Winter impact on reenacting?

[major bill]

We are starting to get snow around here so reenacting is put on hold until spring. But should reenactments be put on hold during the winter? There were several battle that occurred in snow. Many of these would be appropriate for a reenactment. Also a winter quarters reenactment might be interesting.

Sleeping on the ground in tents at below freezing or even zero or sub zero weather is possible. I am not sure just how warm Civil War era tents are, but 20 degrees should not be an issue. An extra wool blanket might be needed. Stoves in tents could be a safety issue.

I am sure many of us have slept on the ground in tents during below freezing temperatures. I have done so in sub zero weather and was confetable and not overly cold, many nights we ran a stove, but a lantern was enough heat to get by.

So are reenactors just afraid of the cold? Certainly it us warm enough in Virginia, Missouri, Tennessee, and other states for winter reenactments.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Reenactors ain't afraid of the cold, (except maybe some older folks), there's more than a few stories of reenactors freezing to death/hospital visits.

What scares reenactors in snowy weather is the roads to and home.

Lot of trouble to drive upteen hours just to get stuck in traffic jams due to wrecks and so forth, or for many us Southern folk the terror of driving on snowy roads.

 

[Sivart]

Winter reenactments could be cool since many Civil War battles happened in the cold, but they come with challenges. Cold weather can be dangerous, leading to frostbite or hypothermia, and sleeping in cold tents without modern gear would be tough. Winter camp reenactments might be a safer option, focusing on how soldiers survived the cold by building shelters and chopping wood. Civil War tents weren't very warm, and having stoves inside can be a fire risk. While winter reenactments are historically accurate, not all reenactors want to deal with freezing temps, so they're less common than summer events. In addition, the drive home could be perilous as well. Overall, a winter camp reenactment might be a good way to go.

 

[WestCoastSB]

We are starting to get snow around here so reenacting is put on hold until spring. But should reenactments be put on hold during the winter? There were several battle that occurred in snow. Many of these would be appropriate for a reenactment. Also a winter quarters reenactment might be interesting.

Sleeping on the ground in tents at below freezing or even zero or sub zero weather is possible. I am not sure just how warm Civil War era tents are, but 20 degrees should not be an issue. An extra wool blanket might be needed. Stoves in tents could be a safety issue.

I am sure many of us have slept on the ground in tents during below freezing temperatures. I have done so in sub zero weather and was confetable and not overly cold, many nights we ran a stove, but a lantern was enough heat to get by.

So are reenactors just afraid of the cold? Certainly it us warm enough in Virginia, Missouri, Tennessee, and other states for winter reenactments.

I had a few memorable winter reenacting experiences back home. I'd say get the "hardier" folks to sign a waiver but go forth and hold an event.

It doesn't have to be overnight.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Winter reenactments could be cool since many Civil War battles happened in the cold, but they come with challenges. Cold weather can be dangerous, leading to frostbite or hypothermia, and sleeping in cold tents without modern gear would be tough. Winter camp reenactments might be a safer option, focusing on how soldiers survived the cold by building shelters and chopping wood. Civil War tents weren't very warm, and having stoves inside can be a fire risk. While winter reenactments are historically accurate, not all reenactors want to deal with freezing temps, so they're less common than summer events. In addition, the drive home could be perilous as well. Overall, a winter camp reenactment might be a good way to go.

I know I prefer Fall/Winter events to Spring/Summer ones.

To keep warm you just bundle up and more clothes, to stay cool you can only take off so many before you get arrested.

Also fires are so much more preferable in the cold.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

Something also to consider is timing. Once it starts getting cold, you've got about six weeks where no one wants to schedule something that conflicts with people's holiday plans.

I have been to many events where temps were below freezing, some colder than others. The main issue as I see it is that most people are unaware of even the most basic things that keep you warm, where back in a time where if you wanted warmth you had to create it yourself, the average person knew all sorts of ways to stay comfortable.

That's not to say frostbite, exhaustion, dehydration, and all the other stuff people talked about aren't valid, just that I think there are some very basic reasons that these things don't happen more often that get overlooked.

 

[major bill]

I had a new National Guard soldier who moved here from southern Louisiana. We were doing a winter camp. He seemed afraid of sleeping in a tent on the ground during sub zero weather. Thought he would freeze or get frostbite. He acted like he had never used snowshoes or skis. His cross country skiing skills were poor. He wore so many layers of winter clothing he had to be helped up when he fell every ten feet. I got to the point that standing around while he was helped up, over and over again, made me wish I had put on long johns.

