Ten Tips for Reenactors
By "Sniblin" Bill Nestelroad and Morris Floyd
This article originally appeared in the April, 1995 issue of Camp Chase Gazette ( Vol. XXII, No. 5 )
Many times the veteran reenactor takes for granted that things are done because "that's the way they have always been done since before I joined the Company." I don't know about you, but sometimes that just doesn't cut it.
As I ponder the way I was sometimes treated as a recruit and the way I have treated many new recruits, it's a wonder that we have anybody still in the hobby. Time and time again, I hear men in the ranks complain that so and so did this or didn't do that. It's hard to be fair all the time. It's also hard to remember that everyone has feelings and we should treat each other the way we want to be treated. But if we can just remember a few simple things, we will all have a better time in the field.
When I was the Sergeant of my Company, I would try to make the weekend go right so everybody had a good time. Many times I would forget that I too had come to the event to enjoy myself. When I got home, about all I remembered was the gripes from my men, not a good thing to remember about the event.
Now that I am a Lieutenant, I realize that it takes more to make a good strong Company. I also know that as the Company Lieutenant, I can still have a good time at an event. Based on my own experiences over the past four years, I hope that I can share some ideas that will help make your company a stronger, friendlier one.
For this reason, I have developed ten tips all reenactors should be aware of. By following these tips, your reenactment weekend will result in a pleasant weekend. The first five tips relate to the travel time that is spent coming and going to a reenactment. The last five tips relate to how reenactors should treat each other. Good luck in the 1995 season and I hope these tips will make your experiences more pleasant.
1. Be Considerate of The Time
When you are traveling together, it is wise for everyone to agree on the time and place of departure. If you are to leave at 6:00 from the community center, make sure you are there in time to get your baggage loaded before 6:00. When you agree to leave at 6:00 that is what its supposed to mean, not to start arriving at that time. If you see that you are going to be late to the departure site, call someone in the group and let them know. We had someone once who we waited on for two hours and when we finally tracked him down, he told us that he decided not to go. This is bad. Don't put yourself in this position.
This also refers to the departure time from an event. Before the last battle begins, everyone in your group needs to decide when they want to leave. If it is decided to leave immediately after the battle, that means right after the battle. I can remember men in my party disappearing after the battle not to be heard from for an hour. When they finally returned to camp, they said they had gone to the sutlers, or to the museum to pick up that last item. This creates hard feelings and can result in a long ride home.
Many times we have to travel five to seven hours to reach our destination. This means arriving at midnight or thereafter. It isn't fair to your fellow travelers to make them wait for you and cause them to be late. I realize that there are times when you just can't help being a little late, but that's why Alexander G. Bell invented the telephone. Let someone know where you are.
2. Share The Travel Arrangements
If you are like our group, it seems that most of the time the same people always drive. It's not fair to put mile after mile on someone else's car, wearing out their tires, and adding wear and tear to their engines. If you have a car that is capable of making the trip, offer to drive once in a while. It makes for good relationships with the others in the group. Besides, it allows you the opportunity to get the front seat when you go on your journey.
3. Share The Driving With Others In The Car
Just because you aren't the owner of the car shouldn't excuse you from sharing the driving responsibilities. Time and time again I hear the same old thing. "Man I had to work today and want to take a nap before the weekend starts. " Just remember, the driver probably had to work also and he is probably just as tired as you are.
Everyone in the car that can drive should agree to split the driving time . That way everyone can have time to rest before the activities of the weekend begin. This also goes for the return trip home. Everyone is probably just as tired as you are. Share the driving responsibilities. If nothing else, this may help assure that you will arrive alive.
4. Offer The Owner of The Car Some Compensation
Hopefully everyone in the car is kicking in for gas money. But there is one thing you need to ask yourself. Is the owner of the car kicking in the same amount of money as everyone else? He still has other expenses to consider. Oil, wear on the tires, wear on the car itself, and a host of other things. When you stop for gas or a rest, offer to buy the owner a soda and/or something to eat. Help soften his hidden expenses associated with the car.
5. Honor The Property of Others
Since the car you are traveling in probably belongs to one of the others, be considerate of his property. Don't mess up someone else's car. I got home one time from a reenactment only to discover that one of my traveling "buddies" had spilled pop and dropped food crumbs all over the back seat of the car.
Needless to say, he did not ride in my car after that trip. I spent several hours trying to clean up his mess. This can create ill feelings. If you are driving your car, make it clear what you will and will not allow the riders to do in your vehicle.
6. Help Someone With Extra Equipment
For you veterans, remember the first couple of events that you attended? All you had was a slouch hat and maybe a pair of brogans. At my first event I had a new pair of brogans and a blanket. I was further equipped by veteran members of the Ninth Texas, Company B. They loaned me all the equipment that I needed to step out onto the field.
