Had an awesome little moment of “performance “ today at a small event in Illinois. Got me thinking, please indulge or ignore this long post as you see fit.
We were Confederate infantry, marching in company front, trying to take a Federal artillery piece and it’s squad of dismounted cavalry support on their left flank. A squad of infantry rushed out to block and we began what could’ve been your typical stand up, bang away powder burn with no casualties. However, both sides were playing it well, with the blue fellows taking the worst of it as we had the higher ground.
I saw a taller yank fire a round and recover. I swear we had a brief moment of eye contact, but as he reached for his cartridge box, I took aim (a good foot above his head!) and fired at him. Perfectly timed, he took an awesome hit and crumpled. No idea if the crowd even noticed, but I did and it was a cool moment.
Wanting to return the favor, as we advanced on the Battery support, I kept an eye out. Saw a younger looking Fed take aim on my wing of the company and when he fired I did my best trademark headsnap/bag of potatoes casualty. Hope that guy got that same awesome feeling I had earlier!
The hometown crowd was not amused when my surviving pards overran the gun and took the crew prisoner. There were quite a few boos from the Illinois faithful as we marched the vanquished Yankees off.
Great time, great crowd. Was it a history lesson? Probably not, though I am working, researching and saving to get my impression up to snuff for some immersive events next year. But you know, the men on the field had a great time, and so did the crowd. I saw quite a few kids in the crowd who were my age when I became obsessed with history and the ACW in particular. Hopefully something was sparked today for them at this “powder burning” “sham battle” put on by guys “playing war.”
I guess what I’m saying is this: I personally strive for authenticity to the best of knowledge and ability. I hope we all do. That’s the juice for me, trying to get as close as I can to the real deal: how I act, dress, and live for the event. My focus is increasingly going to be on the campaigner side of the hobby, but with some mainstream “farb tests,” too. I see the appeal of a weekend spent drilling, marching, doing fatigue detail and never firing a shot in anger. I also see the appeal in forming up, putting on a show for a crowd of families that may spark a lifelong passion in a few. To each his own, and everything in this world exists on a spectrum.
But I find myself shaking my head a bit at some of the derisive type of comments quoted above I see here and elsewhere on the internet. Frankly, I get it if you’re not interested in or enjoy “playing war.” By all means, build your impression, go to the events you enjoy, and do your thing. But, and I mean this with gentle respect, if you are making these judgments with an air of superiority, or a feeling that your flavor of the hobby is the only “right” way to honor the boys of ‘61-‘65, I suggest some self-reflection. We all like to believe, and some like to publicly declare repeatedly, that we’re doing this to honor those fallen men.
Nonsense. Oh, sure that’s part of it. But I submit we do this for the fun, occasional excitement, and that elusive moment of immersion. The benefits and entertainment for the public is also nice. But frankly, if you’re a reenactor, and you feel superior to others in the hobby because you don’t “mock” the sacrifice by participating in “sham battles,” or you feel you’re the only one truly honoring the originals because your ideal weekend is performing fatigue detail and posting pickets, you’re a bit deluded.
How many men died in camp due to illness or unsanitary conditions? How many were sickened or killed by spoiled food and tainted water? Are you not mocking their pain and suffering in your authentic tentless camp (with non-fecally-contaminated water and adequately preserved foods) just as much as the farby powder burners in their “themed camping” A-frames and non-period campfire chairs?
The ultimate impression killers? That truck you transported you and your gear with. That air-conditioned home you’ll return to on Sunday night. The reasonably safe working conditions you’ll encounter when you clock in Monday morning.
So, I guess if you’re a member of this hobby, on either end of the mainstream/authentic spectrum, try to remember you’re not really that far away from those farbs burning powder or those stitch nazis sitting out the battle. And when you get to feeling superior, because you’re properly honoring the fallen, maybe sell your defarbed musket and kit, and donate the money to the Civil War Trust, since that would accomplish that goal. Because your superiority might just be misplaced.