Reenactor Critique

[captaindrew]

Interesting thought. Though honestly, the internet is full of know-it-alls who will for sure find something wrong with someone else's impression.


I don't think that's mean. I think that's a normal reaction.

I'm referring to really rude, really obnoxious online behavior.

You`re right, there`s always a critic no matter how good something is. Bottom line is don`t let that stop you from doing something you enjoy and forget about those people. Same with any of us, we`ve all run into that at some time.

 

[John Hartwell]

Buddy, not only is it real, but it gets worst:

View attachment 132486

I have no words. At the risk of sounding hypocritical from my earlier posts on this subject I`ll leave it alone. That picture speaks for itself.

98% of the public would think it looks just fine, and enjoy the show.
Absolute accuracy just doesn't matter to anybody but the participants (or, some of them).

Personally, I wouldn't want to reenact if I couldn't do with reasonable accuracy -- and to me that means it "looks good" at twenty feet. Stitch-counters (I've heard arguments about the number of threads per inch in the fabric) are just 'pleasuring' their own egos.

At any rate, just out of common decency, objections should be made quietly and privately, face to face, man to man.

 

[LoriAnn]

Personally, I wouldn't want to reenact if I couldn't do with reasonable accuracy -- and to me that means it "looks good" at twenty feet.

Yeah, but I'd catch you with my zoom lens and ideally be able to count ALL the stitches in the first buttonhole of your jacket, Mister!

(I'm lying. My lens isn't that good. Neither is my focus.)

 

[FloridaCSA]

I'm sorry guys but this:

View attachment 132483

@Albert Sailhorst can agree with me on this one.

This guy needs more pistols haha

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

usually weapons and safety checks are done by each unit before every action

Yeah, and to add on, companies will have first each release their ramrod down the barrel. If it makes a nice clink, you are in the green. If it makes a thump, you need to clean it ASAP. Then you discharge a percussion cap whilst aiming the weapon to the ground. The inspector listens for a clean sound, while most importantly checking to make sure if there is any fouling shooting out the barrel, another sign it needs cleaning. You are expected to clean your weapon as soon as you get back to camp from a battle.

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

@FloridaCSA I think the only thing he had correct was the IQ number on his hat

 

[Dave Hull]

Not in the hobby so maybe a stupid question. What is the usual SOP for weapon/ safety checks? Done at the unit level or is there a centralized safety command? The photo above is why I ask.

From my experiences with the USV, ANV and Longstreet's, the unit firearms safety is conducted as follows: NCO's inspect weapons prior to falling in for battle, checking for cleanliness, and audible rammer ping. Once the unit falls in at the Battalion level, usually the First Sergeant and Company Commander (Staff Officers and Ordinance Sergeants sometimes as well,) have the men open ranks and conduct inspection arms. They are looking for the weapon to hold safe at half cock, ensure a good hammer seat with the nipple, audible ping of the rammer to ensure the barrel is free and clear, and one shot fired with primer only, sufficient to blow grass or dirt. No paper is to be inserted into the barrel on field, nor are rammers to be employed. Troops with 50 yards require elevation of arms. ANV goes a step further with an Ordnance morning report, to include a full list of weapons for the Company, to include edge weapons and side arms. Regimental or Battalion Ordnance Sergeants conduct all clearings of weapons and strive to ensure no misfires during a battle. Any First Sergeant whose Company has misfires gets a stern talking to by the Ordnance Sergeants.

From the ranks, the best safety comes from these main stream units. The biggest safety violations I have seen have come from veteran reenactors ( my experience with ram rods flying over head happened to come from campaigners, who also happened to be NPS staff, which has always shocked me as the NPS goes to the hilt on weapons safety while in the parks.)

The ram rod makes a distinctive sounds when fired over one's head. The second one fired over my head went an estimated 700 yards. Thankfully, it has been a few years since I have seen anyone committing any safety infraction and have seen very few instances of misfiring weapons over the last 50 or so events.

 

[thomas aagaard]

The point is "attitude" trumps "the correct kit" (meaning the specific material culture) every time.

I take a "soldier" who got her kit in Pakistan, but knows her drill.
over a "soldier" who have the most authentic kit ever, but don't know his drill.

Regimental or Battalion Ordnance Sergeants

Personally I think they should do a bit of reading and realize that there was no ordnance sergeants in an infantry battalion...(they where part of the ordnance department and was assigned to a military post, like an arsenal or fort)
And get someone else to do it...

But we do it pretty similar here in Denmark.

About 3 years ago I took over as "drill sergeant" in my group.
The first thing I changed was how we do drill. We now drill with the ramrod and part of the time with fixed bayonets.
I rather have men who treat their muskets as weapons... and not as toys... and the bayonets help.. so it is partly for physiological reasons I order them fixed.
And That also helps make everyone comfortable to walk around with fixed bayonets. Nice when you want to do it at other types of events.

And thanks to much more focus on the correct handling of the weapons, My argument is that we are more safe than before.
Drilling with the ramrod do naturally give the risk that the men get use to it and someone doing it during a "battle".
But We remind everyone not to do it before we load the first round in the field and Everyone help keeping an eye on the men around them. So It have not happened yet... (And if someone do it one day, the men should be drilled sufficiently, so they remember to remove it again)

 

[Chattahooch33]

My way of thinking, coming from a "hardcore stitch counter", is that if you are educating the public you should do it correctly.
In my experiences, the gentleman in the above picture is usually the type to be front and center and going out of his way to spread his vast knowledge to the masses.

And lack of money is not that guy's issue. He has thousands of dollars of extra revolvers.

