Casualties

[vpp1234]

How are causlties done in reenactments?

 

[FrazierC]

There are several ways to determine if you are a casualty. If you run out of ammo; when you get too tired; when you are at very close range and it would be very unrealistic if people did not take hits, etc. Those are the most common reasons.

 

[Steel Cross]

US and CS commanders in chief are usually in contact by wireless radio for safety purposes, in some reenactintments lower level ganeral staff commanders will talk by radio tho the rank and file consider it farby to do so. They can decide if the progress of the battle demands casualties and where. This info is communicated to the field by any number of methods. Sometimes units get so enthusiastic they wont go down even when they are expected to. A field commander may come to the first sargeant and tell him the x number of personnel need to go down at the next volley or round of cannon fire. So, they do. There is actually a reenactment bugle call, "take casualties", that if sounded can be directed to a brigade or regiment will be followed by one or more specific notes. 10 men go down for each note sounded after the call. Many spectators wonder why men don't fall when they seem to be at point blank range. The simple answer is that if we went down appropriately, reenactments wouldn't last 10 minutes.

 

[FrazierC]

Steel Cross is right; another way to make casualties if no one wants to is to order everyone with a birthday from January to April take a hit, or something like that.

 

[vpp1234]

Wow, thats pretty interesting, thanks.

 

[CSA Today]

How are causlties done in reenactments?

It's been my personal observation not very well, especially when firing at near point blank range and only the occasional participant falling. In fairness to the re enactor though, we should remember that many have come long distances and at their considerable personal expense so it is understandable that they would not want to be an early casualty.

"Every time I look at Atlanta I see what a quarter of a million Confederate soldiers died to prevent."
John Shelton Reed

 

[unionblue]

How are causlties done in reenactments?

When I was with the Army of Northern Virginia, 17th Mississippi Regiment, for the 135th Gettysburg reenactment, our brigade commander went down the line and told each and every man where he was going to be hit on the body (i.e. "You're going to be hit in the arm, second volley), and then where exactly we would fall ("You will fall wounded at the far side of the road, etc.") or if we were going to "die" at a specific time or place. We were in Picket's Charge and we did not want to put on a sorry show for the nearly 50,000 spectators that were watching.

At some reenactments, I have seen black cartridges being put in the cartridge boxes during inspection before a reenactment battle. The men are told if they pull out a black cartridge, they are to "die" right then and there, on the spot. Not everyone gets a black cartridge, so its a real surprise when you get one.

Me, I like to fire about 5 to 10 rounds, look around for a shady spot, then watch and see if an opposing rebel lines up on me with his musket, so I can "die" comfortable under a tree.

That's only if I don't decide to turn coward and run towards the rear, shouting, "Betrayed!" or "We've been flanked!"

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[Tin cup]

Be careful not to die on top of a fire ant mound!

Kevin Dally

 

[unionblue]

Be careful not to die on top of a fire ant mound!

Kevin Dally

Too late.

Did such at the first reenactment at Vicksburg after taking my "hit."

It was pretty amazing how quickly I did rise from the dead when I found out I had landed on one!

 

[johan_steele]

Over the years I've been to a couple eventrs that did the black tip cartridge, they were filled w/ Malt O Meal so they wouldn't go. Add the red tip which was upposed to mean you took a hit after you fired.

Me, I've been known to take a hit from that long range Whitworth when I stepped off the bus...

I don't play war anymore. There is too fine a line between drama and farce and too few know there is a line.