First time reenactor.....

[tnrebel316]

Well ever since I was a kid in 8th grade and took a field trip to Shiloh I've dreamed of being a reenactor. Well earlier this week I got in contact with the Major of a reenacting unit from Spring Hill, TN. They will be reenacting at Shiloh this year and invited me to fall in with them just pay the membership fee and they will lend me the gear for the event as I really can't afford gear. But the major made me a deal if I will make cartridges between now and shiloh he will get me my uniform and gear but the only thing is there may not be any extra muskets but they did offer me the position of color bearer!! I'm really excited to be able to do this for the first time, and to walk in the footsteps of all who fought and died there!! So any advice for a begginner and also any tips on how to make the cartridges, the easiest and fastest way?? Thanks y'all!!

 

[bdtex]

Well ever since I was a kid in 8th grade and took a field trip to Shiloh I've dreamed of being a reenactor. Well earlier this week I got in contact with the Major of a reenacting unit from Spring Hill, TN. They will be reenacting at Shiloh this year and invited me to fall in with them just pay the membership fee and they will lend me the gear for the event as I really can't afford gear. But the major made me a deal if I will make cartridges between now and shiloh he will get me my uniform and gear but the only thing is there may not be any extra muskets but they did offer me the position of color bearer!! I'm really excited to be able to do this for the first time, and to walk in the footsteps of all who fought and died there!! So any advice for a begginner and also any tips on how to make the cartridges, the easiest and fastest way?? Thanks y'all!!

Sounds like you're mustering in with some good fellas. Enjoy.

 

[tnrebel316]

Sounds like you're mustering in with some good fellas. Enjoy.

Thank ya!!

 

[Tin cup]

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/58-caliber-rifle-cartridges-blanks.84653/

What is Black Powder availability in your area? BP is terribly expensive if you have to buy it locally, if you can find a store that sells the stuff! I order mine from Powder Inc: http://powderinc.com/
The last time bought from him it was a 25 lb order, it was a chink of money, but it beat trying to find someplace local that sells it for DOUBLE the amount that Powder Inc sells it for!

The next thing is to find out WHAT cartridges your unit needs....577/.58, or .69? Then if these "cartridges" are for Shiloh NBP, you need to find out what their National Park safety rules are for BP Civil War cartridges, and how they require their construction.
There is 7000 grains in a pound, so 1 pound of PB will get you 93-75 grain cartridges, (for .69 cal) 116-60 grain (for .577/.58 cal). So it's not cheap making a large amount of cartridges! Then you will need Musket percussion caps, they run about $14 a 100 count container!

The best paper to use is 3-M Masking paper you buy at a hardware store, it's a bit too "brown" to look exactly like the original paper used in the day, but it's easy to work with, and yet won't tear when you tie off the end.

Kevin Dally

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Have fun!

 

[John Winn]

I'm sure you'll learn a lot and have a good time. As color bearer, of course, you'll be killed right soon but maybe that's just how it goes when you're just starting. In the day color bearer was a position of honor and it was something only men recognized for their bravery and performance of duty got assigned so that's the upside. Play the part and honor your unit.

Oh, and welcome.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[D.H. Hill]

Advice for a beginner:
1. Always do research before you buy.
2. Context! Context! Context!- Time, place, unit, and other factors determine what is correct uniform, equipment, etc.
3. Develop a persona. The personal items you carry/wear will be determined by WHO you are. A confederate soldier in western Virginia was captured trying to pass through US lines as a "poor farmer" because his expensive boots gave him away!
4. Practice the drill, not just at events, but between. Many reenactors are poor at drill on account of they don't read the manual themselves or practice on their own, just when the sarge makes them.
5. Go for an average, plain look. Avoid one-of-a-kind items. If you have to look hard for evidence that something was used, you probably shouldn't get one. Some things look really flashy and cool but are only correct for a specific unit at a specific time (or not at all).
6. Less is more. This is kind of a repeat of No. 5, but it's very important.
7. Save your money, learn what is accurate, and buy high quality gear. One often quickly purchases cheap stuff to get into the ranks as soon as possible, only to do more research later and find out it's all historically incorrect.
8. Do your own research. Don't take someone else's word for it. Question everything. It's more important to know WHY something is correct, than just knowing "so-and-so sells authentic things"
9. Do drill by the book. Avoid shortcuts.
10. Keep those tins in the cartridge box!
11. Shoes are the last things you want to cut corners on. Many these days are very poorly made- the pegs are widely spaced and so shallow they're just for show, with only glue holding the sole on.
12. If you have any sewing talent, making it yourself is often cheaper.
13. Confederate uniforms/ equipment became more standardized and higher quality as the war progressed, not vice versa.
14. Be wounded or captured; too many people are "killed" outright.
15. Have fun.

 

[D.H. Hill]

16. Keep your musket clean. Live rust is NOT period correct
17. If you can't carry it on your back, don't bring it along (with the exception if you've got a Sibley tent or something you share with seven others)
18. Bring only period rations

 

[Jackson Hornets]

Well ever since I was a kid in 8th grade and took a field trip to Shiloh I've dreamed of being a reenactor. Well earlier this week I got in contact with the Major of a reenacting unit from Spring Hill, TN. They will be reenacting at Shiloh this year and invited me to fall in with them just pay the membership fee and they will lend me the gear for the event as I really can't afford gear. But the major made me a deal if I will make cartridges between now and shiloh he will get me my uniform and gear but the only thing is there may not be any extra muskets but they did offer me the position of color bearer!! I'm really excited to be able to do this for the first time, and to walk in the footsteps of all who fought and died there!! So any advice for a begginner and also any tips on how to make the cartridges, the easiest and fastest way?? Thanks y'all!!

