Looking for a drill event.

[maillemaker]

I'm not a Civil War reenactor. I've been shooting with the North-South Skirmish Association for 13 years. I'd like to attend a reenactment that focuses on the school of the soldier and drill. I'm not interested in becoming a reenactor or having a campaigner-level impression. I'm too old and fat. This is something I want to do for my own edification not to present anything to the public.

A recent facebook thread appeared discussing the need for such an event. Are there any like that?

This is my federal impression. I've just started a new federal N-SSA team and this will be our uniform:

This was my uniform with the 4th Louisiana Delta Rifles:

 

[Story]

Location, location, location.

Where you are would determine what units to seek.

 

[maillemaker]

Huntsville, Alabama, but I'm willing to drive.

 

[Story]

Any groups in Northern Alabama? | Reenactors Forum - Join, Drill, See the Elephant

I might be moving back to Alabama next spring, in the Huntsville area. I used to reenact in lower Alabama but am not familiar with any units in Northern Alabama. Is there anyone here part of any groups in that area or within the upper half of Alabama? Thanks!

civilwartalk.com

Reenactments in Alabama | Event Wire: Reenactments, Walks, Shows, & More

Does anyone know of, or recommend any reenactments in Alabama?

civilwartalk.com

 

[tmorr]

I know you don't want to be a reenactor, per se, but Co B of the 9th KY US infantry is based out of middle Tennessee, not far from you. You might want to reach out to them to join, if nothing else to attend their drill and training sessions. They do a lot of NPS and other living history events where where the school of the soldier and company evolutions are demonstrated.

9th KY

Welcome! We are a Civil War reenactment group based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that portrays the 9th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry (US). While we are based in Middle Tennessee, we have active and semi-active members in many states from Florida to Arizona and Alabama to Iowa besides our core Tennessee

www.9thky.org

 

[captaindrew]

Most units have a drill day/weekend at the start of their season. Other than that most drill is done at events, usually first thing Saturday morning. I would try hooking up with one of your local units, you can participate as much or as little as you want and usually not much $ wise to join, our group just charges 12$ per year which is what it costs up to add someone to our insurance roster.

 

[captaindrew]

Your kits look good by the way. Don't let your age and size hold you back from hooking up with a reenacting group. Believe me, there's older and larger guys doing mainstream events. No reason you couldn't join a group, attend drill sessions. If you don't want to run around a battlefield most groups do some living history demonstrations.

 

[maillemaker]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not really looking to join a unit, but I'd be interested in attending a drill-oriented event to learn drill. Just wondering how people find out about events to go to.

 

[captaindrew]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not really looking to join a unit, but I'd be interested in attending a drill-oriented event to learn drill. Just wondering how people find out about events to go to.

Do a search for local reenacting groups. Most groups have websites and/or Facebook pages with their schedule on it. I would still recommend you hook up with one of them. Generally to participate in any events you'll need to be on one of their rosters. And learning drill takes some time and effort for both the instructors and students. I wouldn't expect much enthusiasm for someone to train someone with no intention of being part of the group.

 

[1st Section]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not really looking to join a unit, but I'd be interested in attending a drill-oriented event to learn drill. Just wondering how people find out about events to go to.

Any interest in artillery? We hold a drill event in north Georgia every spring and we'd be glad to have you join us for that. We are also NSSA members.

 

[maillemaker]

Do a search for local reenacting groups. Most groups have websites and/or Facebook pages with their schedule on it. I would still recommend you hook up with one of them. Generally to participate in any events you'll need to be on one of their rosters. And learning drill takes some time and effort for both the instructors and students. I wouldn't expect much enthusiasm for someone to train someone with no intention of being part of the group.

There was a discussion from some reenactor on facebook, with a lot of people chiming in, of the idea of having more events focused on drill. If there was such an event, it would seem to me that they would be happy to have eager newbie bodies to learn the drill. That's why I'm not looking to join a group - this is not something I intend to do ongoing but I'd like to learn drill and I'd be happy to portray a "fresh fish" at such an event.

It's surprising to me that there isn't a more centralized coordination and advertising of events. I used to be in the SCA and each region of the country was a "kingdom" and they had a web site with a calendar of all the events coming up. The N-SSA has similar for our shooting competitions. I'm getting the impresison that if you aren't with a group finding out about events may be difficult.

 

[maillemaker]

Any interest in artillery? We hold a drill event in north Georgia every spring and we'd be glad to have you join us for that. We are also NSSA members.

No thanks, I've done that. It's fun, but a lot of work.

 

[1st Section]

No thanks, I've done that. It's fun, but a lot of work.

A LOT of work.

And good luck with your new team. We are heading down to Winchester tomorrow for the artillery shoot.

 

[captaindrew]

There was a discussion from some reenactor on facebook, with a lot of people chiming in, of the idea of having more events focused on drill. If there was such an event, it would seem to me that they would be happy to have eager newbie bodies to learn the drill. That's why I'm not looking to join a group - this is not something I intend to do ongoing but I'd like to learn drill and I'd be happy to portray a "fresh fish" at such an event.

It's surprising to me that there isn't a more centralized coordination and advertising of events. I used to be in the SCA and each region of the country was a "kingdom" and they had a web site with a calendar of all the events coming up. The N-SSA has similar for our shooting competitions. I'm getting the impresison that if you aren't with a group finding out about events may be difficult.

I have no idea what goes on around your neighborhood but you should be able to find out with a quick search. Both the Federal and CS battalions that run the show in our area have schedules posted on their websites, no membership needed to look. The big national events are easy to get info on.

 

[Mississippian1861]

There was a discussion from some reenactor on facebook, with a lot of people chiming in, of the idea of having more events focused on drill. If there was such an event, it would seem to me that they would be happy to have eager newbie bodies to learn the drill. That's why I'm not looking to join a group - this is not something I intend to do ongoing but I'd like to learn drill and I'd be happy to portray a "fresh fish" at such an event.

It's surprising to me that there isn't a more centralized coordination and advertising of events. I used to be in the SCA and each region of the country was a "kingdom" and they had a web site with a calendar of all the events coming up. The N-SSA has similar for our shooting competitions. I'm getting the impresison that if you aren't with a group finding out about events may be difficult.

I used to live in Madison AL for a few years growing up. I think the biggest group in the area then was the 19th Alabama, not sure if they are still around or not.

There used to be a publication called the "Camp Chase Gazette" that was the closest thing the hobby had to something most people read, and it listed quite a few events in it's pages.

 

[Trooper "D"]

There was a discussion from some reenactor on facebook, with a lot of people chiming in, of the idea of having more events focused on drill. If there was such an event, it would seem to me that they would be happy to have eager newbie bodies to learn the drill. That's why I'm not looking to join a group - this is not something I intend to do ongoing but I'd like to learn drill and I'd be happy to portray a "fresh fish" at such an event.

It's surprising to me that there isn't a more centralized coordination and advertising of events. I used to be in the SCA and each region of the country was a "kingdom" and they had a web site with a calendar of all the events coming up. The N-SSA has similar for our shooting competitions. I'm getting the impresison that if you aren't with a group finding out about events may be difficult.

That's if there even are events to calendar.