 

[9th tn dancyville grays]

I have been in this hobby for many yrs and I have seen and heard most of it alot if time for me is weight of guys and how bad there gear is , well if no one tells them or helps them then it will continue I have leaked how to cheat on things and make my impression better I also know guys who are in the hardcore groups and they help me alot and I help them I might not have big name sutler but what I have will pass and I have done campaign events to little events. Know other things I'm not crazy about like people who's in this hobby have no clue on the civil war or just won't to shoot cannons or rifel sad to me we are here to teach and that's the best thing to do I have problem with women in the ranks out if 20 yrs in this hobby I have only seen 3 women who could pass and try hard to make it work and I'm ok with that

 

[thomas aagaard]

I got 10x the problem with too old and to fat men, than with the few women I know doing 19th century military reenactment. (and 20 times more with the men who simply don't care about proper drill and only just want to burn some powder...)

We have no issue with not using bayonets, not using the ramrods and not loading with paper... And excuse it with safety, when other periods (1866) use all of them. It is purely a matter of drill and reenactment culture...
(and simply aiming a bit low all the time)

But the horror if there is a woman in the ranks.

One danish group, reenacting WWII Germans do this properly.
(They are portraying a 2nd rate unit on garrison duty here in Denmark during the war)
They use the historical gender norms in regard to uniforms and jobs and their female members do support jobs.
But they also use the historical physical standards and grooming standards. The men got to be fit, clean shaven and with proper short hair. And look like you are 45 years old or younger.
To fat? you need to loos weight to join.
Long hair? you need to cut it off to join. (a good friend of mine did this to join)
Beard? shave it off to join.
Look too old with too much gray in the hair? Color your hair.

Either we demand that our members physical characteristics are historical.
Young, fit and with a height about 165cm tall...
Or we don't...
Equal rules for everyone.

When you got an event with an audience, just give them the disclaimer - we don't use ramrods for safety and there was no woman in the ranks (there was not in the danish army)... but we don't want to discriminate against people today... so we have some in the ranks, and then move on....
And should we be honest we should also mention that most reenactors are too tall, too old and to heavy.

Woman in the ranks is no more "wrong" or damaging to how the spectators understand history than all the old men... And if we don't bring it up, the audience might get the idea that old men was the norm... when it was not.

 

[jekct1212]

One thing I've noticed in reenactments down south is that everyone is confederate and there is always a scramble to get enough union troops to make it look good. I would rather have enough FARB looking union troops than a handful of accurate ones, and there's always that one confederate who takes the ragged and worn look a little to far and the one confederate who looks like a cowboy. I don't see this problem when I'm union for some reason. I'm not the most accurate looking soldier out there but my hat isn't covered in brass and turkey feathers and I'm not patched all over and the only weapons I carry are bayonet and musket, I don't see what's so hard about sticking to that.

 

[Chattahooch33]

One thing I've noticed in reenactments down south is that everyone is confederate and there is always a scramble to get enough union troops to make it look good. I would rather have enough FARB looking union troops than a handful of accurate ones, and there's always that one confederate who takes the ragged and worn look a little to far and the one confederate who looks like a cowboy. I don't see this problem when I'm union for some reason. I'm not the most accurate looking soldier out there but my hat isn't covered in brass and turkey feathers and I'm not patched all over and the only weapons I carry are bayonet and musket, I don't see what's so hard about sticking to that.

The way i see circumstances like this is that if you won't portray a federal, you are reenacting for the wrong reason. If an entire unit has an issue with going blue, find a good unit.

 

[jekct1212]

The way i see circumstances like this is that if you won't portray a federal, you are reenacting for the wrong reason. If an entire unit has an issue with going blue, find a good unit.

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

 

[Jackson Hornets]

If you see someone who could use some help, you need to ask them if they don't mind receiving some advice THEN critique them constructively. Not publicly rail them so to speak. There's no reason to ever be just outright mean. I'm sorry you had to deal with people like that over a vague bit of facial hair and a button.

 

[Beltplate53]

I am always willing to learn from others. A safety issue I came upon, was with Bowie knives. I was in line of battle and we were taking on some Louisiana Tigers. I took a hit and sticking up on end was a knive that had fallen from someones belt. The pard beside me pushed me so I wouldn't fall on it. Secure the knives.

 

[Dave Hull]

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

Exactly the reason I decided to go with the army of my people after the 150th. Doing the 150th as a Regular was a great experience, coupled with falling in with other State units. From Manassas, Balls Bluff, to Fredericksburg the hint of catastrophic loss is just over the raise. Since changing sides, especially early war stuff, you truly get an appreciation for the euphoria in the Southern ranks and a sense of impending doom on the Federal side. Recently I fell in with the 1st SC at Petersburg, where you definitely know the end is near. While the battlefield is beautiful today, it takes little to no imagination to understand the mindset of the men holding out to the bitter end, in a place where they probably felt dying would have been a blessing.

 

[LoriAnn]

If you see someone who could use some help, you need to ask them if they don't mind receiving some advice THEN critique them constructively. Not publicly rail them so to speak. There's no reason to ever be just outright mean. I'm sorry you had to deal with people like that over a vague bit of facial hair and a button.

You, Sir, are a gentleman.

 

[MC44]

That's real. I was at an event and was approached and told the hand stitching on my shell jacket did not have the right number of stitches per inch. I said it must have been purchased from a shoddy contractor. He was not amused.

I love your reply! Shoddy contractor!

 

[CMWinkler]

I love your reply! Shoddy contractor!

I think the pun was lost on him, but it made me smile.