Shiloh is one ____ of an event to start off with. The only advice I can give you as someone that's been reenacting for going on 4 years is listen to your NCO's and CO's. Read a bit from a copy of Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics (the manual used by most reenacting units) too. Drill, drill, drill when you can. If you have a rifle always keep it in clean and working condition and never leave it out somewhere. Either keep it inside your tent (if you have one) or keep it on your person. People still liked to steal things in the 1800's .

Later on before you buy anything get with the unit and ask them what to buy first and from where. Certain units do certain impressions. There's no sense in spending $500 on a uniform that's not going to be right for your impression.

Other than those things it's trial and error on a lot of stuff.

Here's an online link to Hardee's manual. It's a lot but don't get overwhelmed. For now just skim through it so you get an idea of what you'll be doing: http://www.drillnet.net/1862/1862.htm

Good luck, pard!

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

13. Confederate uniforms/ equipment became more standardized and higher quality as the war progressed, not vice versa.

I never knew this, I was taught this the other way around. Do fewer numbers at the end of the war cause this? This is a mind blower for me despite studying so many other things besides this topic.

 

[bankerpapaw]

Welcome from Arkansas

 

[D.H. Hill]

I never knew this, I was taught this the other way around. Do fewer numbers at the end of the war cause this? This is a mind blower for me despite studying so many other things besides this topic.

At the beginning of the war the Confederacy, being a new nation, had to start from scratch for clothing. Most units provided their own distinct uniforms (or wore civilian clothes) at first. While the government clothing manufacturies (Richmond Clothing Bureau, Columbus Depot, etc.) were being set up the government paid the soldiers extra to buy their own uniforms... what was known as the commutation system. Hence very great variety of uniforms, limited by what the soldier could afford. Once the depots were set up it took a while to get production to the point where they could supply large numbers of troops. By mid-1863 large amounts of high quality fabric (mainly cadet gray kersey), hats, and other material were coming through the blockade.

Another challenge for a new nation was arms- they used what they could get their hands on until captures, imports, and (to a lesser degree) domestic manufacture greatly increased the quantity of high-quality arms in the southern armies.

 

[Tin cup]

Well ever since I was a kid in 8th grade and took a field trip to Shiloh I've dreamed of being a reenactor. Well earlier this week I got in contact with the Major of a reenacting unit from Spring Hill, TN. .

What unit are you talking about? Do they have a website?

Kevin Dally

 

[Jackson Hornets]

I never knew this, I was taught this the other way around. Do fewer numbers at the end of the war cause this? This is a mind blower for me despite studying so many other things besides this topic.

Yeah it's true. Early in the war you had random militia companies wearing anything from blue and green coats and 1700's tricorn hats (looking at you, Mississippi) carrying shotguns, Brown Bess muskets, smoothbore Springfields etc...

Once the commutation system got set up and the Richmond Depot and Columbus Depot uniforms started becoming more widespread, then came more arms came through the blockade. Men became somewhat better equipped and more uniform. The romantic idea of "Johnny Reb" being this toothless, shoeless, 14 year-old no matter what is played out and not exactly true. Only at the very beginning and very end of the war with a few periods peppered between were they really hard on clothing.

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

Yeah it's true. Early in the war you had random militia companies wearing anything from blue and green coats and 1700's tricorn hats (looking at you, Mississippi) carrying shotguns, Brown Bess muskets, smoothbore Springfields etc...

Once the commutation system got set up and the Richmond Depot and Columbus Depot uniforms started becoming more widespread, then came more arms came through the blockade. Men became somewhat better equipped and more uniform. The romantic idea of "Johnny Reb" being this toothless, shoeless, 14 year-old no matter what is played out and not exactly true. Only at the very beginning and very end of the war with a few periods peppered between were they really hard on clothing.

Thanks! The only thing I knew before then was that they were equipped with mainly captured Springfields and Enfields by the end of the war, versus regiments like the 19th TN, who carried 1812 flintlock muskets in the beginning of the war to Shiloh.

 

[thomas aagaard]

Read a bit from a copy of Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics (the manual used by most reenacting units) too.

There are 3+ relevant books for a CSA impression. The correct one depend on time and place.

So ask what book they use... and if they say "Hardee" ask if they mean his 1855 or his revised version...
(if you read the wrong version, you will get confused at the event, since there are a few pretty clear differences.)

And read the part that is called "school of the soldier".


And yes, listen to your non-commissioned officers. (nco is a modern thing)
And if they tell you something that don't match what you have read...don't be surprised... and do as they tell you...
(Most experienced reenactors don't like when some new guy tell the they are wrong... no matter if they actually are or not)

 

[MC44]

As a fellow recent recruit, I can confirm that all of the advice above is good. I would just add that reading some books written by the soldiers who lived it would be wise as well. Since you are doing a Confederate impression, I recommend "Company Aytch."

 

[Jackson Hornets]

There are 3+ relevant books for a CSA impression. The correct one depend on time and place.

So ask what book they use... and if they say "Hardee" ask if they mean his 1855 or his revised version...
(if you read the wrong version, you will get confused at the event, since there are a few pretty clear differences.)

And read the part that is called "school of the soldier".


And yes, listen to your non-commissioned officers. (nco is a modern thing)
And if they tell you something that don't match what you have read...don't be surprised... and do as they tell you...
(Most experienced reenactors don't like when some new guy tell the they are wrong... no matter if they actually are or not)

Good point I almost forgot. The 1855 and 1862 (I believe) editions of Hardee's are different in some clear aspects.

 

[Legion Para]

The Columbia Rifles Research Compendiums (1st and 2nd editions) have long been out of print. Whether you're new to reenacting or an experienced reenactor wanting to take his impression to the next level, they are a must have.