I am often asked on the forum, in e-mail or PMs about how to get into Civil War re-enacting.  Rather than continue to give short answers, I have written out a good long-version answer that I hope may help answer the questions.  Feel free to reply with questions as I will always help as best as I can.  This issue is more important right now and throughout this next year to any buffs that may have ever thought about doing this because the huge 150ths anniversary events are right around the corner.  Getting into the hobby now will give you a year or two to get into it enough to really know what is going on before the big events hit.  Most events are small, roughly 100 vs 75 or 300 vs 200 or so with a couple of cannons per side.  These are local affairs and can be quite fun actually.  About every year there will be a major event that will draw many units together and you will see 1500 vs 1400 or perhaps 1700 vs 1500 and a dozen artillery pieces per side and maybe 50 cavalry.  These let you get a taste for what a real CW skirmish would have been like.  But when the 5-year anniversary max-effort events come along, (145th Shiloh and 145th Atlanta) you see perhaps 3000 infantry vs 2500 infantry, 20 guns vs 25 guns and 200 cavalry all in action at once.  These events create grand memories and you cannot think of a bigger event – until the big 10s happen (140th Shiloh, 140th Franklin) which field 5000 infantry vs 5000 infantry, 40 cannons vs 30 cannons, 200 cavalry, etc.  All you an say is “wow!” to these grand scenes.  And then there are the even bigger “quarter or half-century events such as the fast approaching 150s.  We will see several events beginning in 2011 and 2012 that will bring 10,000 infantry to each side and put 100 cannons onto the field and the thundering hooves of several hundred cavalry will shake the ground.  It is high-time anyone with remote interest in this hobby start getting involved if they want to take part in these historic events that will be talked about for the rest of our lives. 

There are several ways or directions to take when looking at getting into the hobby, or really, way of life of Civil War re-enacting.  Some are strictly into living history demos, some fewer dedicate themselves to authentic campaigning, some get into civilian aspects, but by far most people gravitate into the realm of military re-enacting.  Personally, I think it best, for males at least, to initially get into the larger arena of military re-enacting and then at some later point specialize into the role of some particular niche, such as surgeon, chaplain, non-coms, officers, musicians, etc.  I think that to really grasp the specialized roles, one has to have spent time on the lines, learing the basics, firing guns, burning his fingers on hot barrels, tasting black powder, and being foot sore from a march.  What I want to offer here is some generic advice for those that have wondered what it would be like. 

Dawn breaks and you are awakened by noises around your canvas tent.  The sounds of some friends outside softly talking and the crackling of the fire they have gotten going remind you where you are as you roll over trying to get a minute or two more of sleep.  Just about the time you find a comfortable spot, you hear a distant bugler sounding revile and you groan knowing in a minute another bugler, perhaps your own will sound the same.  Sure enough, within a minute a dozen buglers can be heard, all with varying skill levels, sounding revile and you hear the man in the tent behind yours shout “Somebody shoot the bugler!”

Time to get up as you hear your Sgt. walking past the tent asking if you are up and announcing that everyone is to fall in at the flag in 5 minutes for morning roll call.  The morning is cool and you wearily put on enough clothes to be decent, hurrying to get into the leather boots without bothering to tie them as you skip outside in an effort to hold the morning pee long enough to get politely away from camp.  You make it and find a dozen others standing there, legs spread slightly nourishing the grass while trying to look cool.  Yes, ladies are in camp within easy sight of this scene, but none pay the activity much attention because the scene is common.  The ladies are busy heading to the row of port-a-johns to relieve themselves probably wishing they did not have as far to go.

You fall into a crude line in time to have the Sgt. call out names.  He takes a morning count of all present and will deliver this to the officers up at Staff call tat will assemble the lines for the day’s fight.  After that, the Capt. Announces the general timeline of the day.  “I want everyone to eat breakfast and be ready for drill by 9 o’clock.  You have an hour to cook or do whatever you need to, but be back here in camp by 8:30 so you can be ready when they call for us.”  Someone makes a snide remark about something and you chuckle as you are dismissed.

You have brought easy snacks but also have some ham wrapped up in a bag in your tent.  You toss it into a pan and set it onto the coals and pour some thick black scalding hot liquid out of a blackened pot hanging on the hook into your tin cup.  The tin instantly is too hot to hold so you set it down quickly and try to look like that was deliberate.  Yes, it is Sgt’s coffee, made so thick and black light itself cannot escape its surface.  By the time your ham slice is warmed up, the cup has cooled enough that you can sip at the coffee.  It is bad, really bad by Starbucks or the office standards, but out here, on this morning, you’d rather have this terrible stuff than anything else.  The ham tastes better here than at home too, perhaps due to the ashes that fell into the pan.

And so you look around camp and see men in uniforms.  You see rows of white canvas neatly stacked in order.  The flags are hanging limp from their poles, and gray smoke wafts through the camp.  Sounds of horses whinnying, metal striking metal, sizzling from bacon in the pan, and the voices of dozens of men around you remind you that this is different than things you normally have done.  Suddenly, for a fleeting moment, you are not you and this is not a weekend between office work and a business trip.  For a short glimpse of time, you are there, 145 or so years ago, seeing what another man saw, hearing what he heard, and smelling what he smelled.  And then just as suddenly as it happened it was gone and you shake yourself mentally back to reality and wonder how you can explain that to someone.  You cannot, you know, and hope it will happen again.

And this is how your first event starts.  I can assure you the fleeting moment will come again at some unexpected moment.  You will try in vain to describe it to co- workers.  You will long for it and look for it, and may try to force it to happen again, but these moments are unpredictable and you learn to cherish them all like 4-leaf clovers that occasionally show themselves but are just as soon lost to the sea of clover around them.

When you decide to take the step into this life, you have thousands of questions.  You don’t want to sound foolish, and you are worried you will not know what to do and be embarrassed.  This is a common anxiety and it should comfort you to know it is what everyone out there felt when they started.  Thus, the experienced men know to help you on your first steps and teach you enough to let you try the hobby on without overloading you with stuff that is not needed at first.  You will usually visit the unit at some small event, meet them, feel them out and decide if you want to join them.  You will then e-mail a couple of them for advice, and they will help you with what stuff they want you to have as well as help locating loaner items for your first event.  You’ll be told of an upcoming event and they will help register you and probably work out a carpool plan with you.

