ordinance personel, Provost guard, and maybe even a regimental band and camp followers and sutlers that normally went along with the regiment on campaign. If this could be done to represent both a Confederate and a Union Regiment, it would be of great benefit to the visitors as they would be able to see the similarities and differences in the way both sides conducted their business in the field.

I have observed that some units are trying this concept and are including rear area personel. I had a conversation with one of the unit commanders who spoke about how there exists a need for younger demonstrators in the line. (He and I were speaking about how ten or fifteen years ago, things did not hurt as much nor as long as they tend to now.) He was also speaking of the fact that some of the members were not able to participate on the same level that they enjoyed in the past. I told him of a pair of my family members, who were not so inclined or completely able to tote a musket about in the field anymore. We decided to let them use their collective education and experience to the advantage of all by assigning them the position of Regimental Surgeon and Assitant Surgeon. Before that decision was made, we went through the various positions of teamsters, ordinance, provost guard, cooks, etc. until we decided that a history degree, a general passion for the subject and 28 years of teaching biology to high school students was a fine background for a person to take the role of the surgeon.

Another thing that I have observed is that the progressive movement is picking up some steam in certain units. I saw a general effort to clean up the camp impression so visitors would not see modern equippage and the camp area could be opened to allow visitors to have the ability of that experience as well.

I can see how this could provide a window for first person full unit impressions and a quasi immersion event for the participants in the regiments as they would live a weekend in the military of the period. I say quasi becuase they would have an audience who is learning something from that depiction. This would necessitate personel to provide interpretive explanation to the visitors, to answer questions and to run a bit of interference in order to prevent anyone from interrupting the routine of the functions of the regiment during the event.

As I have been involved in smaller units of people since I, myself, became involved in our passion, this would need a collaborative effort of many different units to pull it off with success. It would also take a large amount of planning and arrangement. This is where this forum and its members have proven themselves time and time again.

The 150th Anniversary coming up, starting in 2011 and continuing to 2015, would give us a good amount of time to start preparing for events across all of the timeframes that people already have impressions put together for. This also gives us a good deal of time to put our collective minds together and come up with some excellent programs for both participants and spectators/visitors alike.

Thanks for the poll and the good topic of discussion.

[Possum]

Re: Early War Event

Being a student and eventually a teacher, the summer would be the best for me as well. I would absolutely LOVE to do a Week long event. Just make it down south, so I can go. Ha ha

[dave81276]

Re: Early War Event

I believe a four or five day living history would be too long. You are really only going to get spectators on Saturday and after church on Sunday. Of course, most of our events functionally end at noon on Sunday, so folks can get home. Hence, I'd be more interested in an extended immersion event.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Early War Event

As of this date, between the group of 31 and the other group of 32 who voted for the extended play immersion event, the nucleus for 2 fine companies doth exist. Actually getting folks to register and participate is a whole nuther ball of string, wax, briars, vines, etc.

Tentage, of course, remains a heck of a challenge.