Impressions Flack for going Confederate?

[Frederick14Va]

On a side note.... many times have encountered visitors/spectators that will walk up to you during a program.. of course everyone has to recant an ancestor that fought with so and so... then some will rabble on bashing the other side... then eventually ask where your from.... (wearing blue at the time)... respond "Virginia"... they get that blank stare look in their eyes... Then you follow up "we portray BOTH sides".... Seems many are of the impression that if your wearing a given uniform that your actually from that given state or portrayal... confused if you say otherwise.... or puzzled that folks actually cross over for historical portrayal sake... lol.... Some smaller battle events we go to down in North Carolina... the entire "Federal" contingency are galvanized rebs... lol... Many times will make an interesting event since you personally know most of the guys shooting back at you already... There are probably just as many "Confederate" units based in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio as Federal ones.... which is another interesting observation...

 

[kepi]

On a side note.... many times have encountered visitors/spectators that will walk up to you during a program.. of course everyone has to recant an ancestor that fought with so and so... then some will rabble on bashing the other side... then eventually ask where your from.... (wearing blue at the time)... respond "Virginia"... they get that blank stare look in their eyes... Then you follow up "we portray BOTH sides".... Seems many are of the impression that if your wearing a given uniform that your actually from that given state or portrayal... confused if you say otherwise.... or puzzled that folks actually cross over for historical portrayal sake... lol.... Some smaller battle events we go to down in North Carolina... the entire "Federal" contingency are galvanized rebs... lol... Many times will make an interesting event since you personally know most of the guys shooting back at you already... There are probably just as many "Confederate" units based in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio as Federal ones.... which is another interesting observation...

I'm aware of a Confederate group based in Ohio portraying the 11th Mississippi.
http://www.11thmiss.com/

There's even a group in Canada who wears both blue and grey.
http://www.acwhrs.com/

 

[unionblue]

I'm aware of a Confederate group based in Ohio portraying the 11th Mississippi.
http://www.11thmiss.com/

There's even a group in Canada who wears both blue and grey.
http://www.acwhrs.com/

Almost all of the people in my 17th Mississippi Infantry unit were from Ohio..., except for our Captain, Ron Goodwin. Good ol' southern boy, doing revival work amongst the unclean northern set.

Unionblue

 

[capt13th]

my unit has always been federal. just last year, we started doing both sides. the only flack i have seen comes directly from the event coordinators/ host units. they don't come out and say it to your face, but when you are doing blue, their actions speak louder than words. everyone complains that we are lacking union armies. well, when you go to an event, confederate camps are right up front for the spectators, or near sutler row where they will get the most exposure and oppotunities to recruit. spectors don't want to walk the half mile or more to get to federal camp. camp conditions are much worse when doing federal. lack of fire wood... it's not cool when you have to ration the little bit of firewood has been provided and can't have a fire when it's 30 degrees out. we have to decide if we want hot food or be warm, we can't have both. i can't tell you how many times we've had to go raise hell with event hosts to get it. and guess what we are always told. "oh, we have plenty for you in confederate camp" and then we have to pack it to our camp ourselves... lack of port o john's. most events leave us with 2 or 3 for the entire camp and don't service them all weekend. most events are hosted by confederate groups or SCV's and they wonder why federals don't want to come out, or have poor recruiting. now, dont get me wrong, there are very good events and hosts out there that do there best to treat both sides equally, but most show favortism or give "flack" to others.

as far as spectators, i have never received flack from any, whether we are doing blue or gray. my former unit did get some however at andersonville, ga. i couldn't make the event. but they said that the spectators were extremely hostile throwing rocks, trash, and dirt at them. needless to say, they have never been back, and never will. that is one rare exception. for the most part, spectators are very appreciative for what we do and are very respectful whether we are in blue or gray. the problems usually don't come from within the reenactors themselves. there is a mutual respect and comradery between us.