If you have any extra equipment that someone else could use, why not help them out? Too many times I have seen a veteran show up at an event with five or six shirts and only wear one or two while the new recruit had to be hidden in the rear ranks because he only had a white modern-day shirt to wear. It doesn't figure. Help get the recruit outfitted so everyone in the Company will look good. I don't expect someone to loan the recruit equipment that deprives the vet of its use, such as giving him your only canteen.
How about the use of half of your tent? Remember when you didn't have a tent to sleep in? Now that you own that piece of canvas, why not share it with one of the new guys.
And how about that extra can of food or extra piece of bread. Sometimes even the most experienced veteran can forget to bring rations with him. Don't loan him food. Give him something to eat out of your extra rations. No one needs to go hungry.
This doesn't mean to finance someone every weekend you go out. If you have someone who habitually forgets rations, call him the night before the event and remind him to include rations in his carpet bag.
7. Protect Property That Isn't Yours
If you borrow equipment from someone, make sure you give it back in the same condition you borrowed it. I had the unfortunate experience of borrowing some equipment one time and it turned up missing. I had to buy my comrade a new canteen. I would expect the same from someone who borrowed equipment from me. It was unfortunate that in my case that someone else felt they needed the canteen worse than I did. They stole it out of my tent. This didn't excuse me from having to replace the equipment for my buddy. This also applies to some equipment that you use and damage. Equipment in our hobby is expensive. If your comrade thinks enough of you to loan it to you, you need to take care of it.
If it gets broken, you need to at least offer to repair it. If you get clothes dirty, you should at least offer to have them laundered.
For those of you who do loan out your equipment, I tip my hat to you. It can be hard to loan equipment to someone you may not know that well. But remember that you shouldn't loan out equipment that can't be replaced. This equipment may be original pieces, may be a one of a kind, or it may be your favorite shirt. If this is the case, the best advice is to just keep it at home or in your own tent.
This can save you some embarrassment in the future if you need to use someone else's equipment. I can guarantee you that if you don't take care of someone else's gear, the word will spread and no one else will loan you their's.
If you do agree to loan out a piece of equipment, make sure that it is understood that the person borrowing the equipment will pay for the equipment loaned to him if he breaks or loses it. Don't assume anything.
8. Buy Equipment That Is Needed First
When I first started reenacting, I thought (like most of us) that I needed to get my musket right now. Boy is this a mistake. Seek the advise of a veteran. He can tell you what to buy first and last. He will also be able to tell you where to get the equipment. Veterans, in turn you need to be sympathetic to the recruit. It's nice to help him spend his money. Just don't get carried away and tell him he needs to buy everything now. Help him get started with the basic brogans, pants, jacket, and hat first. Then expand from there.
Recruits, when you see one of the veterans with a baggage compartment full of equipment, remember that he didn't buy it all at one time.
9. Share Experiences With Others
This one is mainly for the veteran. When we venture out to an event, it usually takes about five to seven hours to get there. The travel time to an event is a good time to explain to the recruit what to expect for the weekend and how things are handled. Be as honest as you can and answer any questions he has to the best of your ability.
v Recruits, this is the time to pump information from the veteran. Don't be embarrassed to ask questions. My first time in the field was a living history event at Pea Ridge. On the way down, the veteran in the car explained what living history meant and what was to be expected from me. When we arrived, I felt more comfortable knowing what was to happen during the weekend.
Maybe the loan of a book or a video that has been taken the last time you were at this event would be helpful. Of course you need to loan this type of material to the new guy early enough that he can review it sometime before you leave. He can't watch the tape in the car unless you have a TV and VCR on board. And to the new guy, be sure to return it in a timely manner.
10. Share Duties With Everyone In Camp
No one likes to haul firewood or water, but someone has to do it. Everyone uses the water and takes advantage of the fire. If everyone takes turns in getting wood, water, straw and any food rations that might be available, no one should have to do it very often.
Officers, this is one for you to be aware of. It should be up to you to coordinate with your NCO's to post a schedule of when the troops need to be in camp to pull their share of the duties. Assign people to gather firewood, fetch water, and pull picket duty. Many times the same people will stay in camp between battles, and they are the ones who are always "Gofers" for the company
Above all, for all reenactors, veterans and recruits alike, know your limits. Be aware of your physical limitations. If you have a history of heart ailments, take the necessary steps to stay within your limits. A long forced march is not for you. In the summer, watch yourself as well as those around you for signs of heat related illness. We don't need a gung ho soldier dropping in the ranks with heat stroke because he was afraid of being teased. Heat as well as exposure to extreme cold can be life threatening. How would you like to be the one to tell your comrade's wife that he won't be coming home, or for your comrade to have to break the bad news to your spouse? If everyone follows these simple ideas, your reenacting weekends will only improve.
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