How do you motivate others or improve the hobby?

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: What is an authentic reenactment like?

The answer to that question is a simple four-step process:

1) Go here... http://authentic-campaigner.com/foru...play.php?f=105

2) Pick an event.

3) Get Registered.

4) Go!

Tell us what you thought!

[us1863]

Hearing aids & hearing protection

Just have a question about hearing aids and hearing protection.

I wear hearing aids. They are not of the in-the-ear type that are easier to hide but rather sit behind my ears with a tube that goes into my ear. I can hear somewhat without them so don't wear them in a battle but would need them in camp.

During the firing of a battle I would need to wear hearing protection. I have hearing protectors that are molded to my ear and look like in-the-ear hearing aids.

Any thoughts on how authentic campaigners handle this situation would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom Waddell

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: Hearing aids & hearing protection

In the book "Illinois in the Civil War," there is mentioning of soldiers stuffing cotton in their ears at one of the great western battles, I think Stones River.

[wsjax4]

Re: What is an authentic reenactment like?

Tom,

If you'll notice the number of posts left by the others that replied you'll see they total over 3500. Like you, I am new here and to reenacting. Maybe I can give you another perspective.

I think luck has a little bit to do with what you get out of an event but you can tilt the deck in your favor. I found this site about a month ago and left a post for someone that could tell me about events local to my area of NE Oklahoma. I got several responses, one from a lieutenant in the 16th Arkansas. He told me about an event that was a couple of weeks away and I agreed to go. After arriving I found their camp and introduced myself. I was introduced to several of the guys and then shown around the camp. I had already expressed an interest in possibly participating in future events but thought I should only observe my first. After a crash course in drill and a couple of hard sells I found myself changing into a uniform and falling in. I had a blast! That was two weeks ago and I've already ordered brogans and pants from sutlers that were at the event and purchased a jacket for sale on these boards.

My point is that I think you need to find someone to show you the ropes, a mentor if you will. I agree with you about the 4 wheelers but the ice is necessary to keep everyone cool and safety is important. Remember, wool uniforms don't breathe much. Besides, it wouldn't matter if the ice was being pulled around on a cason but sometimes I think you have to make exceptions. A lot of effort was spent to stay in character by all of the soldiers at the event I attended, particularly while the spectators were within the camp area.

Don't give up! These boards hold a wealth of info. Find someone to meet up with at the next event and give it another go.

[Hank Trent]

Re: What is an authentic reenactment like?

I agree with you about the 4 wheelers but the ice is necessary to keep everyone cool and safety is important.

It's my understanding that the vast majority of c/p/h events advertised on this forum do not provide ice for the reenactors, with the exception of Winter of 64. At least I've never been offered any, though I've not needed heat-related medical attention.

It really is helpful, as others have said above, to try attending a variety of events to see what goes on, and see what the finer details of "campaign," "progressive" and "hardcore" mean in practice to various organizers and various participants.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Milliron]

Re: What is an authentic reenactment like?

I agree with you about the 4 wheelers but the ice is necessary to keep everyone cool and safety is important. Remember, wool uniforms don't breathe much. Besides, it wouldn't matter if the ice was being pulled around on a cason but sometimes I think you have to make exceptions.

Negative, Johansen. I've been wearing wool in the sun for 25 years. Never needed ice. Didn't say I didn't want it. They didn't need it. Neither do you.

If you are hot and feel faint, stop, take your jacket off, tell your NCO and fall out in the shade. It is a very period way to cope, and also the preferred way. Your body's cooling mechanism is really very effective when left to its own devices. Ice is usually contraindicated. If you are truly in dire straits, all the ice in the world isn't going to help.

Actually, many wool uniforms breathe very well. The Federal fatigue blouse, when properly constructed, is the most comfy wool uniform you can wear. Satinet also breathes wonderfully, but is a bear to dry out.

Do not go to an authentic event and expect to be provided ice. It will not happen. You will however survive anyway.

[RudyN]

Re: Hearing aids & hearing protection

I wear over the ear hearing aids also. In camp I just go without them and hope I do not miss to much. On the battlefield I wear in the ear hearing protection. I know it is not authentic, but I want to save as much of my hearing that I have left as long as possible.

[John Grimes]

Re: Hearing aids & hearing protection

When wearing hearing protection, recommend using subdued or flesh colored earplugs. Provides you the protection without being too obvious. Seen folks using the bright orange kind, very noticeable.

[wsjax4]

Re: What is an authentic reenactment like?