Well, before you know it you have a gun, some basic uniform parts, already a couple in the unit you really like, several you seem satisfied with and probably a couple you aren’t quite sure about, but the main thing is that you are finding yourself in a pretty decent unit that is interested in having fun.  When you get to the event, you will be given basic instructions one on one with a Cpl or Sgt on how to handle the gun and yourself.  Then you will get into a larger line, perhaps 4-6 men and will be run through the manual of arms again as a larger unit.  The groups will get larger and larger and you are suddenly lost in the crowd.  Guys around you in the unit will give advice to you and may jostle you in line to get you into step or have you turn at the right place.  Don’t worry though.  It happened to them as well and they know how nerve racking this is.  If you goof, and we all do, just admit it and laugh.  You may earn yourself a funny nickname such as “Wrongway Charlie” or “No Gun Guss” or, in my own case, “Private Lavender” based on the purple hue my first pair of borrowed trousers had at my first event.  The pants are long gone, but my name is legendary I guess.

So, which side do you join up with?  This may be based on which group you happen upon first, or a friendly invite that gets your interest.  You may have deep-seeded roots in one side or another and wish to don the gray or blue based on Great Great Grandpappy.  Or, you may make a strategic decision based on what is needed in your area.  In most Southern areas, for instance, Federals are grossly outnumbered making it difficult to put on good events unless many Confederates “galvanize” with some blue uniforms to bring up the Federal numbers. 

What do you need?  Well, the basics are a gun, hat, jacket, pants and shoes along with the leather cartridge box and belt with cap pouch.  These items often are loaned within units since not everyone can make every trip.  You can usually get away with dark brown or black boots or even sneakers since at re-enactments spectators are a good distance away.  Buying for a Federal impression is usually pretty easy.  Sky blue pants and navy blue jacket.  A Kepi or hat of some sort and black leather accoutrements.  The kepi cap is the standard, but in some units, especially western theatres, Federals wore all sorts of hats so you can wear most anything and be correct there.  In Eastern theatres you may need special headgear depending on the unit.  This will be discussed early on.

For Confederates, anything goes including blue uniform parts.  Some units have some special items, such as cavalry, or a unit that portrays a certain look, but for the most part anything gray is acceptable, or the more common “butternut” look and even some (not all) Federal blues is acceptable. 

As for infantry guns, the standard accepted everywhere are the 3-band length guns.  These have 3 distinct barrel bands, such as the 3-bander Pattern 1853 Enfield, the 1861 US (Springfield) and the 1842 US (Springfield) guns.  Some events do not allow the shorter guns in infantry for safety.  There is nothing unsafe about them except that the shorter barrels make it easier to get the man in front of you too near the muzzle if the lines separate.  Sometimes the men with shorter guns must be in the front ranks and that is normally where all new recruits find themselves for a couple of events anyway.  But to be safe when getting your first gun unless your unit tells you otherwise, get an 1853 Enfield or 1861 Sprigfield.

A “sutler” is a retailer that sells re-enacting gear of various sorts.  Some, like The Blockade Runner, Inc. (http://www.blockaderunner.com/) are almost like the Wal-Mart of re-enacting, carrying just about everything and anything a re-enactor will need or want while keeping prices reasonable.  Others specialize in shoes and do top-notch as correct as possible work, but their prices can be high.  The dedicated living historian or authentic campaigner will seek out these best of the best sutlers to do business with, but the average re-enactor and especially those just starting out should do their initial shopping at the larger suttleries.  Also, there is the web sites like E-bay and Gunbroker.com that can help find used equipment if you search them regularly.  But, uniform parts, mostly being of wool may not be the size they are advertised as.  After being washed or rained on many times, the wool will have shrunk so that 42” waist may in effect be a 40” waist.  I favor getting new items when possible because the wool wears out and by the time many people are selling them, they often are nearly at the end of their structural integrity.

So, after the morning roll call, ham and scalding hot bitter coffee, you are called to get into your traps, or “Couter-up!” which you quickly learn means to get into uniform, fit your leather accoutrements on and get your gun and fall in at the flag.  The 1st Sgt is already there and gently tells you where in line to stand.  You nervously stand there as other guys fall in and jostle around to get into place.  Capt. comes by and tells everyone that you will soon march out to do some drill to shake the rust off, and if all goes well he’ll finish drill quickly.  The 1st Sgt then steps out front and instructs “By files, count – TWO!” and instantly the far right 2 men shout “ONE!” and the next 2 men shout “TWO!” and the 3rd file of men shout “ONE!” and it goes down about half way until somebody screws up, perhaps you.  Everyone laughs and 1st Sgt repeats the process until it is done right.  Your number, you will learn, tells you where to be when given a right or left face.  You are then right-faced, and they jostle you into place and you now find that instead of being in 2 lines you are facing to the right and are in a column 4 men across.  The Capt. then orders a forward-march and you all step off in unison with a cadence from a drummer in some units, or more commonly with 1st Sgt issuing a verbal cadence. 

After a fairly short march you find yourself in the drill field where some other regiments are already at drill.  The Capt. will face you back to the front in 2 lines and will run the unit through the basic manual of arms, which you were taught in camp earlier.  The nervousness wears off a little as you do this and then he throws curve balls at the unit trying to get the men to think.  This does cause you and others to goof, but they are not angry at the goofs.  These are always good for laughs and everyone takes joy in mocking those that should know better and equal pleasure in instructing the newbies such as yourself.  Then, you are again right-faced and marcheda distance before another command completely new to you is given, “By files into line – MARCH!” and everyone swings to the left and runs forward, pushing and jostling you amongst them until somehow you find yourself back into your line in front of your file partner marching forward.  You are halted and right-faced again to repeat the process a few times.  After 2-3 times you understand what the command means and how you will react to it and about the time you have that down, the Capt. will command a left wheel swinging his line to the left as everyone shouts to slow down or speed up.  These drills are confusing and can be frightening to new men, but you realize that everyone is willing to help you learn and they remind you that they know how you feel.  After about a half an hour to an hour, everyone is tired of drill and the Capt. is satisfied that his unit can behave on the field so he marches back to camp and dismisses everyone.  Before dismissal however, he instructs the 1st Sgt to take you and a couple other newer guys and make sure you all know the manual of arms, the loading and firing and to answer any questions you have.  He also tells the unit to be back in camp no later than noon because the afternoon battle is at 1pm. 

Your gun can be bought used or new.  Most guys start with loaner weapons, and after an event or two locate a used one from someone in the unit at a decent price.  Sure, these are used guns, but they are not complicated weapons and so they work well.  A new gun will work well in all likelihood as well, and after a couple of events it will be battered with scratches, some minor rust and have discolored spots.

