What is your age?

[WoodenNutmeg]

The intention of this poll is to provide some beneficial results in gauging the average age of the members on this forum in comparison with the actual ages of soldiers who served during the Civil War. As you know, statistics for soldier's ages during the Civil War vary and are at often times debatable. Union numbers, for instance, which are considered to be more concrete than Confederate ones, suggest that more than 1,000,000 Federal troops were eighteen or under. While this may or may not be entirely true, what is true, however, of both sides North and South, is that the average age of a soldier during the Civil War was twenty-five.

[Rob]

Re: What is your age?

"Old enough to know, but young enough to learn." - At least that's what I told my 26-year-old girlfriend when I was 19...

(Rumor has it that some of us are even over 60. You need to add another category.)

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: What is your age?

(Rumor has it that some of us are even over 60. You need to add another category.)

This is true Rob. I am certain that there are some of us here over sixty years of age. For the purposes of this survey, however, that age group was neglected and for that I apologize. If someone (a moderator, of course) would like to add 60-65 and even 65-70 as options, that would be fine with me.

[paulcalloway]

Re: What is your age?

This is true Rob. I am certain that there are some of us here over sixty years of age. For the purposes of this survey, however, that age group was neglected and for that I apologize. If someone (a moderator, of course) would like to add 60-65 and even 65-70 as options, that would be fine with me.

Fixed. Added 60-65 and 65 and Older.

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Re: What is your age?

After much research, the Soldier I was assigned to portray for Winter of 64 was actually 67 when he enlisted...

Pvt William Blowers, Co H 151st NYSV (b. 23 March 1795 - d. 28 January 1868)

Myself, I will be 37 in March. I thought this might be an interesting to add in light of this poll.

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: What is your age?

That is very interesting, Peter...thank you.

[Army30th]

Re: What is your age?

I began reenacting at age 23, one year shy of the actual age of my Confederate ancestors when they enlisted.

I am now 40, which would still not be out of the realm of possibility for an enlisted man.

[Rankin]

Re: What is your age?

I respond to this poll in honor of my gr-gr-gr-grandfather ,John W Richards of company B,20th Indiana who enlisted at age 44 and was wounded at Spotsylvania within a month.
Jim Crawford
Hairy Nation

[Marc29thGA]

Re: What is your age?

Phew - luckily I'm only 39 and 352 days, otherwise I'd be stuck on which one to choose. :D

[Enfilade]

Re: What is your age?

I'm glad someone has brought up the age factor on this pole as I know of a few guys in the "over 70 club". Shew, I'm no spring chicken either as I sometimes feel like I was a waiter at the Last Supper. I'm pushing 50 at age 47. Pretty soon I'll be pulling it!

Mark Berrier
North State Rifles

http://www.northstaterifles.com

[Abrams]

Re: What is your age?

48 here, 49 in June.

I wish I had gotten involved earlier, but had too many other things going on. I was aware of, but had never seen, any kind of re-enacting event, but it never occurred to me at that time to try and participate.

[flattop32355]

Re: What is your age?

This poll will show the obvious: Most of us are too old to be doing this, but having too much fun to quit. While I appreciate the interest of the young bucks who actually can look like a CW soldier, I also appreciate the old farts who are willing to ignore the creaking bones and stiff joints, often along with more serious health issues, to keep this hobby alive and kicking for the benefit of all involved.

Disclaimer: I'm nearly 53 yrs. old. I intend to keep at it at least until the
150th cycle ends, if I have to use a wheelchair (period correct, of course) to make it from Petersburg to Appomattox.

[david pinkstaff]

Re: What is your age?

My Age Is 51

[gilham]

Re: What is your age?

My first event was on my 14th birthday.I am now 29 and wondering what I am going to do when I am to old to do this.
Two of my ancestors that enlisted together were 16 and 18 in Jan. of 1862.
The younger of the two was killed while on board the gunboat Arkansas at Island #10.

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: What is your age?

I began reenacting at the tender age of nine. Regretfully, I left the hobby around the age of sixteen to pursue, well, for lack of better words, more "teen" related things. Before I knew it, high school had ended, college had begun, and once all the school texts had been permanently placed on the bookshelves, inevitably the workforce beckoned me to her commuter nightmare. Now, nearly ten long years later, I'm back in brogans again and it feels great.

Thanks to everyone who has taken part in the poll...the information retrieved thus far has been very interesting!