My 1st re-enactment

[BJ_BOBBI_JO]

This pic is me after a long day. My apron got ripped and crooked and I was getting plum tuckered out.

My 1st re-enacment as a re-enactor with spectators was this past weekend in Niles, Michigan. It was a very small one and sadly the rain chased people off. But the grounds we stayed on was great with very carying owners who worked hard to make our stay as comfortable as possible.

The long time re-enactor ladies helped dress me better since I had been wearing my aprong and things wrong. They were nice and helpful. I will be able to gather more period-correct clothing items with each tax return but for now I must make due with what I have.

It seems like most of the female re-enactors portray sewing and cooking. As usual I am the odd ball and do thigns my own way. I sat at my campfire making herbal tea bags made of dried herbs with cotton and burlap strings. I told stories of how the herbs help the soilders with their dysentary and stuff like that.

I also walked around amongst the specators gathering herbs and wild foods. My digging up roots drew attention and I was able to have people feel and smell the herb/wild foods as I explained how they kept us alive during times of starvation and sickness. People reacted with surprise since they never knew you could eat things like queens anns lace (wild carrot), clovers, dandelions and more.

I love the way the re-enactors feel comfortable enough to go from camp fire to campfire visiting, sharing, helping and having great conversations. I loved the old style singing and banjo playing too.

I used to think my white skin was a curse or something because I so wanted the darker skin of my Cherokee dad. When my dad was young he got in the sun for just a bit and turned into a bronze color, that along with his black hair and dark eyes show his Cherokee father in him. Now he is old and white haired. But this wekend I realized my white skin can be a blessing in a few instances. Ya see Ive noticed on the confederate side there seems to be a few racist bad apples. Well because I am so light skinned they think I too am all white like them. After spectators are gone the few bad apples re-enactors sometimes spout off their racist feeligns and thoughts. I listen. I feed them. I dont blow up. Then I hit them with "oh really? I didnt realize you felt that way about me" they then look confused so I go on " I am bi-racial mixed with white and Cherokee and a few generations back my direct ancesters are Jewish and father back they are arabs and we think one was black......." Because I dont argue and get mean this all confuses them and they stop looking me in the eye and stammer around to recover their racist words trying to explain them away. Kindness works best not easily affended arguing and insults. Show kindness and you get father in life.

But dont get me wrong most all of the re-enactors on BOTH sides are good hard working decent people who dont say racist things. I am re-enacting on the confederate side because we 1st met them and found out they are based out of our area and they are a neat group of guys. But I would have been happy to sign on with either side. Both sides are mostly all good people.

I love how we all share an interrest in history, camping, acting and so on. I love the togetherness of re-enacting. It is a great famnily experience.

Next weekend will be my 1st big event. It will be in Fishers, Indiana at Conner Prairie.
So if you are from Indiana, Ohio or Michigan and goto a civil war re-enactment and see a re-enactor woman walking around digging roots and picking "weeds" then you may have found me. :laugh1:

 

[unionblue]

BJ_BOBBIE_JO,

Thank you for telling your story about your first reenactment.

Reenactors are overall a great crowd of people and are more than willing to help out anyone with questions or a problem. They were a great help to me when I first separated from the US Army and got into the hobby.

I very much enjoyed reading about you going about and digging up herbs and talking with the spectators about doing such and why a person during the period would do such. Sounds like you are very serious about doing your research on the subject and enjoy interacting with the spectators.

But what impressed me the most was your ability to educate your fellow reenactors concerning your own ancestry and racial make-up. It took courage to do such, plus, the manner in which you told such was very intelligent and well thought out.

I salute you and praise you for having such a giving attitude in the hopes of educating others.

Take care and I look forward to hearing more of your times at future reenactments.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[Nathanb1]

That sounds awesome....and you look just fine. I would be quite surprised if no one ever ended up the day (in 1862, for example) with an un-torn, crooked apron. The herb/root idea is terrific, too. Absolutely unique and special, Ma'am!

Congratulations....sounds like you're on the way to something really wonderful.

 

[1stSgt E]

That was your first event?? Wow, sure could have fooled me! Well done!

 

[ole]

Looks like you were quite prepared for your first reenactment and have staked out your spot with some forethought.

Did you actually think you could survive a day without getting your apron messed up? Looking good, Billy Jo.

 

[BJ_BOBBI_JO]

Ha ha yeah it seems like one cant go threw a day without ruining or staining up something when re-enacting. No wonder the old timers at this have patches all over their clothing lol.

I've never re-enacted befor but Ive done my share of stage plays, skits and story telling. And Ive been camping ever since I was born. So re-enacting is right up my alley since it combines 5 things I love: camping, acting, nature/herbs/wild foods, family time, felowship with other people.

It sure is a lot fowork loading and unloading but the experience is so fun. Reading stuff on this site has helped as well as your comments.

