German reenactor needs your help

[Manstein]

Hello to all
I´m a reenactor from Germany and yesterday I signed up for this forum.
I´m planning a trip to Antietam, but its not for sure yet because I have still many unsettled questions.

I will have a vacation from 03. Sept to 21. Sept in Florida and from there I would travel to Antietam.

This would be my first reenactment in the USA and because of this fact I have not much experiences about the procedure and have many questions and don´t know were to get a rifle for this event.
I can´t bring my own from Germany and I was hoping I could borrow one somewhere.
Do you have any ideas ? Or is there a unit which i can join for this event ? I act for the confederacy.

I really appreciate your help.
Greetings

 

[deleson1]

Hello to all
I´m a reenactor from Germany and yesterday I signed up for this forum.
I´m planning a trip to Antietam, but its not for sure yet because I have still many unsettled questions.

I will have a vacation from 03. Sept to 21. Sept in Florida and from there I would travel to Antietam.

This would be my first reenactment in the USA and because of this fact I have not much experiences about the procedure and have many questions and don´t know were to get a rifle for this event.
I can´t bring my own from Germany and I was hoping I could borrow one somewhere.
Do you have any ideas ? Or is there a unit which i can join for this event ? I act for the confederacy.

I really appreciate your help.
Greetings

HI there,,,,,,,,,,,thanks for your interest in our civil war. I think you are a little late planning a sept reenactment but here are some suggestions. contact as many reb units you can by email, find out if they are going to antietam, tell them you are from germany, and ask for help. Rifles are expensive now and at big events many units probably have committed to lending equipment out. Unless you want to buy one I would not count on getting one at the event. PM m.e. wolf, he is a great source of info of units and maybe he can direct you.

 

[Ray Ball]

Greetings and welcome from the US Engineers in the Western New York area. A national reenactment such as Antietam is not an easy place to begin reenacting. You will definitely find many experienced and knowledgeable people but they will have their own things to do too. There is a smaller living history event in Antietam in October you may wish to be a part of. P.M. me if you want more information.

 

[deleson1]

Greetings and welcome from the US Engineers in the Western New York area. A national reenactment such as Antietam is not an easy place to begin reenacting. You will definitely find many experienced and knowledgeable people but they will have their own things to do too. There is a smaller living history event in Antietam in October you may wish to be a part of. P.M. me if you want more information.

Read his post, he is from germany and will be in the states in sept. i doubt if he will be around in october.

 

[reading48]

Hello and Greetings from the Comonwealth of Penna.

 

[Ray Ball]

Read his post, he is from germany and will be in the states in sept. i doubt if he will be around in october.

I can read and did. I'm quite aware that he's from Germany. He said he's heading there after the 21st of Sept. I have no idea how long he's stateside- perhaps you do. It was a shot for him, just in case, because he'll be too late for the two 150th reenactments.

 

[deleson1]

I can read and did. I'm quite aware that he's from Germany. He said he's heading there after the 21st of Sept. I have no idea how long he's stateside- perhaps you do. It was a shot for him, just in case, because he'll be too late for the two 150th reenactments.

naw I had a german friend once and he wrote dates different from we do. I am pretty sure he is in the states from sept 3 to sept 21 if i am not mistaken. and i wasnt trying to be hostile,,,,,,,,,,,,,lol

 

[Oxkern]

Best advice I can offer is to get in touch with a unit who are going and ask to fall in with them. From my experience, groups are always welcoming and they might have kit you can borrow.

 

[Manstein]

Hello and thank you for your answers and advices. I´m in Florida until September 21. then I fly back to Germany. Its not that I have absolutely no experience about reenactment in general. I did it already in Germany, but this would be the first in the USA and yes its a big one, but because of this its more attractive. Particularly for a foreign reenacter who has to travel a long way.
Some of you may be right . Perhaps I will find a unit there, but as Ray Ball and Deleson 1 said, they are maybe busy and I cannot count on getting a rifle from them.
I may seem not very oneself to you but with so less indications I do not have a good feeling to book a flight now to baltimore. You have to be carefull with money if you are a student .

 

[M E Wolf]

Hello and thank you for your answers and advices. I´m in Florida until September 21. then I fly back to Germany. Its not that I have absolutely no experience about reenactment in general. I did it already in Germany, but this would be the first in the USA and yes its a big one, but because of this its more attractive. Particularly for a foreign reenacter who has to travel a long way.
Some of you may be right . Perhaps I will find a unit there, but as Ray Ball and Deleson 1 said, they are maybe busy and I cannot count on getting a rifle from them.
I may seem not very oneself to you but with so less indications I do not have a good feeling to book a flight now to baltimore. You have to be carefull with money if you are a student .

