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REENACTORS: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is a Civil War Reenacting?
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Civil War reenacting is adopting the role of a soldier/civilian of that time period and experiencing what their life may have entailed at any given time during the Civil War.
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What kinds of people participate in Reenactments?
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There is no specific kind of person that becomes a reenactor. You'll find they come from every walk of life and every profession. But generally you'll find there is one thing they all have in common---and that is their love or passion for this time period in our history. Some become reenactors to honor their ancestors who fought in the Civil War, while others reenact with a desire to educate the general public or preserve our history.
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How do you join a Reenactment?
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Once you have decided you want to become a reenactor, and what your impression will be, you should look for existing units in your area and contact them. There are extensive lists of reenactor units and their recruiting contact in our database which can assist you.
Also, you may want to scan the local newspapers or look for an event that is scheduled near you and make your contact in person. If you don't find a unit that is in close proximity, then you may want to post on the message boards that you are looking for a unit that is based near your hometown.
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Is Reenacting expensive?
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It can be. But there are various factors to consider when budgeting for the expenses. For example, a civilian impression is less costly than an infantryman, due to the cost of the weapons and accouterments (cartridge belt, knapsack, canteen, etc.,), a mounted cavalry impression more expensive than infantry and so on. There are different types of tentage and items you can elect to do without initially when considering your impression. Some units have gear or equipment they can loan a new member, while they accumulate their own personal gear.
Before you spend any money, it is wise to talk to several experienced reenactors and get their advise on what you need, to eliminate buying items that are unnecessary or are not authentic to the period. You can also find some good deals on used equipment from other reenactors.
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Is Reenacting difficult or dangerous?
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If the prospect of wearing wool on a hot summer day, marching long distances, sleeping in a tent or going without a shower for 2 or 3 days repels you, then reenacting probably isn't for you. These are some of the factors that may be termed "difficult" for some.
Is it dangerous? As with any hobby or activity that may involve hundred or thousands of participants, there is always the chance of an accident of some type. However, safety on and off of the battlefield are stressed and practiced by all reputable reenacting units.
Organizers who sponsor events take every measure to ensure safety is priority. Most people know their own physical limitations and must consider this when participating in an event, such as marching great distances in extreme weather conditions and such. A common safety rule among individual units is to have a weapon safety inspection prior to each battlefield encounter to prevent accidents from happening.
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How Do I decide on an Impression?
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There are all types of impressions one can consider before they make their first purchase. Not all of them involve fighting on the battlefield. Just some of these are, medical (battlefield surgeon or nurse), preacher (military or civilian), musician, infantry, dismounted cavalry, mounted cavalry, artillery, military engineer and so on.
There are also specialized impressions such as Naval or Marines. For the women, there are different impressions as well, such as washerwoman, a visiting officer's wife, a nurse, a vivandiere and so on. The best way to determine your impression is to attend a few events, talk to reenactors and consider your financial commitment, then decide what best suits you.
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