You are told by the 1st Sgt that later you will be in a battle, and to try not to let that rattle you.  For some reason you can learn drill perfectly, and as soon as powder is in the guns you forget the basics.  Even seasoned veterans can become disoriented on the battlefield sometimes.  The Sgt assures each of you that this is indeed reality.  He tells you that accounts abound from the era of men “seeing the elephant” for the first time and forgetting all sorts of things even getting lost among the chaos.  But, he tells you not to take anything personally out there because he and some older vets will definitely grab you and place you where you need to be.  It happened to them all at one time or another and he wants you to be aware that this is not personal so you will not be angry or have hurt feelings.  You are anxious for the coming battle.  You fear it at some levels, but look forward to it mostly because it is after all the reason you are here.

The 1st Sgt will check out your weapons, and cartridge boxes and make sure you have plenty of caps and cartridges.  You will have either made or bought these before now based on what the unit told you to do in the weeks prior to the event.  If you do not have enough, word will spread through the unit to donate some to the newbies and you will soon have a full cartridge box of 40 paper rounds and about 50 caps in the cap pouch.  You are then free to visit “sutler row” or nap, or eat, or talk or do whatever you like until noon. 

You visit the sutler tents which are found near the entrance to all events.  The place is crowded with civilians and soldiers alike.  You wander along, looking at uniforms, shoes, buttons, guns, videos, T-shirts and all the stuff the sutler are selling.  You do not know what most of the stuff is, but locate a couple of nick-knacks, like a tin cup, a cigar, and a T-shirt of your 1st event to buy.  Before you know it, noon is near and you are scurrying back to camp to arrive just as the rest are getting “countered-up.” 

Noise all around the camps is similar now.  You realize you have not eaten and while you are not really hungry, you know to eat something so you grab a candy bar or snack you’d tucked into the tent and wolf it down.  Your heart is now beating harder as you start getting together to the calls from officers in the adjoining camps to “fall in!”  Soon you are back in line at your flag.  You are inspected by the Capt and 1st Sgt, and are told to drink all the water in your canteen whether you need it or not.  Then, your canteen is taken with all the others by 2-3 “volunteers” picked by the Capt to fill canteens.  In a while the canteens return filled with water just as you are faced and marched off this time to drums.  All over the field you see similar bodies of uniformed men marching toward a designate point.  Now you are getting the idea that there are a lot of you on your side.  Flags are briskly waving ahead of your column and you have a martial feeling that you like. 

You are somehow halted along a long line of troops and faced front where 2 officers atop horses watch you all.  You study these men, trying to figure out what rank they are.  They are impressive and you have another bubble moment for an instant, seeing an unknown senior officer astride his mount with a brilliant colored flag waving beside him and a brilliant blue sky as his backdrop.  Just as soon as you have the bubble moment it is burst by someone quoting “The Holy Grail” and causing you to laugh.

You think for a moment about work and how you’d love some co-worker to see you here or take part in this someday.  You see spectators watching and think how impressive this must look from their point of view.  You have a camera in your pocket but can’t figure out how to get to it right then.  As you debate getting it out, the General on the horse speaks and in a gravelly old voice shouts how pleased he is to see you here today.  He tells you that you will march to the works and will await the enemy to charge.  He tells you that the enemy is supposed to charge, get repulsed by you, charge again, get repulsed and then you are supposed to come out of the works and drive them away.  Then several older vets laugh and ask what will really happen?!  The General chuckles and says, “well, that is what they are supposed to do but we’ll have to see what they want to do.” 

You are called back to attention, faced right again forming what you can now see a long thick column of four men across.  You can plainly see 20-30 lines of 4 men across up ahead and know there are many more lines than that behind you.  At the command of “March!” this time, a very good military band strikes up a peppy tune that makes marching in step easier.  The flags are all fluttering and the martial tunes and the tramping of hundreds of feet in unison makes for some feeling that you cannot quite describe.  You feel important while at the same time feeling insignificant, weak and yet, somehow, powerful.  The rattle of tin cups against bayonets, of horses hooves, of Sgts shouting up and down the lines and the musicians’ song all add to this moment and you think that this must have been a common sound to the men so long ago that marched for long hours days on end. 

As you near the hillside where you can already see some men in uniform like yours running back and forth, you see the crowds behind the works there and realize tha the crowd will be really close to your back up there.  The sudden chest-thumping thud and loud “Boom!’ of a cannon shocks you.  Another one fires someplace farther away and you see some cavalry gallop ahead followed moments later by smaller pops of small arms.  You can’t see what is happening because of the terrain and men in front of you, but the sound of another cannon tells you that “it is on!”

As you climb the rise, men are shouting orders to get into trenches or behind barricades and before long your unit has filtered in behind some earthworks.  Now, you see that there is a scattered line of cavalrymen popping small arms at a thin line of advancing enemy infantry out in front of the works.  The cannon to your right suddenly blasts a huge white cloud and shakes the ground under your feet and you watch the crew working the gun.   You see a billowing white cloud across the field suddenly erupt and a half second later you hear its distant boom.  You think that is really cool and become fascinated by the artillery duel. 

Someone shouts out “There goes the screen!” followed by “here they come, get ready!”  You look and see your cavalrymen have scattered and a thick battleline of enemy is marching steadily toward your works!  The artillery on your side opens up faster, as gun after gun fires, shaking the ground and causing you to involuntarily wince.  You were not aware until now that there are several guns behind and above you on the rise that are firing over your head.  The sudden raspy roar of small arms in a volley, which surprisingly is almost as loud as a cannon, tells you to look forward again and you see a regiment on the lower left of the works firing a ragged volley which causes a couple of enemy you notice to drop.  The enemy halts and fires a volley at the lower works.  You are amazed at how impressive a line of leveled muskets looks at eth moment they all fire.  Your men fire again and you see some more enemy fall as their line advances again…

I can of course go on and on about this scenario, but words cannot adequately describe this action.  It is of course the main event of the re-enactment, but season veterans of the hobby will invariably tell you that the realy reason they enjoy the hobby comes after the battle, in camp where men with common interest enjoy cleaning muskets, packing cartridge boxes, smoking old pipes, cooking on the fire and enjoying the company.  That night, you are tired, but satisfied.  You sit for long hours at the fire listening to the crusty old 1st Sgt play Irish tunes on his penny whistle, and listening to a Cpl. sing old songs.  You get to talk about guns or hunting or your job to some guys, and learn about them as well.  When you finally can stand it no more, you stagger off to the tent and turn in, sleeping hard until the next dawn in which the scenario begins again. 

Do a search on the web for re-enacting units in your area if interested.  Or, find an event and go there and wander the camps and just ask to join one from your area.  Many units are too far away to join, but can direct you to other units they know of that are closer to you.  You also can contact any of the larger sutlers and just ask if they know of a unit in your area.  Since they do business all over the country, indeed the world in some cases, they can often put you into touch with customers from your area that can then help you out.  For more action that may help you make a decision on whether to join the hobby, YouTube searches can prove valuable sources of good videos of the re-enactments from the soldiers’ point of view as well as spectators. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDxrB9-7tHY

Wish in one hand and doo doo in the other and see which one gets full first.