I wish I could write some of the speeches the commentators give during the battles on the speaker. I feel like they forget that not all people know which side wears what color and which side is called what name and so on. Many people dont know such things. I also would love to be able to direct some of the re-enactors to use facial expressios and body language when in battle. They need to groan when down on the ground wounded and writhe in pain. The soilders need to show fearful but brave body language when the calvery comes running at them shooting. The actor with in me wants to direct, teach and educate. But since Im a newbie it would not go well or be respectful for me to just suddenly jump in with my ideas not when I dont know much yet. But maybe some day I will be able to express my ideas in a non insulting non judgemental way. As for now Im thinking of asking the undertaker if I can help him go around checking on the wounded in the field and the dead. I have a black skirt and shirt. I can cry, show emotion and act like Im trying to help them or mourn over their bodies. I dunno. May I will be able to and maybe not. The same undertaker seems to do all the re-enactments and he is good at what he does so maybe he wont want my help. I just wanna act!

 

[Republican Blues]

I also would love to be able to direct some of the re-enactors to use facial expressios and body language when in battle. They need to groan when down on the ground wounded and writhe in pain. The soilders need to show fearful but brave body language when the calvery comes running at them shooting.

Madame,

I congratulate you on your first event... glad you had a good time. Just one thing stands out that I would address.

That would be wounds. Yes there need to be ALOT more wounded then dead, but the thing about wounds, specifically GSWs, and even more specifically those delivered by a soft lead large caliber (.69 to .44 just for example) traveling at subsonic velocity is this... shock is almost instantaneous. Some initial pain might be felt, but for the most part, the body goes into shock, and little pain is felt. There are soldiers, my wifes GGGreat uncle being one of them, who were shot multiple times before being brought down. The soldier mentioned was wounded thrice at Fredricksburg with the 116th PA, and when they pulled his blanket roll off, they found 47 more bullets. Most of the groaning, screaming and writhing in pain came later, when the shock wore off, usually at the field Hospitals.

As to Cavalry, the Infantry really held them in disdain, and didnt fear them all that much for a few reasons. First, they very rarely charged infantry, there being a few examples of that but only a few, and further, they knew that horses will NOT charge willingly into a line of bayonets. This was why the British formed hollow squares at Waterloo ad defeated Napoleons Cavalry, and that was close enough in common memory that it could be remembered. Cavalry is good if the enemy breaks, then you charge and mop up the broken lines, but untill then, it is next to worthless against infantry, unless they dismount and fight with carbines on foot.

Again, glad you had a good time, I am impressed with your herb knowledge, and way to shut them boys up what was talkin' ignorent hats off to ya!

 

[ems11]

Hello all
I am really very happy I found this thread. There are so many things I love about it. First of all Billy Jo, I love how you were so out going on your first re-enacting adventure. Second I loved that you were working with herbs and roots and what not. I live for that kind of thing. I hope we will be able to talk and you will be able to give me some pointers. I just love using natural products to heal illness and what have you. Third I love that you are in the Michigan area. I am in south east Mi.
Another reason I replied to this post is that I am a young wanna be re-enactor. I have been studying things for a year or two now. I have made some clothing, bought some from a friend of mine. Also I have been collecting other odds and ends that I or my family will find for me. I just wanted to know if you have any advice for a first timer/someone who wants to get into all of this?

 

[Republican Blues]

Research REsearch Research.. Research the local units in your area. What so you want out of the hobby, do you lean Federal, Confederate, or does it matter? Do you mind being in dual impression unit? Find a unit that fits you, talk to them find out their standards for uniforms and equipment, the research Research research. Find out if they have a mentor program, and take advantage if they do... then research reseach research.

 

[BJ_BOBBI_JO]

EMS11---yep do loads of research. For example you can pick a plant you see outside and if you dont know what it is take a pic and post it on a herbal forums for identification such as welltellme.com

Once you know for 100% sure what the plant is research it to death. Learn what parts can be safely used and used for what. There are way more safe herbs and wild foods out there then we realize. Our ancesters survived off them. Some more commonly known wild foods and herbs are dandelions, queen anns lace (wild carrot), yarrow, plantain, burdock, stinging nettle, garlic mustard, clovers and the list goes on.

Here is a link to a guy on youtube that does short vids on identifying and how to eat some wild foods/herbs. He has over a 100 vids now:
http://www.youtube.com/user/EatTheWeeds

 

[Elaine Kessinger]

This record in the National Archives is a notice to Southern women to grow plants in their gardens that could be turned into prepared pharmaceuticals. http://digitalvaults.org/#/detail/10539/

Enjoy!

 

[Lnwlf]

Now this was an awsome post! I think the future crowds will really appreciate your interaction with them. Thanks for posting!

 

[Littlestown]

Civil War Medicine: Use of Indegineous Botanical Substitutes

http://www.civilwarinteractive.com/ArticleAnesthetics.htm

BJ_BOBBIE_JO,

I thought this study might be of interest to you. It is a fascinating look at Civil War surgeons' attempts to use readily available botanicals during the war.