Becoming One

[usmcsgt65]

Before I left Cincinnati, I was checking into the reenactor scene. Las Vegas did not have anything close to reenactors. So the question to reenactors, how did you get started?

[Tamaroa]

Check out a monthly newspaper called the Civil War News. In the back they have a classified section of ads for tons of reenacting units always looking for recruits. Their website is: http://civilwarnews.com/

They also have a lot of great stories on reenactments and preservation news. If you are a Civil War nut you cannot do without this paper.

Regards,

Bill

[Doc.2/47]

'65-

What kind of reenactin are ya lookin to do?Out your way the cowboy action shooters are big into shooting events but are also pretty serious as to being period correct.You've got the folks that are into the 1830's mountain man thing.Also Revolutionary,"Civil",and World War II reenactors.Also Native American and Middle Ages reenactors.What trips your trigger?

[revwardoc]

I've been a Rev War re-enactor since '87 and I love it. I had wanted to get into the hobby during the Bicentennial but my first wife didn't want anything to do with it (that should've been a serious clue, but I ignored it). I joined at the Sudbury Co.'s of Militia & Minute and Ancient & Honorable Fife and Drum Muster and Colonial Faire (phew!) and never looked back. I worked my way up the ranks to Company Colonel in '93 then was "voted out" in a drum head election (actually you're only a colonel once through automatic succession of rank).

It's an expensive hobby! I figure that clothing and equipment alone has cost us about 5 grand over the years, then there's travel all up and down the east coast from Quebec City to Charlotte. It's a good thing I love this stuff. Since my spinal surgery, I've become the regimental surgeon (can't take the field anymore) meaning that I've had to procure all the necessary medical equipment and knowledge as well as an operating table, tent, fly, brazier, etc. So if you can't or won't spend some bucks you'll be limited as to your portrayal but it can still be lots of fun. In fact, tonight my wife and I will be giving a lecture at the Leominster (MA) Historical Society on 18th century medicine. We also lecture and demonstrate at schools in an effort to promote American Rev War era history and culture, because if we don't do it, we'll lose that aspect of Americana forever.

Of course there's not much in the way of Rev War re-enactments in Vegas but I'll bet there's US Cavalry if you're interested in military re-enactments.

[82Rigger]

Our little town here on the NW Florida coast has a history back to the early 19th century and was a "playground" for some pirates and other unsavory characters.

So, some of us who didn't want to do the Civil War thing got together and formed a "town militia" of the mid-1850s period.

Costumes are period costumes for this area. Our firearms are also period, meaning they range from cap & ball Colts, Enfields, and Remingtons, etc, back to Tower, 2nd model Brown Bess, Charleville, etc.

Every summer during our pirate festival we "defend the city"!

We even have two carronades!!

[usmcsgt65]

Mountain Men are big in the Vegas area, but my wife's idea of "roughing it" is Motel 6. I enjoy the black powder shooting. I can't do the sleeping on the buffalo robe anymore - bones hurt too much.

[Hoyin]

Been a while guys,...life has kicked me in the ass big time

but I have done re-enactment for 16 years

Medievil battle though

Just went to a HUGE war..5k on the field..that was awesome

Hoyin

[MORTARDUDE]

Hoyin :

Glad to have you back ! Where was the 5K re-enactment ? Who sponsored it ?

All the best,

Larry

[Hoyin]

The 5k re-enactment was in Arizona ..called Estrella War..were all the kingdoms come together for a WAR. Its hella fun.
(actual count was 7k attendance, on the field 4k) you could HEAR it even if you couldnt see it. Its an amazing sight too.
Sponsered by us loons in the SCA. Society of Creative Anachronism we dress medieval and have medieval tents, etc etc
of *course* I do Mongol and bring the ger.

[revwardoc]

Hoyin,

For the past few years the SCA has set up a small encampment near my town and I have to admit, as a re-enactor, that I'm disappointed in their efforts. Most of the tents were contemporary plastic or canvas with aluminum poles and there's such a mish-mash of eras that I don't know if I'm looking at medieval or Rennaisance or what. However, the re-enactors themselves are very well informed and know their history quite well. I just wish they'd put a bit more effort into their accoutrements.

There's a museum in Worcester (MA) called the Higgins Armory that specializes in medieval armor and weapons and has an extensive collection. If you're ever in MA, its worth the look. Here's the website; http://www.higgins.org/

[Hoyin]

That is a problem in the SCA..we let anyone play..which means if all ya got is a bubble tent you can use that. As for eras well thats actually set but there are cross overs and also understand you got Europe, the Middle East and the Far East going on.