   As for a hunter, I think I have become better in the field after having been in re-enacting as well.  For black powder, I have learned how to roll my own cartridges and carry my own pre-rolled paper cartridges with me.  I can fire and have most of my smoke poles reloaded within 1 minute and some of my muskets can be loaded routinely in 30 seconds.  In re-enacting when we do not use rammers or push down any paper for safety, I can easily load and fire 4 shots per minute, and when doing living history demos where we use rammers and actually do ram paper as though it were a ball, I can do the CW drill standard 3 shots per minute.  Today for instance, i was carrying an 1841 US "Mississippi" rifle deer hunting.  It was sleeting and drizzling on me, but having learned the proper manual of arms I knew how to carry my weapon in the rain and keep the load dry.  Having done a few campaigner events in which you learn what you need and all the crap you do not because you are humping it yourself, I now find more enjoyment hunting by going Spartan-simple.  If I were to get caught out late and have to spend the night alone in the woods, my re-enacting knowledge will come into play and allow me to simply "go into picket mode" and pass the night reasonably well.

   I was at The Blockade Runner today talking with other re-enactors about the upcoming pushes for "mega events" for the 150ths.  We agreed that the hobby will be getting a boost by that and if another CW movie comes out about that time it'll be pused even more. 

   My 1st re-enactment I ever saw was the 1st I was ever in.  I'd been a volunteer with the NPS for a short time already, but wanted to step into re-enacting as well and The Blockade Runner sutlers hooked me up with a local man that was about to take his gun and crew to a medium sized event.  I called him and he had me come to his house one day to show me his gun, a 3" Tredegar Iron Works rifle which is basically a slightly shorter version of the US 1860 Ordanance Rifle.  He showed me a video of an event from a few yrs before and told me the basics to get.  I went back to the Blockade Runner and got the bare essentials, a pair of leather Brogans (shoes) for $80, a pair of gray-wool trousers with red piping (artillery) for $80, a gray kepi (cap) for $20 and a period correct cotton shirt for about $20.  With that I was outfitted enough to look reasonably correct enough to take part in the event a couple of weeks away.  When the time came, I met him and his crew at his house and we carpooled to the event about 2 hrs away.  We arrived Saturday morning after most people had already been there a night so the camps were set up.  We registered, signed a release of liability form, paid $5 each to get in, and parked.  Next, we piled onto the gun trailer as he drove onto the field where directed and we off-loaded the cannon.  We practiced the drill of the cannon several times and then the artillery officer came by to witness the drill and approve our crew to take part.  We were lined up as the #8 gun in an 11 gun line behind earthenworks complete with some gun embeseurs.  We had plenty of time to wander the camps and sutler area and my wife, who'd come along enjoyed shopping the sutlers.  In the afternoon we met back at the gun and prepared for the battle which would be an attack by Federals upon the CS fort. 

   At the prescribed moment, I happened to be looking across the field where the Feds were aligning just as te signal gun fired.  It was about 300 yds directly across the field from our gun and I saw the white sloud erupt suddenly, and the leaves along the upper flank of the field changed color like a rapid-moving wave advancing at remarkabel speed toward our side of the field and then BAM! my pants legs seemed to move and my chest thumped when that shock wave hit me!  I later learned it was a 20 Pounder Parrott Rifle, very uncommon in re-enacting and was firing 2 pound black powder charges.  I think I was hooked right then and there as we heard the drummer beating their "long roll" and buglers sounding calls.   Our men ran to the wall and as i was opening the limber to get the first load out for my #5 man who was coming toward me to get it, I saw cavalry dashing out toward the advancing enemy infantry.  I saw our crew load along with the other guns up and down the line all loading.  the sounds of metal gun parts clanking and dragging against other metal objects was heard and all behind the works grew still and fairly quiet.  In front our cavalry acted as a forward skirmish line, popping some rounds agains advancing enemy skirmishers until the main battle line appeared and drove off our cavalry.  As soon as the cavalry cleared, I heard the artillery battery commanders shout "FIRE!" and all 11 guns fired almost as one!  The earth shook and thick heavy black powder smoke filled the air behind the walls.  The enemy disappeared from view because of the sudden gray fog.  The enemy artillery re-opened and a 20 minute long artillery fight erupted.  This event even had goof ground charges and aerial bursts so the air was filled with white light blasts and sharp reports from aerials and the loose dirt in front of the wall had vertical smoke plumes and loud reports from ground charges.  At one point, a ground charge launched a large hardened dirt clod nearly the size of a football in front of our gun.  Being back on the limber, I was able to watch it tumbling like a punter had kicked it end over end.  It rose and rose and came backward directly over our gun, over the limber and me, and came crashing down in a camp behind me knocking some poor sap's white tent to the ground!  The dueling went on non-stop for 20 minutes and then slowed suddenly as our infantry came out of the works and woods above the field.  I watched them hurry in column of 4s and then in a move I did not yet understand I saw them face into a double filed longer battle line just as he federal battle line opened volleys at them.  Most artillerymen at this point relaxed and started talking almost uninterestedly to each other, but I was fascinated by the spectacle out there and watched it unfold.  One line would fire a volley, then the opposers, and the line would then fire by files from the right, creating a wave of fire and smoke the raced down its length and about the time the wave ended at the left it began again on the right and raced back toward the left, repeating again and again.  I saw men falling or limping rearward and surgeons wearing blood-stained aprons walking behind the lines checking men that fell.  The Federal lines were pushed back, but cam back again, pushing back our lines.  Now and then artillery would fire a shot, but eventually our lines prevailed and beat back the Federal attempt to enter our fort.

   We were only there for this 1 day, so after the battle we reloaded the gun and headed home.  My wife was excited from the spectator role she had, but I was more than excited by seeing it from the field.  I also realized my ears were ringing and they stayed that way or slightly muffled for the next few days at work.  I was wasted at work the following few weeks because all I could think about was the event and longing for the next one. 

   It is said that it is good to get away from it al on days off.  Some people go to a different town.  Others a diffeent State or even country.  But the CW re-enactor, travels to a different century for his days off.  When you can leave the cell phone in the car, turn off the laptop and Blackberry, and take off modern clothes in exchange for 19th century wool and cooton clothes, hard leather shoes, and hold the most modern military weapon of the time, a Pattern 1853 Enfield, you can find great joy in simplicity.  Then taking the fight to the enemy nt as an "Army of One" but as One of an Army, the way it should be you can get the sense of martial graneure that our forefathers felt even if for those fleating moments that we look forward to unexpectedly.  Having spent some time re-enacting, it then become easier to learn about the Nation's history because you know what it sounded like, what it felt like, the smells, the sights and the excitement.  

