Impressions A little reenacting humor

[bayonet]

While I do believe you need to be at a certain level of physical fitness to be a military reenactor, it´s a shame to give up something you love out of fear. Also, it´s not just age or weight that will make a person sensitive to the heat. We´re on a lot of medications that didn´t exist in the 1860s, that have side effects like sensitivities to heat, humidity, direct sunlight, etc. The guy in his 70s should have acquired the self-awareness to know what conditions were going to be good for him, what weren´t and the in-between ones where you tell your sergeant, ¨I´m going down in the first volley, OK?¨ BTW, me at 61 (age, not year):

View attachment 494349

Like the saying goes "A Mans got to know his limitations"!

 

[Story]

Yeah especially the guy in his 70s who was our instant heat casualty that I got tired of babysitting. Should of left him where he fell just like they did on the march in the 1860s. You want to run around in 90 + degree heat in full wool you had better be in shape. That's why I gave it up before 50 to not be that guy.

Then you might want to go forward Safety Briefing the Irish units, as my recollection was that their Regimental standard for hydration was to get hammered the night before any given 'battle' and thereby deliver really real (heat) casualties - along with a trail of vomit to and from the firing line.

 

[bayonet]

Then you might want to go forward Safety Briefing the Irish units, as my recollection was that their Regimental standard for hydration was to get hammered the night before any given 'battle' and thereby deliver really real (heat) casualties - along with a trail of vomit to and from the firing line.

Sounds a lot like Canadian Airborne School or everyday in a British Regiment

 

[bayonet]

Lighten up, Francis.

Is this what you mean?

 

[Story]

View attachment 494439Is this what you mean?

See - you and I do speak a common language.

 

[Western Reserve Volunteer]

Mannnnnnn there's living historians then there are people who are larping for an audience. One has ruined it for the other.

I have no animosity towards actual LARP'ers… I think they take things more seriously than some of reenactors do! I'd say that some of the behavior I've seen in the field would probably get you swiftly disinvited from a LARP. My understanding is that theoretically they have rules, similar to D&D, and abide by and enforce them since it's fundamentally a game/sport.

I think when you start messing with spectators or making rude remarks about them it's a bridge too far. Especially little kids. It's like an actor making fun of his audience… it's not a good look.

Sometimes you do get silly questions, but generally speaking those are ice breakers for people to start the conversation with. Though with some of the technology nowadays the "is it real" type isn't such a silly question at all.

And as a professional historian for gods sake don't make up any more historical nonsense myths! The ones we have already are quite sufficient to keep us occupied debunking!

 

[JackADriscoll]

I have no animosity towards actual LARP'ers… I think they take things more seriously than some of reenactors do! I'd say that some of the behavior I've seen in the field would probably get you swiftly disinvited from a LARP. My understanding is that theoretically they have rules, similar to D&D, and abide by and enforce them since it's fundamentally a game/sport.

I think when you start messing with spectators or making rude remarks about them it's a bridge too far. Especially little kids. It's like an actor making fun of his audience… it's not a good look.

Sometimes you do get silly questions, but generally speaking those are ice breakers for people to start the conversation with. Though with some of the technology nowadays the "is it real" type isn't such a silly question at all.

And as a professional historian for gods sake don't make up any more historical nonsense myths! The ones we have already are quite sufficient to keep us occupied debunking!

That is a refreshing attitude. I have been thinking on why living history is dying out. I am 41 and I have a direct connection to WW2 and Korea, they were my grandparents. My grandparents knew civil war veterans so I have a connection to that but fuzzy. My children will have a direct connection to the war on terror and Vietnam. I say all that to say that the lack of direct connection is why some interest in the war is dying. One of the only ways to keep it up is by having good solid living history so that we can feel a connection without knowing someone that was there. Even then that might not be enough.

 

[frontrank2]

 

[Bentonville]

It really is astounding how badly informed people are about history.

I concur.

 

[Bentonville]

I read once that hard tack bisquits were sometimes referred to as "worm castles" by the troops. Sounds delightful...

I've eaten my fair share (then more of the same) of hard tack. They are bland and in some cases, at least with what I make, really tough.

But as an addition or as part of a recipe it is integral to period field recipes. As humble corn meal and salt pork are too.

All period recipes aside we on occasion have current cell block food too. Some of which are very good. A 'swole' is more than the sum of its parts.

 

[bayonet]

View attachment 505685

Funny but that's where I met him in the mess tent during the filming of the movie GETTYSBURG since I was an extra (reenactor). The food was lame but he was a great guy and approachable.