After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

[Hank Trent]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

Haven't attended any of the big anniversary 150th events--learned my lesson about such things during the end of the 125ths and 130ths. So the 150ths weren't even a blip on the radar, and certainly not a holy grail ultimate reenacting experience that I was holding out for, before quitting.

Y'all might have heard of this new EBUFU thing, where you don't have to attend huge events surrounded by mainstreamers, modern sutler row, etc., while trying to ignore it all? Folks are saying bigger isn't necessarily better, and I really like that newfangled EBUFU idea and might support it.

Quite honestly, I feel like I've been able to do about everything I ever imagined I could do in living history, and more. But I've always said I'll keep reenacting until I die, or at least am no longer physically able to travel, and that's still true.

Hank Trent
Hanktrent@gmail.com

[TMS]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

I'm going to stay 'in', but please don't think that was a forgone conclusion. You see, I was already 'out'. I got into the hobby back in 1990, in South Carolina. I don't know if the campaigner movement as an widely acknowledged entity existed back then or not, but I definitely do remember the members waxing poetic about their experiences at the 125th events that they had attended. I will say that there was a degree of jealously amongst us youngsters that missed them. I did get to experience some of the 130 events, before I was commissioned in the active Army. I left the hobby, not out of desire, but out of loss of opportunity (not a lot of Civil War reenactment events of any kind going on at Fort Wainwright, Alaska). Still being on active duty, my calendar is always full. The reason I'm boring you with this background is to emphasis how far removed I was. I had fond memories of reenactment experiences and my near twenty year old gear was still squirrelled away up in the attic, someplace. However, it WAS the memories of all those fireside tales of the 125th events that finally spurred me back into action and back into the hobby. I was now living on the East Coast, and proximity was less of an issue. I had toyed with the idea of getting back in, but now I also had a young family and the demands of the Army had only gotten worse (to include two deployments). I finally got to my logical bottom line; if you're ever going to get back in, it's now or never (never being defined as there will never be a 150 cycle again) Did I again want to suffer the stories of the 125's, be they good or bad, with the knowledge that I COULD have experienced them, but had missed out again. SO after seventeen years, I kitted up again, knowing that good or bad, large or small, the 150's would include some unique experiences. My first event back in wool was with the Liberty Rifles, who graciously allowed me to tag along on one of the summer Gettysburg marches. I must admit, it was fascinating to see what things had changed and what things had stayed the same, after my near two decade hiatus. I have made what events my Army calendar will permit over the last couple years, and have rediscovered the pleasure and historical education that Civil War Reenacting provides. I'm also happy to report that my impression has improved dramatically and I have benefitted a great deal from the authenticity minded reenactors I've met and the postings on this website (thank you all). I've also learned that I have found enjoyment in events that were only as big as four campaign hardened veterans as well as the thrill and unique perspective of seeing the massive formations that only the big battles can provide. I've also learned that the more authentically minded reenactors an event has, the better my experience tends to be. The result; I will stay with the hobby, even after the 150's (although I must admit that wasn't sure I would when I first decided to go back to the field). I will continue to enjoy the large and small events as best I can, and I will try to improve the hobby as much as one lone private-in-the-ranks is able.

[Tom Craig]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

Maybe the end of the 150ths will clean out some of the old dead wood that has been laying around for a while, but it won't kill the hobby off. I think it will continue to get smaller for a while until it reaches a stasis point.

I started when I was 13, and I'll 39 this year. I've grown up in this goofy hobby and it has taught me many valuable lessons beyond history. I like to learn new things so I have no plans to give it up.

I will be glad to have the 150th series behind us so that hopefully we can go back to having decent stand alone events!

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[Tyler Underwood]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

This hobby is a part of who I am. I have devoted 20 years to one of the most amazing hobbies that anyone could ever do. I have made so many good friends that I could never stop doing this. Besides that, it is up to us to keep the memory of our ancestors alive through historical interpretation.

[Bill Cross]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

Simple answer: I don't know yet.

