Favorite Reenacting Memories

General Casey

First Sergeant
Joined
Jan 26, 2016
Location
Massachusetts
What are some of your favorite reenacting memories? I think mine would be my first ever event - Mumford, New York, July of 1994. It was about a 100 degrees out and humid. For those who are not familiar with this event, the host is the Genesee Country Village, a circa 1800's living history village. The event was the first day of Gettysburg on Saturday, with house to house and street fighting occurring in the village, and then the Sunday battle was Pickett's charge. I remember being a young drummer boy, unsure of what to do and getting separated from my unit during the street fighting and finding refuge in a barn with several other musicians and getting captured.

Another great memory was the 135th Gettysburg and being a Rebel and taking part in Pickett's Charge.

One other non Civil War reenactment memory was a French and Indian War reenactment. We had a massive Native American warrior - and I mean by massive meaning he weighed about 400 pounds - on our side that we nicknamed "Dances With Cheeseburgers"
 
I haven't been in the hobby long, maybe five years, but I still recall how I spent my 21st birthday. I went down to Gettysburg with my Captain at the time. We spent the weekend doing a Living History with a consortium of 6th Regiment folks, plus others, I think. We camped out in Pitzer Woods and that really impacted me- sleeping on the battlefield. For my 21st, we went to the Appalachian Brewing Company and then to the Dobbin House. Of course, we were in uniform. With a bunch of new mates, we walked around town. On Monday (Captain and I decided to stay an extra night), we trekked up to Little Round Top, taking the original route of the 15th Al. That made it all so real. It was a humbling moment and thus stands as my favorite. However, any time I can be by the fire with the boys and sleep in a shebang is good by me.
 
It was probably the 135th of Stone's River. It was very cold, and kept trying to get colder. I was sick as hell, and had a fever. I kept taking the pills, and I had to sleep in the car. I was that sick. I was ok during the day, when the sun was out. At night another story entirely. Actually the Battle was a good one and I enjoyed myself a lot. It was a good time. I also enjoyed Perryville for many reasons.
 
I remember at my very first event, one of our battles was just around sundown. As we marched from camp to the battlefield, our crew (79th NY) started whistling "Scotland The Brave", which set the moment along with the perfect sunset and smoke hovering on the grass. Still gives me chills remembering that!
 
I've already written up most of them:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/roads-to-gettysburg-summer-1981.101846/

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/tw...-living-history-in-vicksburg-nmp-1983.124546/

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/with-u-s-grant-at-shilohs-125th-april-1987.111839/

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/with-the-u-o-battalion-at-125th-gettysburg-july-1988.115235/

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/with-the-frontier-battalion-at-stones-river-march-1993.120487/

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/wi...the-135th-shiloh-mudlo-april-4-5-1997.123354/

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/with-the-frontier-battalion-at-gettysburg-135th-july-1998.100263/

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/145th-anniversary-reenactment-of-shiloh-march-16-18-2007.133078/


im000871a-jpg.28153.jpg


Most recent was the 150th (Sesquicentennial) of Shiloh; above, dawn over the Union artillery camp.
 
What are some of your favorite reenacting memories? I think mine would be my first ever event - Mumford, New York, July of 1994. It was about a 100 degrees out and humid. For those who are not familiar with this event, the host is the Genesee Country Village, a circa 1800's living history village. The event was the first day of Gettysburg on Saturday, with house to house and street fighting occurring in the village, and then the Sunday battle was Pickett's charge. I remember being a young drummer boy, unsure of what to do and getting separated from my unit during the street fighting and finding refuge in a barn with several other musicians and getting captured.

Another great memory was the 135th Gettysburg and being a Rebel and taking part in Pickett's Charge.

One other non Civil War reenactment memory was a French and Indian War reenactment. We had a massive Native American warrior - and I mean by massive meaning he weighed about 400 pounds - on our side that we nicknamed "Dances With Cheeseburgers"
Will be at Mumford this weekend!
 
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