Around the "eric" where the fighting and the crowns are though it can only be period. For instance my ger is allowed.

But most are trying and at least they do know the history. Got to give em credit for that.

Plus we go to have fun.

Thanks for the link!

[DMZ-LT]

Welcome back ! :ag:

[Hoyin]

Awwh thanks! Glad to be back. Like I said ....lifes been hellish lately. But here I am til I go off to Mongolia again.

[DMZ-LT]

Good to see you posting again. Pull up a tall glass of fermented mares milk and stay awhile ! :ah:

[Hoyin]

Aaaah Airag. Now if you had said Ttsueti Tsai and buuz I'd be here for a long while. Mmmmm.

[revwardoc]

Hoyin,

I agree with you about the "fun" part. If re-enacting wasn't fun there would be no reason to do it. One thing we really enjoy is the traveling tavern called "The Whistling Pig". It's a big marquee tent where we all gather post-battle and pass around a big wooden bowl filled with what ever spirits we've brought. As the bowl goes round the table, we sing 18th century drinking and ribald songs like "Fathom the Bowl", "Captain Thunder", and "Maids, When You're Young, Never Wed an Old Man" (I love the chorus of that one:
He's got no fallorum,
Fi-diddle, fi-dorum.
He's got no fallorum,
Fi-diddle, di-aye!
He's got no fallorum,
He's got no ding-dorum!
Maids, when you're young,
Never wed an old man!

And you're welcome for the website.

[Dragon Lady]

Yeah, that's where the "Creative" part comes in to the SCA. We used to have a great group of folks here in the Capital Region that really tried to get close to the real thing, so to speak. I went to a War of the Roses a few years back. Unfortunately I think the original battle had more foot soldiers than this war did. But it was fun. The thing I liked most about it was the dance classes. There were several of us "attempting" to learn some of the old dances. I still don't know how Queen Elizabeth was so active in a corset! She ussed to do this one dance...I can't recall the name, but it was considered to be athletic, with a lot of jumping and spinning. With all those petit coats and the boned corset and the heavy velvet over skirt...I would have passed out!
DL

[revwardoc]

DL,

Twice a year the Sudbury Co.'s of Milita & Minute have an 18th century style ball in the main dining room at Longfellow's Wayside Inn in Sudbury, MA (at 12th Night and a regimental ball on the Friday following April 19th). We have musicians playing period tunes and we do contra-dancing. Since we only do this twice, it takes a bit of practice to get back in to the "swing" of things. Some of them are quite energetic and wearing wool clothing will make you work up a sweat.

The distaff of our regiments always complain about wearing "stays" while dancing (and the complain even more when they go to the ladies' room).

During the band's rest period, we have the changing of the colors that fly above the front door of the Inn. At 12th Night we fly The Union Jack, which is changed to The Grand Union flag on April 19th, and that is changed to the Betsey Ross flag on the 4th of July. All this is done to 3 "huzzahs" and the firing of muskets. You can take a look at the Inn at http://www.wayside.org/ .

[Dragon Lady]

Alright ye Pat, ye convince me! ;-)
Guess I'll be talking the old man into taking a short drive over for the 4th of July Celebration.

This sounds exactly like what we were looking for when we drove to Boston. But instead we found a city that has lost its history under the banner of development. Although they have tried to reclaim it, they seem to have only succeeded in capturing the tourist dollar and not the true meaning of their own history. I doubt if most really know how important their role in the making of this nation really was. How sad for them. But how fortunate indeed that there is a militia intent on keeping the history alive!

God Bless ye Dan!
:-)

DL

[Tamaroa]

Its amazing what people find interesting enough to spend obscene amounts of money on for these hobbies. I don't do it anymore because I simply don't have the time and arthritis hobbles me more than I care to admit. I was a Rebel soldier in the 11th Virginia in the 70's. My daughter is also into reenacting so the apple doesn't fall far from the tree there, but she does Star Wars battles. Yep, my sweet daughter Angela is a Storm trooper for Darth Vader!!! She and her boyfriend's outfits are so good that she has been invited on numerous occasions to be an "honorary" guard for the likes of Spielberg and company. The two of them even took the time to scorch their armor to make it appear as if they were hit by lasers. Interesting stuff. She is deep into fantasy literature and faeries. It takes all kinds to make the world go around!!

Bill