My reenacting journey has been intertwined with that of my son, Peter. We started together in 2000 when he was a lad of 12. Like many of us, we wandered into a mainstream unit and figured the "six feet rule" would work for us. Then came one of the Gettysburg fests and it took us 2 hours after the event to pack up the gear. There HAD to be a better way. Over the following Winter, I discovered this forum and Szabo's and began asking questions in my unit. They didn't want to hear it. McDowell? Conflicts with Hamonassett (so different no one who went to one would go to the other).

I began shifting my focus to campaigning. Peter didn't want to be baby-sat, so he learned to play the drum. Went to Don Hubbard's Field Music School at Ft. Delaware and one up in CT put on by a Revy-War group. He eventually became good enough to be Principal Musician at the "Berkeley Hundred" event put on by the Rowdy Pards in 2003? I honestly can't remember now. And he became hard corps-- hated "tater" battles and loved the EBUFU events or scenarios done when no one was around. He used to say "the best events have no spectators."

Since then, there has been a succession of great events, including Burkittsville (sadly followed by 9/11), Pickett's Mill, "War on the James," "Maryland, My Maryland," several fine McDowells, and a series of living histories. Some interesting, if flawed events like Recons 2 & 3. Lots of pards along the way, with some no longer here. Duke Culberson's death hit me the hardest. We talked 2-3x per month near the end.

Peter put down the drum to shoot ("I'll pick it up again," he promised, though it sits in my basement storage room). When he went off to college five years ago, my enthusiasm for the hobby cooled. Thankfully, Chris Anders lassoed me into the Southern Division to help him run the 150th-cycle events he put on. "Campaigner Lite" you say? Campaigner Heavy events have been few and far between the past few years after the progressive wing turned into The Cultural Revolution. Instead of a long arm, I carry a radio and help herd the cats so the scenarios resemble history better than Heath's "Dance of the Musket Fairies."

When the 150th ends, I will be 65 years old. Increasingly, I don't LOOK like a Civil War enlisted man. And my body is telling me I'm a little long of the tooth for marching. I was thinking about doing the Red River event, but can't take off the time from work to drive to Louisiana and back-- and probably can't do the marching now that my knee was surgically-repaired this year. Nothing major, just some cartilage removed, but as the sawbones told me "you'll get better but you'll never be well." A bit of arthritis there and in my lower back. Makes sleeping on the cold, hard ground a challenge. Not necessarily one I won't undertake, just sayin'. Hey, I marched up that God-awful escarpment at "Bummers" with a full pack and stayed through to the end of the event.

That's why I don't know. Peter has graduated college and is working. He also has discovered paintball and WW2 reenacting. How much time will we have to spend together in the field? What role will suit me?

I don't know just yet.

[coastaltrash]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

"That's why I don't know. Peter has graduated college and is working. He also has discovered paintball and WW2 reenacting. How much time will we have to spend together in the field? What role will suit me?"

Bill,
My Dad's death this past December greatly killed my want to take the field, or so I thought. I went to my first event at one of our favorite battlefield 3 weeks his death. Myself and the guys put the event together as a "Tom beat cancer" event, unknown that he wouldn't. That said, even if you're 65, hit the field as often as you can with your son. Every time I pack or sew anything, I think of my old man. It's been almost a year and I'm still not to the point of being as involved as I was, but I'm at least toying with the idea of taking the crap out of the closet,

[Ambrose Bierce]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

I will serve with you any day, Pat.

[Milliron]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

My current problem is that I have had four surgeries on my right knee, just had one on my left knee, and am headed for a fifth on the right one. It is getting physically more challenging for me to participate in the hobby (although my orthopedist, ruefully examining my swollen knees after a weekend camp, pronounced me a "tough old bird"). But the writing is on the wall. Myself, I expect to be doing more living histories rather than ass-kicking EBUFU events. I love them, but I am rapidly reaching a point of diminishing returns. Furthermore, I am getting older (almost 46) and it's getting harder to look the part. Still, I have always been captivated by the Civil War, and always will be. I put my stuff on for the first time in a year last weekend, and it was like stepping into a favorite pair of shoes. I was at home. Where this leaves me going forward, I don't know.