He came out of the tent during a heavy snow storm and 10 degree below zero temperatures, saw me naked to the waist shaving and he looked at me like I was a crazy man. I had on boots and uniform pants.

 

[Jantzen64]

A number of years ago, some of my reenacting unit decided we wanted to try a winter encampment. Being in Minnesota, this was not decided lightly, but the challenge was accepted! One of our members had some acreage, and gave us permission to stockade a Sibley over a long weekend. In the weeks proceeding we gathered logs of appropriate width/height and started to position them in a circle to match the base of the Sibley. We started out using period tools, but "cheated" with modern equipment as the sun started to fall and the wind pit through our great coats. We managed to get it assembled pretty well, along with a Sibley stove, but soon learned just how little heat that stove put out, and how little of the winds the canvas could keep out. That, and the required dropping of both the temp and about a foot of snow before we assembled for the weekend put the brakes on our plans. We had every intent of doing a live fire competition and practicing our drill, especially skirmisher instructions. We ended up spending most of the weekend feeding the fire, sampling a bottle or two of contraband and swapping stories. A great weekend, nonetheless (and stockading the Sibley was worth it)

 

[7thWisconsin]

I´ve camped with 18th century and 19th century gear in the fall and winter. I´ve also done WW2 winter events. Winter camping in general, even with modern gear, is mostly just an effort to stay warm and dry. It´s more difficult with primitive camping gear. Be prepared for everything to get muddy. I´ve had water freeze in my canteen, for instance. If you can set up camp in a dry spot, and can feed a fire most of the time, it´s fine. We did an early spring campout where I left the back pie piece in my tent, and built a small fire in front of it that heated the shelter tent pretty well. Leather soled shoes are terrible in wet muddy conditions, so you slip around a lot. I got a mild case of frostbite from 2 days of wet cold brogans. A greatcoat with mittens and balaclava are as good as ay modern winter clothing I own. Then there are the modern issues: I remember a Fredericksburg event at the Washington birthplace site when almost all the participant cars and trucks were stuck in the mud in parking, and we spent 2 hours doing wheeled vehicle recovery (a great military skill, if not a period one). Then there´s the drive to and from. I got stuck in a freak snowstorm last spring that turned a 5 hour drive home into a 9 hour. On the whole, I hate to admit that the experience is really not worth all the effort. If you have a site nearby so that travel is not an issue, and perhaps indoor billeting (even a barn) if the weather really sours, then it will work. I wouldn´t make a multi-state trek just for the experience, though.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

We are starting to get snow around here so reenacting is put on hold until spring. But should reenactments be put on hold during the winter? There were several battle that occurred in snow. Many of these would be appropriate for a reenactment. Also a winter quarters reenactment might be interesting.

Sleeping on the ground in tents at below freezing or even zero or sub zero weather is possible. I am not sure just how warm Civil War era tents are, but 20 degrees should not be an issue. An extra wool blanket might be needed. Stoves in tents could be a safety issue.

I am sure many of us have slept on the ground in tents during below freezing temperatures. I have done so in sub zero weather and was confetable and not overly cold, many nights we ran a stove, but a lantern was enough heat to get by.

So are reenactors just afraid of the cold? Certainly it us warm enough in Virginia, Missouri, Tennessee, and other states for winter reenactments.

Every February there is a reenactment of the Battle of Olustee in Florida. I have not attended in the past several years, but the reenactment is normally quite good. There has traditionally been a good showing of Union cavalry, but not enough Union infantry. The Confederacy is traditionally well represented, of course. Consider participating at Olustee in February.

 

[Trooper "D"]

We are starting to get snow around here so reenacting is put on hold until spring. But should reenactments be put on hold during the winter? There were several battle that occurred in snow. Many of these would be appropriate for a reenactment. Also a winter quarters reenactment might be interesting.

Sleeping on the ground in tents at below freezing or even zero or sub zero weather is possible. I am not sure just how warm Civil War era tents are, but 20 degrees should not be an issue. An extra wool blanket might be needed. Stoves in tents could be a safety issue.

I am sure many of us have slept on the ground in tents during below freezing temperatures. I have done so in sub zero weather and was confetable and not overly cold, many nights we ran a stove, but a lantern was enough heat to get by.

