Reenactor Critique

[MC44]

Years ago at an event we had a WW2 veteran of the Pacific War come up to us after our talks and demonstartions. He had nothing but praise for our attempts to get things right. He also spoke of attending a WW2 re-enactment where much to his surprise he discovered there was a unit not only portraying his old Division, Regiment, Battalion & Company but his own platoon. After the event he went up to them and offered to show them how they actually wore & carried their equipment. He was rebuffed and told they had built their impressions upon a historical film of said unit. He told them he had been part of said film and it had been filmed in Hawaii before they ever got anywhere near combat. needless to say his opinion of WW2 re-enacting was... not flattering.

Seriously? I am honestly outraged at the group that chose to use a FILM of the regiment to base their impression on as opposed to an ACTUAL soldier in that platoon. Those are the people that should not be reenacting. It kinda defeats the WHOLE PURPOSE of it.

 

[Irishtom29]

I agree that anything worth doing is worth doing well.

I read a book called "Waiting for the Weekend" and the writer talked about the modern American penchant for "getting into" activities rather than simply doing them. He quoted an English writer, I forget his name, who said that what's worth doing is worth doing badly. I agree.

 

[MC44]

You'd think people would at least like to get a different perspective on a battle, I actually like being Union more than confederate

up here in Vermont, we don't have a lot of Confederates. Since my ancestors wore blue, that is why I want to, but I would have no issue wearing gray now and then. Might be fun. Most of my newest friends portray Yanks and Rebs both. I am just starting out in the hobby, so I don't have a Confederate kit....yet. Just don't tell me wife. She thinks I am crazy enough buying the Union gear!

 

[captaindrew]

up here in Vermont, we don't have a lot of Confederates. Since my ancestors wore blue, that is why I want to, but I would have no issue wearing gray now and then. Might be fun. Most of my newest friends portray Yanks and Rebs both. I am just starting out in the hobby, so I don't have a Confederate kit....yet. Just don't tell me wife. She thinks I am crazy enough buying the Union gear!

Down here we have a opposite problem, never enough Yankees. Our captain has been urging us to try to put together a basic Federal kit so we can go Yankee as a company if needed. Well I got lucky and got a good deal on a used Federal sack coat and a frock coat and my other half was so happy I didn't spend a fortune on them. Well I'm glad I got home first today and was able to put the big box of stuff that arrived at the front door away I got to go with it. Hey, it's my vice.

 

[MC44]

Down here we have a opposite problem, never enough Yankees. Our captain has been urging us to try to put together a basic Federal kit so we can go Yankee as a company if needed. Well I got lucky and got a good deal on a used Federal sack coat and a frock coat and my other half was so happy I didn't spend a fortune on them. Well I'm glad I got home first today and was able to put the big box of stuff that arrived at the front door away I got to go with it. Hey, it's my vice.

Amen! I feel I want to garner more experience and have a decent Union impression first. Then I will feel confident enough to portray the other side of things.

 

[D.H. Hill]

Seriously? I am honestly outraged at the group that chose to use a FILM of the regiment to base their impression on as opposed to an ACTUAL soldier in that platoon. Those are the people that should not be reenacting. It kinda defeats the WHOLE PURPOSE of it.

I think what was meant was a propaganda film made in period and showing the unit in question rather than say a 50s war movie. "He told them he had been part of said film and it had been filmed in Hawaii before they ever got anywhere near combat." In studying ACW it's easy to forget that other periods have more than just photographs for sources.

 

[byron ed]

I may be castigated for this, but the "10-foot rule" is a standard that's both easy to understand and enforceable on a practical level. We can live with that in the hobby. It definitely restrains outlandish farbery yet definitely addresses cost of gear.

I ascribe to it. After all, it's not all that darn easy or inexpensive to even get there. It requires discipline (if not to the campaigner level).

10-foot rule? It means no big eyeglasses or wristwatches. Reasonable health and body type. Women should make a fairly serious attempt at looking like a man, not just hair stuffed. There should be a reasonable officer-to-ranks ratio. There should not be any slat chairs in camp. Infantry should be in tent halves, but a straw-filled cotton tick to lay on is not out of the question. If you must have a cot and and be a one soldier in an A-tent leave the flaps closed. If your legacy unit had 3-banded Springfields, then a repro without all the stamps and markings is ok. If in uniform keep the top button buttoned. If your unit had square buckles you have a square buckle. No more than one or two "grizzled veterans" in a unit, please. Have the right style of headgear. Western troops restrain from contorting your slouch caps into ridiculous shapes. Maybe an occasional feather. If you must have a Bowie or "Arkansas Toothpick" be a Confederate.