   By all means, go to an event someplace, and have a taste of it at least once in your life.  I have never met anyone that has ever re-enacted at least 1 time that told me "I'm sorry I did that" (except those of us that are still hopelessly addicted to the lifestyle) and I have never met any re-enactors that plan to quit it anytime soon.  We all reach a point where we do quit I guess, but the plan to do so doesn't seem to be thought out.  We all leave each event shaking hands and saying "see you next time!" 

http://www.bentonville145.com/

My unit is slated to attend this event.  I've never been to it but it is the last of the 145th anniversary events so it should be decent-sized seeing as how it is the last of the 5-year anniversasies and it will be 2 years before the bigger 150ths start up.

 Thanks for the good read. It sounds like it would be a great way to escape some of the real world and just enjoy some time outdoors.

My current unit, the Co B 9th KY Vols (US Inf) has a sign we hang at every event thate reads "Recruits Wanted".  We get some new vols from time to time with it, but at the 145th Gettysburg we had a cocky guy walk into camp Sunday about an hour before we were to form up.  He pointed at the sign and said in a smirking manner "All riht, I'm game!"  Before he really realized what was happening, indeed before his girlfriend realized, he was being put into loaner uniform pieces we dug out of tents.  He soon had a musket that belonged to a guy that was sitting Sunday out due to diabetic issues, and leather accoutrements from the same guy.  The 1st Sgt took him into the road by camp and gave him the basics of 19th century drill.  We learned that he was a current student at the Naval Collegs at Annapolis and was just passing through the area and saw the re-enactment and thought it'd be interesting.  An hour after walking into our camp, he was standing at attention in 1863 Federal infantry garb holding an 1861 US model .58" rifled musket.  He was then marching in hard leather brogan shoes and feeling wool on his skin while shouldering the 9 pound gun.  We marched in a long column that snaked for a couple hundred yds and came alongside a similar-sized column.  We formed and were placed at ease while a 3rd larger column came marching along behind us.  The Zouaves adn Bucktails came by, and he asked lots of questions about the flags, the divisions, the uniforms.  Then, we saw the Rebs almost a half mile away marching in similar fashion, and saw guns being placed in preparation for Pickett's Charge.  When the artillery started, 100+ guns fired in unison for perhaps 30 minutes.  The big bronze 24 Pdr behind us roared over and over, shaking the ground where we sat.  We watched the white clouds across the field appear over and over followed 1-2 seconds later by the distant booms.  Then, when the Reb infantry attack finally came, we marched out a short way to meet them.  The noise was a constant indistinguishabel roar and smoke covered parts of the field so thickly that entire regiments vanished from view except for the occasionaly shadowy officer seen galopping along.  The new guy was beside me in line and he lost control of his emotions for a short time and seemed unable to do anything except yell "F***ing A! F***ing A!  H3ll Yeah! H3ll Yeah! This is f***ing awesome!"  He shoute this line almost word for word many times for a minute or two while all heck broke loose.  When it finally ended and we got down time before being pulled out of the fight, he kept commenting "You guys do this every weekend?!"  He left us with a grin ear to ear that I am sure he took home with him along with a fundamental knowledge about 19th century combat that Annapolis could not give him in class.  Today, the US military brings its officer recruits and students to NPS Battlefields like Stones River, Chickamauga, Shiloh and gettysburg and conducts tours and educational on-site lectures.  It is important for modern officers to have education in the old tactics and what worked and did not. 

   I'm of course in the Middle TN region, but if any of you want to join us for an event, you are welcome.  We will be in the TN and KY areas this coming year except for 1 NC excurssion for Bentonville.  I know some other units around the country even in England that you could contact if interested.  Just e-mail or PM me and I'll put you into a line someplace.

This analogy was posted yesterday on a re-enacting forum I thought pretty good.

Draw 3 overlaping circles.  One is "History buff"  Another is "Outdoor Enthusist" and " and the 3rd is "Blackpowder nut".  The place where the 3 overlap is labled "Re-enactor."

I'm gearing up now for this coming weekedn at Stones River Nat'l Battlefield.  I'm going to be switch-hitting it appears between CS infantry for soem demos and a speaking part they have for me and then back to US artillery to help man the guns.  The weekend after that, Jan 2-3, is out main anniversary weekend and I will be doing it all again plus some stuff with my 9th KY US Inf and a cemetery tour.  Once you get into this hobby you can quickly find yourself involved in many other aspects of the hobby.

One aspect of the hobby is "living history."  Today, I was doing that as part of the pre-battle anniversary events at Stones River.  Those that read my marathon "correspondence" between the 2 fictional "imbedded reporters" in the WBTS thread starting 12/26/04 and running daily through 1/3/05 will recall the stuff happening prior to the battle.  What we did this weekend at the battlefield park was to do both CS and US artillery and infantry demos as well as educational talks.  This becomes a great way to enjoy the hobby while educating yourself.  As is often said, the best way to learn is to teach.  As I talk to people, often they bring up something that makes me think differently about the battle and I learn something else.  As with today, talking around the campfire, while enjoying a pipe and cigar the ranger told us about an aspect of the battle that made me think differnetly that how I have thought of it and now I am reevaluating some things in my own mind.  I got into the re-enacting hobby by volunteering at Stones River.  The nice thing about this is that they not only allow me to shoot cannons, and let me borrow muskets to shoot until I decided to buy my own, they also issued me my 1st leather traps and uniform to do the demos.  Many in my unit started the same way, eventually deciding to get their own items and veer off into re-enacting.  If you have a National Battlefield Park like Stones River, Chickamagua, Kennesaw Mt., Fredericksburg, Gettysburg or others near you, you may be able to volunteer there to do living histroy demos and have your stuff issued to you there.  they have training weekends and you learn the drills every time you go out until you suddenly realize you love the hobby and want to get your own stuff and start adding re-encting to your hobby.  You will be familiar there with ecent re-enacting units to fall in with because the Parks often allow decent groups to come to the Parks for demos. 

Shi would you for me do an informal survey and find out how many of the re-enactors are modern Vets ??? I would like this for my own info list which I am compiling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK5GcG_QHJ0

I like your storys Shiloh,

but why the hell did ya put up a utube video with a bunch a DAMN YANKEES?    :0

We shoot the enemy when caught wearing our uniforms !!!

