Male impressions that include military interaction

[PMFerringer]

I am getting burned out on military impressions and am looking into civilian options. My primary civilian period intersts are mining, mapping/surveying, naturalist (biologist/geologist), and hunting.

It would be nice to do a civilian impression and interact with all my pards but I don't want to default to the same old worn out correspondent, newspaper salesman, sutler, etc impression. I would like to be mobile and don't want to be anchored to a spot as a tradesman.

Any ideas or is this a pipe dream from the get go since there are not a lot civilian impressions with regular military interaction?

Thanks!

[NMVolunteer]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

What about a war department civilian clerk/inspector type of civilian?

EDIT: Or perhaps someone from a foundry/arsenal, checking at the field to see if the arms are holding up and functioning?

Michael Denisovich

[Tyler Underwood]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

I have always thought that would be a fun impression but it seems like a person would get bored quickly at an event.
The reason I say this is because you would primarily be interacting with the CPH reenactors who would understand and go along with it. But we are a drop of water in a big pond. As soon as you start working into the mainstream ranks they won't have a clue what's going on and the hopes of any good first person conversation coming out of it would likely turn hokey pretty quick.
I'm not saying that it shouldn't done as this is how I would see it as becoming un-rewarding by late Saturday morning.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

Years ago we went to a local event and our impression was of a politician visiting the troops at the front. I was the aide to the politician we we walked to all of the Union camps, talked with the men and dined with the officers. It was a lot of fun and something different.

[Elaine Kessinger]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

As a civilian, you really do need to begin to think of portrayals differently. Instead of finding one portrayal that you attempt to fit into every event, look instead for events that naturally include the interactions you seek.

The C&O Canal includes miles of hiking trails and fishing holes, with historic house rental and camping opportunities.
Hopewell Furnace includes lots of "action" things for men to do...like white-washing, fence repair, tree removal...and chatting with friends in period.
Bummers included civilians in a variety of roles... that eventually did have interaction with the military.
In the Van was a mixed civilian and military effort.

The closest civilian with your interests needed by the military may be the cartographer or local scout... however, once you've done your report to your AC friends, you're on your own to fill in the rest of your time. As Mr. Underwood says, that way lies boredom and the frustration of not having your research appreciated.

[Ambrose Bierce]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

How about an undertaker?

Tape measure and a custom coffin service.

C'mon, Pat....

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

There are countless accounts of farmers coming in to camps in search of lost livestock, seeking reparations for stolen property, or attempting to sell items to soldiers to profit over a captive market. With your stated interest in mapping, what about a local guide, another aspect of civilian interactions often noted in original accounts.

[NMVolunteer]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

A farmer and a local guide combined would be interesting. You could be helping the Union forces find their way around, and you could try to sell food to mainstream people at an inflated price. Modern observers would find a civilian complaining about trampled fields and stolen property to be interesting, since all they usually see are soldiers doing soldierly activities. It would humanize an event.

Michael Denisovich

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

Work on a wagon team and be a teamster. I know of a few friends that have wagons that would probably like to have an extra hand or two working the livestock.

[Spinster]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

As Elaine Kessinger states--event and location specific.

In a particularly lean year for 'good' events, I enticed Hank Trent down from Ohio to the poster child of mainstream events, the Battle of Selma, Alabama, picked him up at the bus station, and paired him with the creative and focused mind of David Morgan, gave them hand cart, some buckets, a brush arbor. They had previously prepared their handbills based on the historic record of niter sheds in the area, and set to work posting them all over the place, much to the wonderment of the event participants. They then came back and began to dig and straw their niter bed. Early the next morning, they set out with their hand cart and buckets.

Men were astounded. Nobody thought they were 'for real' Never breaking character, they continued their cry, and men would hollar "Wait!" and come scrambling out, grab a bucket, and run behind a tent or tree, in manful attempts to contribute to the Cause. Ladies (who had been prompted a bit better) extended a graceful hand out and set their chamber pots to be emptied. They worked the camps until late morning, making multiple trips, and turned their odiferous straw bed until early afternoon. They then occupied themselves in unrelated mischief as we'd never had a Lincoln impersonator before, and they put on their rusty frock coats and followed him at a short distance, saying nothing, for several hours. They continued their bucket hauling successfully on Sunday until church began. Working for John Harrellson was a successful endeavor and would be applicable anywhere munitions were produced in the South.

A few months later the two arrived a southern Fort, having researched the original plans, and set to surveying and measuring. Again, mainstream event. Questioning the officers, waving drawings about, and making more. Before the second night passed, many were utterly convinced that a second barracks was going to rise on that parade ground, to mirror the one already there, enough to shelter all the men from the winds whipping in the December cold.

The teamsters and wagoners lads for In The Van required more preparation than just the researched historic scenario, and normal, year long or so event preparation (yeah, we telescoped that a bit). Wagon related staff also attended a 4 day training event held six months prior that involved drivers, brakemen, outriders, safety walkers, animal care workers--essentially everyone who was not infantry at the event, and some of the infantry. Its too bad we could not have used that 25 degree weather we trained in to average out the 105 degree weather we made the march in

None of these was a generic impression, but one set to time and place, researched and appropriate to the history.

[Nibs]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

My (Napoleonic) cavalry unit, once had a member who ran a soldier servant impression, aka a batman. He seemingly enjoyed it so much that he is now a professional butler!

Regards,

Nibs

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

Years ago we went to a local event and our impression was of a politician visiting the troops at the front. I was the aide to the politician we we walked to all of the Union camps, talked with the men and dined with the officers. It was a lot of fun and something different.

This can be an interesting impression, especially if you want to interact with "military" pards. A local politician (e.g. Mayor) can visit the front and will likely know many of the men in a given company by name, and perhaps know the parents of some others. He might bring mail and packages, tell news from home, etc.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

It was a blast when we did it! We walked around all the Union camps and talked to the men, then had a special supper with the overall commander.

[David Meister]

Re: Male impressions that include military interaction

How about a contract surgeon or dentist?