Well, Tom, I stand corrected on the ice. The most important thing is that you don't give up on something you have an interest in. The event I attended was a lot of fun and I can't wait for the next. As I said, I think finding someone to talk to, someone to Q&A about a specific event will give you a better idea of what to expect and can help avoid any let downs. Good luck.

[Coatsy]

Re: Hearing aids & hearing protection

I've seen gents stuff cotton into their ears as per history, and the flesh colored ear plugs are fine as well. There are some gents that I've been reenacting with for years that do this and it really is not an issue. I rarely even notice that that they have to use the ear plugs. Just be smart about it.

[AZReenactor]

Re: What is an authentic reenactment like?

Scott,
It sounds like you are new to the hobby itself and totally unfamiliar with the authentic side of the hobby. I'm glad you had a good time at your first event but realize that at mainstream events you'll "learn" lots of nonsense, suppositions, and inferences that have nothing at all to do with history. The model isn't what is being done at the Civil War Festival or even what your "mentor" tells you rather the model is what they actually did back in the 1860's.

I strongly suggest you consider taking John Wickett's advice to Tom and follow the 4 step process he outlined if your goal is to try and experience history rather than the modern reenacting hobby that masquerades as it. While you may have had a good time at the event it sounds like you may be being led down a garden path towards three battles and a ball mainstream reenacting. I don't know anything about the unit you fell in with but the fact that your new pards let you order trousers and brogans from the sutlers at the event is probably not a good sign at all. Not trying to discourage you, just want to make sure you understand there is a real difference between the reenacting you've been exposed to and the reenacting that Tom is asking about and that this forum promotes.

The most important thing around these parts isn't that a fellow keep plugging away, but rather that we carefully invest our efforts in the most authentic historic experiences we can and provide the most accurate interpretation of history to our comrades and the public.

Well, Tom, I stand corrected on the ice. The most important thing is that you don't give up on something you have an interest in. The event I attended was a lot of fun and I can't wait for the next. As I said, I think finding someone to talk to, someone to Q&A about a specific event will give you a better idea of what to expect and can help avoid any let downs. Good luck.

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: What is an authentic reenactment like?

Sir-

It was precisely what you said to start this thread that got us all feeling the same way you do now at some point in our hobbyist lives to seek a higher level of authenticity in our shared and proud American History and Heritage.

You are about to travel down the right path in the greatest hobby ever. Happily, there is no going back... and you frankly won't want to. ;)

If you need help, let us know. I'm up near your area and if I don't know the answer to knowledge you need, then I can refer you to someone that does.

Your comrade- Johnny Lloyd

[Michael Comer]

Re: What is an authentic reenactment like?

Scott,

I agree that the event you attended was probably fun but was also probably a mainstream event. While there is nothing wrong with attending one of those necessarily, you owe it to yourself to attend a good authentic event to compare and contrast between the two and see which experience is more satisfying to you. Why don't you go to the Outpost event folder and give that a look-see. This would be a really good chance for you to experience a quality authentic event. There's a group of us from the Trans-Mississippi going to do a Confederate company there. If you're interested, send me a PM. We might be able to help you out with any gear that you might need.

If you can't make that one, take a look at some of the others that are on the calendar and see if there might be one that would fit your calendar.

[Charles Heath]

Re: What is an authentic reenactment like?

Tom,

Given that you live in Maine, your access to nearby high quality CW events is severely limited, unless you enjoy travel. Given that, the next opportunity in your region is in February. This, too, shall require a bit of travel to attend. Take some time to read (or re-read) chapters 5 and 9 in Billings' Hardtack and Coffee. If that sounds like something you would like to see come alive, and be part of bringing to life, seriously consider attending Winter 1864 in February. Here is a link to the event folder: Winter 1864 2008

As far as ice is concerned, you'll find delivery systems other than John Deere Gators and assorted four wheelers at some of the better events. Sometimes that will be a period icehouse with block ice; sometimes a horse drawn freight wagon, and sometimes it will be an old baldheaded man who happened to read about Mrs. Lacy's ice house being stripped bare. This summer at the Vicksburg NPS LH, common sense prevailed, and Team Indigo enjoyed a couple of mess kettles with water and ice. Come to think of it, that was the first time I'd been able rinse all the grease from those things in years....

I had my hand on a small horse drawn ice cutting plow this past weekend, and thought how much fun it would be to go up to one of those living history sessions in the great frozen northland to check out how ice cutting on lakes and ponds was done. I see the various tools for sale now and then, but have never seen them in actual use.

[ley74]

Re: What is an authentic reenactment like?

One thing there is no shortage of at W'64. Heck, we even had P%*@ bucket cycles.