Manstein,

The "Maryland My Maryland" even is going to be held September 7 through the 9th. There is another Antietam event which is separate from that. However, should you be at Boonsboro, Maryland for the Maryland My Maryland event, I highly suggest due to the short time frame is to check in with the Event Assistant Adjutant-General Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Watters, who will be at the Confederate Division Head-quarters, September 7th. Though walk ons are rarely accepted, there might be a slot open that will be accepting. Do try to contact through their E-mail.

And, you are correct--students have to be careful with their money.

Perhaps, you should consider looking into joining in on a 150th event sooner as to be less abrupt in attempting to join in. These event planners have to do many things to provide a safe environment so everybody has a fun and safe experience there. Plus, it would allow for a unit to prepare for you and get the necessary equipment and weapons for that event. With insurance and liabilities, it is only a courteous thing to do as to give them as much advance notice as to your personal interest in joining the Confederate rank and file, as it is to communicate clearly with you as to direct you in a positive manner so that you will have a memorable time at that event.

Just some thoughts.

M. E. Wolf

 

[kealbo54]

Reenactor Registration is at the
Washington County Ag Center
7313 Sharpsburg Pike
Boonsboro MD 21713-2431

(8 miles south of I-70, exit 29 - Sharpsburg Pike)
REGISTRATION HOURS:
Wednesday Sept. 12th; 8 AM to 9 PM
Thursday Sept. 13th 8 AM to 9 PM
Friday Sept 14th 8 AM to 10 PM
Saturday Sept 15th 8 AM to 5 PM
Sunday Sept 16th 8 AM to Noon
Walk ons will be allowed at the event with a fee of $30
This is the info on the second event.you can also go to the site >150thantietamreenactment.com.That is all I can do.I will be at this event,but as a civilian correspondent,so I cant help you with military stuff,but it is my understanding that walk-ons with no units get assigned to one.As to a weapon,your situation,properly explained,may produce some fruit.Heck,maybe a unit could use an extra hand with an artillery piece.No need for a weapon.I would be surprised if a unit didnt welcome someone who went to the trouble you have gone.

 

[Manstein]

Hello to all, I totally agree that it is better to plan such trips earlier. The last time was very hard and stressful for me, so I decided spontaneous to accompany my relatives to Florida to have a vacation and get well again. In addition I've always wanted to visit a civil war reenactment, so I thought it would be shrewd to combine both trips because in this way I could save an additional flight from Germany to the USA.

I was not happy with the decision to cancel it all so I booked the flight a few days ago. I will arrive at the Thursday Sept. 13th at Baltimore. At the moment I figure out how to come to Sharpsburg. I´m thankfull for your advices in this matter. I hope I don´t cause any inconvenience.

 

[Robtweb1]

Welcome from Louisiana. All the best advice has already been said. Have a good time while you are here.

 

[Manstein]

Reenactor Registration is at the
Washington County Ag Center
7313 Sharpsburg Pike
Boonsboro MD 21713-2431
(8 miles south of I-70, exit 29 - Sharpsburg Pike)
REGISTRATION HOURS:
Wednesday Sept. 12th; 8 AM to 9 PM
Thursday Sept. 13th 8 AM to 9 PM
Friday Sept 14th 8 AM to 10 PM
Saturday Sept 15th 8 AM to 5 PM
Sunday Sept 16th 8 AM to Noon
Walk ons will be allowed at the event with a fee of $30
This is the info on the second event.you can also go to the site >150thantietamreenactment.com.That is all I can do.I will be at this event,but as a civilian correspondent,so I cant help you with military stuff,but it is my understanding that walk-ons with no units get assigned to one.As to a weapon,your situation,properly explained,may produce some fruit.Heck,maybe a unit could use an extra hand with an artillery piece.No need for a weapon.I would be surprised if a unit didnt welcome someone who went to the trouble you have gone.

Thank you, I like the way you are thinking. It´s motivating.

of course I´ve already visited the website you mentioned above, and I called the hotline and got some useful information.
Greetings

 

[kealbo54]

By and large ,reenactors are a pretty nice bunch,in my experience.Since this is a more mainstream event,it may be easier to hook up with someone.From Baltimore you have about an hour and a half drive,I calculate.I cannot camp for this event,so I am staying at the Hagerstown super 8 motel at 1220 dual Highway. I made this reservation back in june so I am not sure what might be left in the area. Best of luck to you.If you get there,look for me.I am a war correspondant and there wont be many of us there.