That group is like mine, volunteers at the National Parks so they swing both ways depending on what is being deomstrated.  Last weekend for instance our group volunteered to serve the cannon as well as do some infantry and were CS in the morning and US in the afternoon.  This weekend is our battle anniversary and we'll do some of both sides as well.  I have speaking parts as CS infantry both days, but will need to also throw on US uniforms for artillery and to fall in with my re-enacting unit that will be there.  Interesting thing about our Civil War was both sides used the same drill manuals, same weaponry, same tactics, and officers had attended the same schools.  So, one can re-enact either side perfectly by changing uniforms.

And then there are days like today when it was 18F in the morning rising to a balmy 25F in the afternoon.  With the layers of wool and plenty of fire time it was bearable, but you do learn both what those men endured from Mother Nature as well as how to function in brutal cold.  How cold is that?  Well, one of our cannons was temporarily put out of action when a newly dampened sponghead froze fast 1/3 of the way down the bore on the way in!  We've never had that happen before!  After twisting and jerking it free, it left a neat little furr lining in the bore.  We picked up a new recruit for the 9th KY after he watched a while and decided he wanted to participate instead of just watching.  Back at it tomorrow after a nice night in a warm bed.  Some of the guys are staying out but I heard the call of a warm house and hot meal.  Ramada Rangers away!

   Oh, we were lucky to have young pvt. Winters, on leave from the Navy.  He is headingback to CA tomorrow and is hoping to go with a Marine batalion slated to go over to A'stan in late Jan or early Feb as part of the latest surge.  We also were lucky to have 1st cpl Foote back from Haaaavaaard but he too is heading back up there tomorrow.  Good to see them and hope to get them back again soon.

Not a Right-wing extremist -- THE Right-wing extremist! I like my guns towed and crew-served! http://www.9thkyus.com/ http://www.blockaderunner.com/ http://www.nps.gov/stri/

http://picasaweb.google.com/poprand...eat=email#

http://www.bentonvillebattlefield.c...icket.html

We arrived last Friday evening at Fort Donelson (Ft D) and set up camp in the dark as usual.  We joke that we have never learned how to set up tents with our eyes.  Luckily, wood was cut and reasonably dry so after several failed attempts with matches we were able to get the fire going by sacrificing an old candle to the cause.  With a fire blazing the cold high 20Fs night chill abated from the tentage area.  Dawn broke on a very cold scene with a couple of inches of snow still on the ground form a week earlier.  We’d heard coyotes howling and yipping all around us during the night and barred owls cackling and hollering in trees near by in the early morning. 

            We rekindled the fire form coals left over as other members were arriving, and warmed ourselves as we joshed back and forth and cooked thick slab bacon, eating it right out of the frying pan while trying to not blister our fingers or tongues.  Washing this down with motor-oil coffee full of grounds and firing up a pipe made for a pleasant morning.

            In the mid-morning, we formed up for inspection, and instructions from the Ranger, then started drilling to knock the rust off before the start of the season.  We had 4 new members and had to go through a lot of basic drill but they caught on fast so after an hour we were able to put on our first demonstrations for the public. 

            Saturday was cold, and after a few short hours all the public had departed the Fort and we were again left alone in hallowed ground.  It was not as cold that night, but still cold enough to require the great coats and fire.  Pvt. Johnson put his pot on the fire and commenced to stewing up slices of sausages in Jambalaya mix and everyone had 2 full plates of it.  Normally, such zippy foods are not wise in camp due to impending problems us old guys can experience with it.  The younger guys devour anything with impunity, but we older guys tend to not have the cast iron stomachs anymore.  But, Ft D now has new heated bathrooms near the picnic area and as nobody but us was in the Fort we ate with gusto!  Soon after, we started taking 2-man “patrols” to the picnic area down the road.  When one “patrol” returned the next went out and so on.  Ah!  The heat in the bathroom was almost too warm but one seldom comes across that sort of luxury at any re-enacting event!

            Sunday morning broke like Saturday, but with snow flurries.  We again ate bacon and smoked while sipping scalding hot motor-oil coffee from tin cups that can blister the lip if not handled with care.  "Snookie" one of our camp followers had managed to be out of the Fort during the night and returned that morning with a sack full of sausage & bisquits she had procured from a farmerhouse owned by the MacDonalds we heard.  These also went down our throats as fast as we could send them.  At mid-morning when the last of the men were back in camp, the Capt. ordered us on a routine patrol of the Fort.  We were formed up, inspected, then marched up the road to a trail head.  We were then addressed by the Capt. who told us we were ordered to patrol the inner works trail looking for Confederate stragglers as the area was still a hostile area.  We were then marched up the trail then broken off in 10 pace intervals.  I was put on point first, and thus began a slow walk at the ready, arms port, eyes alert.  Being a hunter, I put my quiet skills in gear and spent time observing many tracks in the snow and mud, and admiring occasional buck rubs.  Behind me, every man was 10 paces apart following me all watching various things as well. 

            I came to the first obstacle, a short foot bridge and halted the line.  First Sgt. Brunner came up to hold my place and I then carefully crossed the bridge, slipping on the way down the far side so that I landed on my knapsack and butt to the laugher of those behind me.  Sgt. Brunner came over behind me and landed on his backside right beside me.  It seemed the evacuated Rebels must have iced the bridge to slow us down!  But to no avail to their obvious acts of sabotage, the rest of the company crossed, placing me at the rear of the column and a new Pvt. at the point.  We continued, replacing men at each obstacle in the point until the next obstacle.  The only sighting of importance was a common hoot owl being harassed by a jay that hooted and flew over the line. 

            Finally, I was back in point once more as we reached the edge of the lower water battery.  Halted, we received instructions to clear the works.  I carefully entered the works behind the big 10” Rodman gun, keeping my gun and eyes at the ready as I made my way around the emplacement.  Once satisfied that gun and placement was secure, I aimed up the works and waved my file partner to leap-frog me to take the next emplacement.  He did and waved me past him again.  Together we secured the works while the company eased into the works behind us, keeping their eyes and guns at the ready watching up the hill, across the river, and down the edges of the woods.  A bald eagle sailed overhead as we secured the last of the battery and its magazine.  The Rebs have indeed departed.

            At ease now to just sit and talk and enjoy something so very few people ever get to do, we watched down the river to the right bend as a huge dark form emerged slowly coming up the river.  It was a barge, which for a moment, through the gloom watched from an open port under a 32 Pounder, looked like the USS Carrondelet chugging its way around the bend.  I thought what it must have looked like on this very same date, 148 years earlier from that same gun position.  The thick black smoke from the stacks of the gunboats rounding that same bend and the sounds of men all through the battery as they knew they were about to fire upon those ships.  I watched as the barge approached to right about the ½ mile mark where the ships fired their opening salvos from forward ports.  The sudden white puffs of smoke would have been seen followed a moment later by a deep thunderous boom that would have reverberated along the shores up and down the river.  The howl of the huge iron shell was heard sailing over the battery and then a tremendous bang shook the men involuntarily into ducking and yelping as it burst over the fort. 