So are reenactors just afraid of the cold? Certainly it us warm enough in Virginia, Missouri, Tennessee, and other states for winter reenactments.

My first battle event was in October 1976 at about 4,000 feet in Tejon Pass. Actually up in the back canyon behind Fort Tejon. We had modern canvass sleeping bags in A tents. It rained part. It was windy the Friday load in. Wool uniforms and a wool blanket pretty much did the trick. Saturday night's march to the non existant sneak attack just got us cold and night blind and way too near the enemy's artillery blasts. I was exhausted and it was only 7:30. A short rest off of my feet and I was good as new.
Soaked and shivering all the way home. Packed in the camper shell with all the gear and guns and other troops. It was only an hour drive down the mountain to home so not crazy long.
Loved every minute. Wanted to go back up there immediately. We were between 9-17 years old and resilient.
I'm just too physically ruined to not have at least a Sibley tent and stove. I live in snowy country. The excitement and newness of a fresh blanket of snow lasts exactly 12-1/2 minutes. And then you have to drive in it for 3 months.

 

[Peace Society]

Reenacting for your own pleasure can take place any time. if you want spectators, you're not as likely to get a turn-out for some of the nasty weather encountered during the war.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

In late November of 1989 our unit attended the 125th anniversary national reenactment of the Battle of Franklin. The nights were particularly frosty. When we awakened in the Union camp, we found that an older reenactor had gotten up during the night and died of a heart attack. He had fallen across a corner of his dog tent. His tent mate, who had not awakened, was aghast when he found him in the morning. Cold, age and previous medical conditions were undoubtedly the causes.

 

[Conquerordie]

Me, Lake Champlain, northern VT side , February, 2ft deep snow, wool breechcloth and leggings, I haven't been the same since.

 

[iron bender]

I've been a popsicle at Shiloh 1987 and Franklin. I shivered for 72 straight hours at Franklin. Kept a candle lit in our pup tent just to break the chill any bit possible

 

[Dusty]

Right now in Gettysburg it's 22° with 8mph winds. A cold battlefield.

 

[archieclement]

We are starting to get snow around here so reenacting is put on hold until spring. But should reenactments be put on hold during the winter? There were several battle that occurred in snow. Many of these would be appropriate for a reenactment. Also a winter quarters reenactment might be interesting.

Sleeping on the ground in tents at below freezing or even zero or sub zero weather is possible. I am not sure just how warm Civil War era tents are, but 20 degrees should not be an issue. An extra wool blanket might be needed. Stoves in tents could be a safety issue.

I am sure many of us have slept on the ground in tents during below freezing temperatures. I have done so in sub zero weather and was confetable and not overly cold, many nights we ran a stove, but a lantern was enough heat to get by.

So are reenactors just afraid of the cold? Certainly it us warm enough in Virginia, Missouri, Tennessee, and other states for winter reenactments.

Lol after two weeks of mostly single digits and low teens with wind chill well below zero in Missouri. Not sure that many would consider it tent weather

They do reenact PG in Arkansas in early dec......but it could be 60 or better or 20 depending on year.

Perhaps renact Rock Island prison in Iowa/Illinois winter without winter clothing...........

 

[iron bender]

Lol after two weeks of mostly single digits and low teens with wind chill well below zero in Missouri. Not sure that many would consider it tent weather

They do reenact PG in Arkansas in early dec......but it could be 60 or better or 20 depending on year.

Perhaps renact Rock Island prison in Iowa/Illinois winter without winter clothing...........

I recall some miserable nights at Prairie Grove on second thought. At 50 I can do without it

 

[Lampasas Bill]

I recall some miserable nights at Prairie Grove on second thought. At 50 I can do without it

Ditto on Prairie Grove! When I was reenacting it was always the last event of the year for Holmes' Brigade and we always had a big turnout, but the weather was unpredictible. Still, I don't remember many years when the daytime wasn't too warm for greatcoats.

 

[Stainless Steel Mucket]

Organizers are clearly aware of the weather and its impact on participants and guests. Consider that the next Franklin reenactment is scheduled for the first week in October verses the actual date on the last day of November. Next consider that the Friday overnight temp at Carnton for the living history there on 6-8 December 2024 was 19 degrees. Earlier date for the mainstream reenactment means fewer weather issues and greater participation.

- S.S. Mucket