ask a civil war reenactor

[remy_lebeau8]

Have you ever wondered why we do it or if we are crazy?

Ask any question you might have and I will answer to the best of my ability

Remy

 

[bailadora]

I'll play along.

How'd you first get interested in this? How often do you participate in such events? Do you always play for the "same" side (ie the North or the South)?

 

[Noor]

are your uniforms made of natural period appropriate fabrics?

 

[jen_litgirl]

Why do you do it? Are you crazy?

Seriously, how much preparation goes into reinactment? Do you have rehearsals or do you just go out there and wing it?

(I've never seen anything like it so I'm asking without having any knowledge of what it's about besides hearsay.)

 

[remy_lebeau8]

I'll play along.

How'd you first get interested in this? How often do you participate in such events? Do you always play for the "same" side (ie the North or the South)?

A family member called me and asked me to come check out an event..It snowballed from there. Normally we play the south but on rare occasions we put on blue. (im in a northern state so the bluebellies need someone to fight)
Also, I normally do 10-12 events before it snows.
are your uniforms made of natural period appropriate fabrics?

Yes, though depending on the maker the wool might be a heavier weight then the clothing of the period.
'
Why do you do it? Are you crazy?
Well I was asked if i wanted to shoot a cannon. I'm a guy so it seemed like a no brainer.

Seriously, how much preparation goes into reinactment? Do you have rehearsals or do you just go out there and wing it?

For me its just show up and put up the tent. For the units that put on the event, there can be months of planning to get everything right. (making sure there's enough porta johns and firewood...shit like that) As far as battles... Usually there is a plan but things always change. Someone always decides to wing it lol.

Remy

 

[culloden]

You get to shoot cannons? Where do I sign up?!

 

[Cattypuss]

are your portajohns period-authentic?

 

[bailadora]

Firewood? For some reason, I thought these were one day events. Do you guys camp out or something?

 

[remy_lebeau8]

are your portajohns period-authentic?

They are if the pump truck don't show up....

As for wood yes we camp out. Normally its a weekend thing, though when I went down to Tennessee in April for the 150th anniversary of shiloh we camped for a week.

Remy

 

[EdwardMidweston]

I'm editing a historical novel set in the immediate post-Civil War era. The plot revolved aroung a murder committed with a "Confederate cap and ball revolver that also has a shotgun barrel." My client insists that such a gun really existed (he claims to have seen one) but he can't remember what it was called.

I realize this is a longshot, but would you have any idea whatinhell term I should google. I tried one of the bulletin boards intended for gun lovers, but that just netted me about 11 million diatribes and invitations to join neo-fascist hate groups.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I've long wanted to re-enact the Civil War, as a Confederate, of course. Staunch Confederate sympathizer.

 

[remy_lebeau8]

I'm editing a historical novel set in the immediate post-Civil War era. The plot revolved aroung a murder committed with a "Confederate cap and ball revolver that also has a shotgun barrel." My client insists that such a gun really existed (he claims to have seen one) but he can't remember what it was called.

I realize this is a longshot, but would you have any idea whatinhell term I should google. I tried one of the bulletin boards intended for gun lovers, but that just netted me about 11 million diatribes and invitations to join neo-fascist hate groups.

Not a longshot at all. The gun is a lemat revolver. I believe it was 42 calibur with a 9 shot cylinder vs the normal 6 shot and a 16 gauge shot barrel under the pistol barrel. It's a Damn cool gun but rare. I think 1000 maybe made it through the blockade. Repros are about 700 dollars so as of now its out of reach. One day though...

Remy

 

[remy_lebeau8]

I've long wanted to re-enact the Civil War, as a Confederate, of course. Staunch Confederate sympathizer.