            These men of the battery then were in battle for the first time here, loading the huge guns and ratcheting them into place.  Muscles strained to lift huge balls into the muzzles, as more straining was required to ram the balls into the breech.  The sounds of iron wheels creeked as the pivotting carriages were turned to aim, and the clanks of iron projectiles in iron barrles was heard.  Guns were primed as the ships fired again and again, and the men strained and heaved to push the big guns forward on the carriages.  All cleared and the guns pointed toward the dark ships, a gunner shouted “FIRE!” and the huge guns roared to life, each spewing tremendous white clouds and showers of burning sparks out of the fort.  The guns slid backwards on the carriages in a fraction of a second, stopping just short of the back of the carriage.  Then that big 10” gun was loosed with the first full service charge the men had ever had opportunity to try in it.  It leapt back on the carriage then fell off the back of it!

            The moment of reflection was short lived of course, but it was one of those little “bubble moments” we all seek, and being there, under those guns, on the same date in the same sort of weather gave it to me. 

            The next event I will be at with my unit is the last of the big 145th anniversary events, the Battle of Bentonville, near Raleigh, NC.  Bentonville was the last of  the Civil War’s full-scale land battles.  I don’t think it will be as large as the 145th Gettysburg, Shiloh, or Chickamuga, but it will be the 1st event of many units’ seasons so I expect a fair turn-out.  I don’t know what unit we will be there, but if anyone happens to find themselves amongst the Union Infantry camps, ask around for the 9th KY Inf.  Somebody eventually can point you to us.  A couple of our tents have “9th KY” written on them so that may also help you locate us. 

            Incidentally, I have heard that Peter Jackson will be filming at many upcoming CW re-enactments most notably the upcoming 150th Shiloh event.  Word is easing through the camps of a turn-out there of monumental proportions to dwarf all other past events anywhere.  This is interesting news as it may mean a new CW movie in the works.

You shure know how to hurt a guy.

I'm sitting here eating left over pizza when I read;

 Pvt. Johnson put his pot on the fire and commenced to stewing up slices of sausages in Jambalaya mix

                        Now that's sorry!!!!!!!!!

But I like the story, especially the part about you busting your ass.  

I have it on good authority that even though the Civil War is closing here in the next month or two, that next year it is going to start up yet again.  I have learned this by spying upon future plans found here:

http://www.manassascivilwar.org/

http://www.battleofsac.com/

My next event is in western KY May 22-23.  Sacremento was an early war battle of a small scale compared to those to come.  During this period, KY was an unknown factor with both sides illegally invading its borders and it officially announcing complete neutrality and barring either side from entering it.  This event is fairly small, but can be a fun event with quite a bit of firing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EybiXsFq0dY
Video of last year's Federal battery-shoot at Stones River.  The 2 bronze guns are 'ours' Shellie on the left and Betty on the right.

Awh, you're screwed now by associating with me.  I told Capt. Bruner that you want to come out and he said you are of course welcome in our ranks anytime.  We are making a purchase of gear right now and so should have plenty for you.  I'll loan you my Enfield probably, or a MS rifle if I can get it back into service by then.

Got an email back from the Capt. last night. Doubt if I make it to the training at Stones River the 26-27.

Just found this new pic from "McClung's TN Battery".  Thought it was really cool.  It is an 1861 2.9" Parrott Rifle.

Remembering the 9^th Kentucky (US):  The 150^th Anniversary

On September 24^th and 25^th, members of Company B, 9^th Kentucky (US) met at Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Park (Tompkinsville, Kentucky) to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the formation of the regiment.  Based on Todd Watts’ research, the regiment would likely have gathered at the church house in September 1861.

This is consistent with Marcus Woodcock’s journal, which begins:

“It was on a beautiful Thursday evening on the 19^th day of September 1861 that I was at a beautiful spot in Monroe County, Kentucky known as Gamaliel.”  (Gamaliel is about 10 miles from the meeting house.)  (Noe, p. 7)  Woodcock goes on to say that he was attending “an humble country school” at which Mr. L. M. Lanford was teacher.  In the early pages of the book, Woodcock speaks of the Gamaliel Home Guard moving back and forth between Gamaliel and Tompkinsville.  But it is at Tompkinsville that Woodcock makes up his mind to join “the Company”. 

He writes:

“We stopped in town and remained there till after supper, but in the meantime, Capt Hinson’s Company of recruits was paraded through the streets with ‘martial music and flying colors” to give others an opportunity to enlist.  Several gay fellows stepped into lines and took the step, and finally I in defiance of urgent remonstration of my best friends, stepped into line from which, strung the path of honor, there is no stepping back.” (Noe, 17) It then appears that the company moved two miles outside of Tompkinsville, which is approximately the distance to Mulkey Meetinghouse.

Some of the modern-day unit came to Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Park on Thursday to set up camp.  On more than one occasion, Dave Brunner, captain of the modern-day 9^th Kentucky, remarked about the wonderful accommodations afforded by the Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Park director, Sheilah Rush.   The park had provided a beautiful camping area not far from the meetinghouse. 

The actual event began on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM.  It was a lovely Kentucky autumn morning with a light fog hanging over the camp.  Visitors started lining up at the park gate well before nine.  As the visitors came into the park, those who were descendants of the 9^th Kentucky regiment were given red, white, and blue lapel ribbons.  Some of the descendants had driven a couple hours away to attend this special ceremony, but most were local Monroe County residents.

For Saturday’s morning events, most of the modern-day 9^th had dressed in civilian clothing to simulate the men who 150 years ago had gathered to hear the speeches and pleas for enlistment.  However before the re-enactment began, Mrs. Rush welcomed the visitors and introduced Captain Brunner, who then had the crowd gather in the church cemetery where Pvt. William J. Emmert (Co. B, 9 Ky Inf USA) is buried.  Brunner explained that the modern-day 9^th had come to honor men such as Emmert who had signed up to serve their country.  It set the tone for the weekend.

Brunner then directed visitors to the front steps of the meeting house.  There, Nelson Doyle,  portraying Abraham Lincoln pled with the men in the crowd to join the effort to put down the rebellion and preserve the union.  This was followed by the writer’s rendition of a period pastor urging the men in his flock to stand up and respond to their country’s call.  For the writer, this was a strongly emotional moment as he contemplated how a country pastor must have felt as he saw the men of his flock heading to war.