Consider coloring your hair. Real units were not mostly grey-hairs. (You know there is so much push-back on this one thing! Insecure masculinity or what? Get over it. Look more right at battlefield distance or become veteran reserve or something. Many of us can't be as young as a period soldier but we can at least appear younger on the battlefield at 30 yards. Don't break the spell for the spectators and each other when such a cheap fix is so easy and available). I'm realistic enough to know this one will not go anywhere, but I thought I'd mention it.

Anyway the point is that the 10-foot rule works at a practical level. It is not to be mocked, imho. It works well for spectators, especially student groups. They will at least not get the wrong idea, as they do with someone who's not right even at 20 yards. Example if they see a "Zuave" (1863 Remington contract two-bander) being used, it's nearly identical to an 1855 Harpers Ferry 2-bander so we can live with that, yes? It's what's called a talking point, save it for the detail monkeys that want to hear it.

So etc. etc. this could go on for the rest of the thread. There's no real problems with a 10-foot rule as we know there is with either "stitch-counter" standard or conversely "cowboy camping" lack of standards.

 

[Tailor Pete]

I may be castigated for this, but the "10-foot rule" is a standard that's both easy to understand and enforceable on a practical level. We can live with that in the hobby. It definitely restrains outlandish farbery yet definitely addresses cost of gear.

I ascribe to it. After all, it's not all that darn easy or inexpensive to even get there. It requires discipline (if not to the campaigner level).

10-foot rule? It means no big eyeglasses or wristwatches. Reasonable health and body type. Women should make a fairly serious attempt at looking like a man, not just hair stuffed. There should be a reasonable officer-to-ranks ratio. There should not be any slat chairs in camp. Infantry should be in tent halves, but a straw-filled cotton tick to lay on is not out of the question. If you must have a cot and and be a one soldier in an A-tent leave the flaps closed. If your legacy unit had 3-banded Springfields, then a repro without all the stamps and markings is ok. If in uniform keep the top button buttoned. If your unit had square buckles you have a square buckle. No more than one or two "grizzled veterans" in a unit, please. Have the right style of headgear. Western troops restrain from contorting your slouch caps into ridiculous shapes. Maybe an occasional feather. If you must have a Bowie or "Arkansas Toothpick" be a Confederate.

Consider coloring your hair. Real units were not mostly grey-hairs. (You know there is so much push-back on this one thing! Insecure masculinity or what? Get over it. Look more right at battlefield distance or become veteran reserve or something. Many of us can't be as young as a period soldier but we can at least appear younger on the battlefield at 30 yards. Don't break the spell for the spectators and each other when such a cheap fix is so easy and available). I'm realistic enough to know this one will not go anywhere, but I thought I'd mention it.

Anyway the point is that the 10-foot rule works at a practical level. It is not to be mocked, imho. It works well for spectators, especially student groups. They will at least not get the wrong idea, as they do with someone who's not right even at 20 yards. Example if they see a "Zuave" (1863 Remington contract two-bander) being used, it's nearly identical to an 1855 Harpers Ferry 2-bander so we can live with that, yes? It's what's called a talking point, save it for the detail monkeys that want to hear it.

So etc. etc. this could go on for the rest of the thread. There's no real problems with a 10-foot rule as we know there is with either "stitch-counter" standard or conversely "cowboy camping" lack of standards.

I've always ascribed to the ten-foot rule, not as an ending, but a beginning. If I can look reasonably accurate at 10 feet, then I can give the spectators a good idea of a CW soldier, but as I tell new recruits, ten feet is a great point of reference for doing just a bit more.

I prefer to be as authentic as possible, but do not criticize others for their impressions. Rather, I try to offer helpful suggestions, and sometimes, 'hand-me-downs' for those who are trying hard to improve. I don't carer how ardent an 'authentic' one is, there is always room to improve YOUR impression by helping others improve theirs. No criticism, just cooperation.

 

[Chattahooch33]

Its easy... don't buy your uniform from a sutler and you will be good.

 

[Cpl. Smith]

up here in Vermont, we don't have a lot of Confederates. Since my ancestors wore blue, that is why I want to, but I would have no issue wearing gray now and then. Might be fun. Most of my newest friends portray Yanks and Rebs both. I am just starting out in the hobby, so I don't have a Confederate kit....yet. Just don't tell me wife. She thinks I am crazy enough buying the Union gear!

Wait till she catches the bug than you will be crazy!

 

[byron ed]

up here in Vermont, we don't have a lot of Confederates

You may already be aware, but if not Google "St. Alban's Raid." It's an actual Confederate skirmish site in Vermont that, I think at least once, was reenacted and may be again (if you also Google "Vermont reenactors" one of the units that comes up should know something about it).

Hey, I just talked myself into wanting to muster in for that!