All you need to do is hit up an event and talk to someone in a confederate unit. Most likely they will have an officer or recruiter to size you up. Many units have loaner equipment so you can try a few events before shelling out the coin and finding you don't like the hobby

Remy

 

[EdwardMidweston]

Not a longshot at all. The gun is a lemat revolver. I believe it was 42 calibur with a 9 shot cylinder vs the normal 6 shot and a 16 gauge shot barrel under the pistol barrel. It's a Damn cool gun but rare. I think 1000 maybe made it through the blockade. Repros are about 700 dollars so as of now its out of reach. One day though...

Remy

That's it! Many thanks for yor the help!

 

[drizzt04]

Forget civil war, what you want to do is ww2 reenacting. Standing on line and firing a musket once every minute is nothing compared to being in the field with rifles, machine guns, and tanks firing at you.

SS-Unterscharfurher Wilhelm Roeser
13 komp. LSSAH

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

All you need to do is hit up an event and talk to someone in a confederate unit. Most likely they will have an officer or recruiter to size you up. Many units have loaner equipment so you can try a few events before shelling out the coin and finding you don't like the hobby

Remy

Cool.

 

[culloden]

I'm editing a historical novel set in the immediate post-Civil War era. The plot revolved aroung a murder committed with a "Confederate cap and ball revolver that also has a shotgun barrel." My client insists that such a gun really existed (he claims to have seen one) but he can't remember what it was called.

I realize this is a longshot, but would you have any idea whatinhell term I should google. I tried one of the bulletin boards intended for gun lovers, but that just netted me about 11 million diatribes and invitations to join neo-fascist hate groups.

That would be, I think, a LeMatt. It was Inman's weapon of choice in Cold Mountain.

 

[remy_lebeau8]

Forget civil war, what you want to do is ww2 reenacting. Standing on line and firing a musket once every minute is nothing compared to being in the field with rifles, machine guns, and tanks firing at you.

SS-Unterscharfurher Wilhelm Roeser
13 komp. LSSAH

I am Artillery and also a Bushwacker so I don't stand in a line I run through the woods and fight in garulla style. As for ww2, I would do it in a heartbeat, but i need to save up the money for a good m1 garand or k98. Cant believe the m1s are 700 bucks now for a beat to hell rifle. K98s arent much better at 4-5 in my area.

Remy

 

[Cattypuss]

Do you mean "guerrilla style"?

We have re-enactments of all sorts of battles in the UK, going back hundreds and even thousands of years. Would any of that float your boat or are you very wedded to your war(s) of choice?

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

That would be, I think, a LeMatt. It was Inman's weapon of choice in Cold Mountain.

Jeb Stuart had a LeMatt. It was his favorite sidearm.

 

[EdwardMidweston]

That's it, all right. Thanks to all who responded.

Somehow, I don't envy the man who fired a 16-gauge shotgun with one-hand in a revolver-weight gun. Then again, a sore wrist was undoubtedly better than being shish-kebabed on someone's bayonet.

 

[EdwardMidweston]

Sorry. My computer double-posted for some mysterious reason

 

[culloden]

That's it, all right. Thanks to all who responded.

Somehow, I don't envy the man who fired a 16-gauge shotgun with one-hand in a revolver-weight gun. Then again, a sore wrist was undoubtedly better than being shish-kebabed on someone's bayonet.

Good points, but still, I'd rather be firing a 16 gauge revolver than be on the open end of the barrel...

 

[VA_Boy]

OK, so you are on Literotica.....have you also researched the sexual climate of the 1860's? Just so your work is authentic?

 

[yorvik]

I am Artillery and also a Bushwacker so I don't stand in a line I run through the woods and fight in garulla style. As for ww2, I would do it in a heartbeat, but i need to save up the money for a good m1 garand or k98. Cant believe the m1s are 700 bucks now for a beat to hell rifle. K98s arent much better at 4-5 in my area.

Remy

be a Russian and get a mosin nagant. you can actually buy ones for round 120(originals never fired). while bigger then the m1 they are more accurate and longer ranges and and i believe fire a larger round.