The pastor’s message was then followed by Todd Watts giving the history of the 9^th, from mustering in to mustering out.  He highlighted key battles, such as Shiloh, Stones River, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge.  As Watts told of battle after battle, the visitors, especially the descendants, listened intently to the struggles and accomplishments of the soldiers of the 9^th.  Several mentioned later they were not aware that the local area had made such a contribution to the cause.

Captain Brunner then asked the men in the crowd to join up.  Those who responded were administered the soldier’s oath and were promptly examined by the Company’s surgeon.  Saturday morning ended with an initial drill in civilian clothes.  Some of the enlisted men did “not know” their left from their right (but they did figure out “hay foot, straw foot”), and when firing by company the newly enlisted modern-day 9^th consistently and humorously produced a popcorn-sounding volley.

After mess, the Company voted for Company Commander.  Once votes were counted, it became clear that Bud Lawson would be lieutenant.  And as the 9^th prepared for drills, Todd Watts did a presentation on muskets and rifles which would have been used by the Company.   Of special interest was Watts’ explanation of the development of the percussion cap and Minnie ball. 

 The afternoon drew to a conclusion with the Company performing drills on the manual of arms and “load in 9 times”.  Amazingly, the “raw recruits” transformed into an efficient fighting unit, with crisp moves and synchronized firing.  The Company was dismissed to mingle with 9^th Kentucky descendants and visitors.  At camp, everyone (re-enactors and visitors) gathered around a Union blue cake and celebrated the 150^th anniversary of the 9^th‘s formation.  And thus, the first day ended.

Although the Sunday event was scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM, cars started lining up at the gate well before nine.  Sunday began with a worship service in the Old Mulkey Meetinghouse.  Built in 1805, the meetinghouse is a log structure built in the shape of a cross.  This structure has a strong historical significance relative to early church history in the United States.  (See http://parks.ky.gov/parks/historics...ault.aspx)

Prior to the writer preaching a sermon from Psalm 27, a trio from the modern-day 9^th (David and Jason Brunner, and Harry Dolph) sang “Vacant Chair”.   Dave Brunner then told the congregation about Joe Lassus, a member of the 9^th, who had passed away several years ago.   (Posted throughout the park were circulars which Joe, before he died, had designed for the 150^th anniversary.)  It was a sweet, but solemn moment.

After church, the modern-day 9^th performed marching and firing demonstrations.  While the men were drilling, the ladies in camp prepared a feast, which the modern-day 9^th Kentucky family enjoyed on the grounds of the meetinghouse.

As a wonderful finale, Mrs. Rush had coordinated with Chad Comer for the modern-day 9^th to march from the Tompkinsville Public Library to the Old Soldiers Cemetery.  At the cemetery, Mr. Comer told the story of the old cemetery, which had at one time been called the Tompkinsville National Cemetery.*   There at the final resting place of several 9^th Kentucky soldiers, the modern-day 9^th paid homage with a three volley salute.

For many of the modern-day 9^th (including the writer), this event was a strong reminder of why we do what we do.  In re-enacting the camaraderie is good.  “Burning powder” is a rush.  But in the end, we do what we do because someone promised not to forget.  And if we are able to help people remember, we have a part in fulfilling this promise.  Looking at the faces of the descendents of the 9^th, it was evident that the old soldiers of the 9^th Kentucky were once more remembered and honored.  And in this, we have great satisfaction.

* During the Civil War, Union soldiers from other states were interred here.  However, later most of these were exhumed and relocated to the Nashville National Cemetery. 

Referenced:

Noe, Kenneth W. ed., A Southern Boy in Blue.

http://www.bluegraygettysburg.com/

27-30 June

** http://www.gettysburgreenactment.com/

4-7 July

http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/101/gettysburg-foundation-commemorates-150th-anniversary-of-the-civil-war

Events

The “big show” in the Civil War re-enacting hobby is fast approaching!  The 150^thGettysburg has been anticipated for 25 years, or essentially since the hobby really exploded in popularity back when the 125^th anniversary ended.

This is so big that 2 separate re-enacting hobby coalitions are planning to have separate re-enactments and the entire town and NationalMilitaryPark are planning various events for the expected tens of thousands of visitors to Gettysburg, PA the final week of June and first 2 weeks of July. 

**I and my unit, including 45Hawken, his lovely wife Robin, my 2 chiluns (Laurel & Mo-Mo) as well as a very special lady to me and her chiluns will be in attendance at the 4-7 July re-enactment which is the usual annual event that should be the larger of the 2 re-enactments.  That one has reached 9,000+ registered re-enactors with 133 full-size artillery pieces, several being horse-drawn pieces, and 375 horses registered.  This puts it right about what it looked like 5 years ago and they are still getting registrations.  Some re-enactors are attending both events. 

I have attended many big events but nothing prepared me for the 145^th G’burg when we western Federals numbering perhaps 500 and were a huge “3^rd Brigade” as far as we were used to, only to have perhaps 1500 Federals march past us composing “2^nd Brigade” and then when we were all staring at our tremendous thick blue lines remarking how we had never seen so many Federal infantry in line together, the roar of big powerful military bands drew everyone’s attention back toward the main camp and perhaps 2500 men of “1^st Brigade” Army of the Potomac with the Black-Hats, the Irish Brigade, the PA Buck Tails, Zuoves, NY Highlanders, Berdan’s Sharp-Shooters and many other great units marched in.

For the Confederates’ part they as always outnumbered us at least 2:1 and seeing 5,000 +/- charging Rebs coming at us during Pickett’s Charge was something one won’t soon forget!  Having 200 artillery pieces duel with each other for a half hour, shaking your chests and ringing your ears also has to be seen to understand.  And, having 300 cavalry battling it out charging and counter-charging, shaking the ground as they ride down on you is at least memorable if not cool-as-heck! 

Anyone wishing to take part with my unit feel free to PM me ASAP or visit our website at www.9thky.org and contact me there so I can help you get outfitted even if for only one day.  If you come as a spectator, try to find us.  We know our camps are likely to be in the woods as opposed to the other 2 Federal camps in the fields.  Ask for the 9^th KY and someone may eventually point us out.  As we joke: “You can’t miss me!  I’ll be the dirty, smelly, bearded, guy in blue wool in the white tent.”  We have had spectators come to camp well before the battle, ask to fall-in with us and been able to crudely outfit them and run them through the drill just enough to be dangerous and thrown them into our lines so that is an option if you find us.  You can ask any such unit North or South and odds are good you will get the same treatment.      

I've got some on hand. Going to disect one of your rounds to try to make mine look better. I have several pounds of FF. I plan to have enough, guess if it looks like I am going to run out I will just have to conserve a few rounds by having a horrible death.