How many of you are civil war re enactors an other ???

In some previous posts it was mentioned. How many of you do it? How much does it cost? What can you tell me about the Springfield 1861 or 1863 rifle??? We had some veterans day stuff locally and they did have a few at a ceremony but I did not get a chance to talk to them Also any of you have ties to the civil war did any of you or family remember any of the last surviving vets?? I did have family members in it Thanks to all

My great grandfather was in the calvery from Pendleton Co, Va on the confederate side. He was in prison at Camp Chase and lost he health in later years because of it. He died before I was born. My grandfather was born on his farm and my mother was born 1/2 mile east of there. We have a farm 1 east of this land. I have some dirt from Bland Hills in Va where his family is from that I am going to put on his grave, James Bland, Oak Grove, Leroy, IL. We decorate his grave but do not put a flag from either side on it, just flowers. I just know that he would not want a yankee flag and these days a confederate flag is not political correct.

I have not participated in any enactments but have been ask by the confederate group to do so. I got drafted in 64 and do not want to be involved in glorifying wars. I think that the ones that start the wars should be on the front lines or having a duel, not in some plush setting behind the lines sending people off to kill and die for greed and power.

My paternal great grandfather joined the 19th Louisiana Infantry in December 1861 and was paroled in May 1865. During that time he was at Shiloh (Hornet's Nest), Corinth, Chickamauga (wounded), Chattanooga/Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Atlanta, Franklin/Nashville and other friendly spots. He spent the last months of the war as a prisoner. Ironically, he survived all that only to be shot in the back in his hometown ten years later. Another great grandfather was in a Texas cavalry unit but became ill and ended up spending most of the war as a patient/orderly in a field hospital.

There are several Sons of Confederate Veterans 'Camps' in the area. I have never joined one because they are a bit too "lost cause" for my liking. I did attend a ceremony where they placed a flag on the grave of my GGF. I'm too old, fat and creaky to be doing any reenactor stuff. I am a member of a Civil War Roundtable here, which engages in scholarly discourse on various Civil War topics.

I try to get over to Gettysburg every year. I had no one in the war but I can relate to solders in a conflict for their home and country. I first went somewhere a round the late 80s and have been pretty often. I go in full gear but not as a solder. I dress as a common folk like a farm hand or a grist mill worker or such. Seedbag hat, linen shirt and black wool or a cotton tweed pattern pants. Don't forget real Brogan shoes with heel plates I made myself. I have done a lot of sewing machine time and made several of my own clothes. Double button suspenders and field hand water bottles with canvas pouches. They were good enough to pull blue ribbons in sewing competition at two farm fairs! Yeup I am standing at 65 years old but I have seen that after the 150th re enactment a lot of the older guys are dropping out. You need to under stand that the war was fought by kids from 10 years old to oldsters but most were teens to late twentys, maybe just a bit older.
Some of the crazys you meet are fun and you can almost just drop into a group of Souther boys with no trouble. Two years ago I was on a gun crew from Quebec Canada! Thing is they were confederate! Lots of fun being the Powder Passer with about a soup can full size of black powder wrapped in tin foil. While on that crew one of the guys pointed out a man dressed in a red coat a couple of guns over. "See that guy in red, he's a confederate cavelry man." Yea... He doesn't have a horse. Yea... Do you know what a Guide on is? Yea.. his horse shied and came down on one. Had to lead his own horse into the fence row and shoot his own horse. That is re enacting.
Have also taken a couple of river cruises at Christmas. On the Delaware river. They lasted about ten minutes. Me and George and the boys. Washingtons crossing 1776. All fun.
Lastly,,, if you go to Gettysburg during the summer try to get there a little before or after the fourth of July. Go out into the battle field or up on Cemenary Ridge about twenty minutes before sunset. If you close out the world and let your soul open up you will feel and hear faint whispers and feel there are others with you. I will never forget.

I reenacted for over 20 years in Virginia 6th Cavalry Co. C. Yes it is an expensive hobby, especially for cavalry. Most importantly you have to have a horse that will tolerate all the excitement of small arms and cannon firing, but will also fall in for close order drill, saber fighting and masses of opposing cavalry charging towards him. Of course you have the expense of correct period uniforms, tack, saddle, musket, pistols, saber, tent, black powder, and other assorted accoutrements. Not to mention a 4wd truck and horse trailer and the time off from your job to spend a 3 day weekend to travel up to 250 miles for a battle that you outfit elects to participate in.
Now having said that, once you do attend a few battles the hobby gets in your blood and after a few days back home, when the smell of campfire smoke and black powder gets out of your hair, you will anxiously look forward to the next engagement. I usually attended at least one a month from April- November. I guarantee you that once you experience excitement and heat of the battle, the camaraderie of sitting by the campfire late at night, swapping stories, perhaps enjoying you favorite adult beverage that you will be hooked.
I regretfully retired from reenacting about 5 years ago due to the break-up of my unit and quite frankly I got too old to nimbly dismount to fight on foot, remount quickly on an over-excited horse while still looking good on the field in front of thousands of spectators.
My advise to you is GO FOT IT, YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY. Find a CW reenacting unit fairly near you. Many units will loan you uniform and weapons to get you started.

Oh I am not going to do it, But like to watch. Around me they do more as a ceremony like parades, old home days Veteran services (fix gravestone and do a gun salute).

I been to getty's but not during any ceremony.

I don't knoe about Civil War but did WW2 as a German. The trouble I found with the hobby is there are too many guys worrying about if everyone elses stuff is authentic enough for them . For WW2 Germans it is cheaper to use a Swiss tunic but then you get critics. The guys I went with would rip the knees out of the uniform before the battle was over. That can get expensive using authentic clothing and uniforms. Southern reenactors -- stock up on your Confederate flags now!

Are you confusing Civil War reenactors with the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV)? They are two separate entities. To join the SCV you must prove lineage to a civil War veteran or member of Government of that era. Anyone can join a reenacting unit. Here in Virginia our SCV camps do cemetery cleanups, parades, etc., and maybe a small skirmish for a living history demonstration. But reenacting units do full battles with literally thousands on each side.
OOPS.... I have no idea where you live, I am in Virginia so I am giving you the Confederate perspective. If you are in Yankee land, forget everything I said. LOL!!

Frank, my G Grandfather was also a farmer in Pendleton Co. Virginia (later West Virginia). He enlisted June 1861 and fought in Co. E, 25th Infantry Regiment (Hecks).

No I know the difference. They don't have those big shows close by me.

I never got the bug but I have watched a couple of re-enactments, it just never interested me. I have several ancestors that were in the war, several at Shilo, Vicksburg and I had 2 GG grandparents killed by Union forces at Helena, AR. I also had a few that were in the Union army in the Iowa militia.

I reenacted as confederate infantry with several friends for years. For some reason my uniform got to tight and I had to quit. I got to see all the major battlefields while reenacting. That was a real plus. I have marched on and slept in fields from Georgia to Pennsylvania. It was a great experience.
I had several ancestors who fought for the South, all from Louisiana and Mississippi. One died in Perryville KY., one killed two days after surrendering at Vicksburg. Not sure what happened in his case. Had another one in the 28th Miss. Cavalry killed during a skirmish around Vicksburg. (Yes. Cavalrymen do get killed.) The rest made it through.

I was briefly involved with the 1st Missouri (our local groups are NY Union so we got to represent the Confederacy).

I do kind of "experimental archaeology" for earlier Rev War/Longhunter just for personal challenge and hunt with flintlocks during the regular game seasons locally. I'm a moderator on a traditional muzzleloading interest website. Occasionally get together with a bunch of like-minded folks for a shoot or a bunny hunt.