[DeBruhl]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

Lord willing, I'm in it for the long haul! My family and I started when I was five and this year makes 20 years in the hobby. If I can go another 50, I'll be a happy fellow. This hobby started a love for history and interest in family genealogy that will never die......

See you in the field,

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

This hobby is a part of who I am. I have devoted 20 years to one of the most amazing hobbies that anyone could ever do. I have made so many good friends that I could never stop doing this. Besides that, it is up to us to keep the memory of our ancestors alive through historical interpretation.

Hell, yeah! You know it. If we don't teach our REAL history- all aspects of it, Blue, Grey and Civilian both positive and negative realities, of this period, who will? Hollyweird? Public schools?

"Damn the 150ths... FULL SPEED AHEAD!"

[PMFerringer]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

I'm in a bit of a different boat and look at this as a great opportunity. I took a break from the hobby in 2008 when I moved out west for my first job out of college. I was living in Nevada and California (blah) for 6 years and have recently taken advantage of a great opportunity to open a new office for my company in the Washington D.C. area. I left the AC after a few years out west out of frustration that I could not participate in a hobby that I love and was such a big part of my high school and college years. I rejoined the AC in 2011 and started researching and following events again. I reconnected with an old pard that I used to pal around with to campaigner events when the unit we were in clearly had no intention of getting out of their mainstream comfort zone.

I am now living in Harpers Ferry, WV and am surrounded by the history that I love on a daily basis and my interest in the hobby has never been stronger. I recently did my first event back, the A.P. Hill march. While it may not have been a campaigner immersion event it eliminated the hesitation to get back into the hobby full steam. I am getting into a CS impression for the first time and find that a entirely new side of the hobby is opening up on top of refining my Federal impression. I missed the 150ths. Based on the AARs that I have read that may be a good and a bad thing, but what I see right now is exciting.

The marches and immersion events that I wanted to see more of were lacking when I left, but presently appear to have a foothold. The network of people that truly research their impression and make an effort beyond the material side appears to be present in larger numbers than before. I already have events on my calender through next June and it is just the beginning. I will be able to take part in events and respectfully represent units that I never thought I would. Based on what I have seen I think the mixed feelings of the 150ths will have a somewhat positive effect. It may weed out some of the less dedicated to a certain extent. The events will also likely serve as a reminder why we do it the right way and help the push for more quality events even if there are fewer of them.

I do not personally feel like I missed out on much being away during the 150ths except for a few events like the Bermuda 100. I think it is more important now than ever to make sure we continue to do what we do and do it right. There is an evident departure of interest from American history, including the Civil War. If we stop then a piece of that history falls behind and people young and old will forget, or possibly worse, carry poorly conceived notions of what happened rather than knowing and respecting what took place and what those people went through.

Sorry for the rambling. All I know is I am beyond excited to be back and look forward to actively helping to make sure good events continue and while continuing to learn from the experiences.

[Dave Hull]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

I am in. I have made a number of friends on the other side and plan on putting together a kit of "My people" just to see what it is like from the other side. Besides, losing every battle the first three years of the war is not much fun. I have met a number of great fellas wearing Gray and it would be nice to fall in with them once in a while.

[KPavia]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

I'm in. I know a lot of reenactors get burned out from having a lot of events going on, but being out here in Utah where nothing ever happens, I doubt I'll ever get burned out. I make the trip out east whenever I can afford the gas and get the time off. I'd register for Franklin this November but I don't think I have the guts to make a most likely snowy drive through Wyoming and Nebraska. I don't even drive through the canyons here in the Salt Lake valley during winter because of the snow much less the Great Plains. Sometimes, I even entertain the thought of moving east so that I can do more reenacting!

But yeah, I'll be in for a long time.

[Silas]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

Events seem more and more like GAR and UCV reunions than reenactments or living histories. Not that that's a bad thing.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: After the 150ths, Are You In or Out?

Hallo!

Half in, half out, a little bit pregnant. :)

I will keep a toe in the Federal water, but am giving up Confederate service entirely to move up in time to 1944/1945 WWII.

Sigh.

Curt
Deserter Mess