re-enacting

[wadedog]

does anyone here do re-enacting of civil war.
I want to find information on how to get started and where to buy clothes or how to make them.

[Firewalker]

Check out http://www.n-ssa.org/

[wadedog]

thanks.

[Del Gue]

Wadedog,

I reenacted for over ten years and had some of the best experiences of my life.  There are memories and friendships that I honestly would not take a million dollars for.  A great websight for CW Reenactors is oddly enough http://www.cwreenactors.com websight. Go there and click on the forum sight.  There are a lot of good folks there and a bunch of information and links.  Good Luck.

[wadedog]

sounds great, thanks alot del gue.

sounds like you have had a great time, i would love to hear some of your stories.

[RichW]

Wadedog,

I reenacted for over ten years and had some of the best experiences of my life.  There are memories and friendships that I honestly would not take a million dollars for.  A great websight for CW Reenactors is oddly enough http://www.cwreenactors.com websight. Go there and click on the forum sight.  There are a lot of good folks there and a bunch of information and links.  Good Luck.

Yeah, what Del Gue said.

CW reenactors are the most well organized bunch, and always a great group of folks.

As for what gear, that usually is governed by the unit you join up with, so you might want to do that before you put a bunch of $$$$ into stuff they might have on the "NO-GO" list.

Most of these groups have a list of what was typical for that unit, based on good research.  Once you have that in hand, you will be set

[Angus]

Wadedog,
I reenact as as a private soldier with the 3rd Louisiana. It is a great hoppy.  I do more civil war than buckskinning.  If you go to a good size reenactment you can outfit yourself from the sutlers camped there.  Kind of costly though.  Get involved with a group in your area and I bet they would outfit you just to see if you like it.
Good luck to ya.

[LightSeeker]

WadeDog,
    How goes the CW reenacting thing?  I am just getting started with the Bardstown, Ky Homeguard unit, they are great in that they are what was left behind to guard the homefront so many were not completely uniformed and many came out of the woodwork with their old flintlocks and percusion cap long rifles-
These guys started their own unit to enjoy the fellowship and not be bogged down by the constant changing of the leadership in the other CW units they were in- the "I am in charge now so we will  only buy uniforms from this supplier and you need to order a new one soon" -this of course equals big $$$$ so they just started their own unit.  Rich is right, get with a unit and they will help, many sutlers will give you a discount if you have a certain unit which does business with them- I just ordered my brogans from Crescent City sutlers out of southern Indiana.  Good luck!

[wadedog]

Thanks light seeker. I see clearer now,lol.

I found a local guy and a crew of his started their own "mess" because of those same reasons.
I haven't started yet besides reading up on things because our work schedules don't match but i hope to be able to get together some this summer.
I have seen a guy on ebay who seems to have decent clothes at a real good price, i might buy from him but i'm afraid things won't fit right. any advice?

[LightSeeker]

Wade Dog,
  I am not sure how far down south you are in Ohio, but if you could ever get to Bardstown Ky on the 3 rd sat of each month, we could fit you out with some of the duds they keep on hand in their quartermasters storage, they would let you try them out for size, but of course you would have to get your own later, but that is exactly how I knew that I didn't need to size up to a 13 in the brogan shoes, they let me try a pair they had there.  Ask your folks around there if there are any reenactors in your approximate size and they will probably let you try them own for the fit.  Just a few thoughts.  Good luck!

[wadedog]

I live near cincy in ohio.

Do you all ever go to perryville .

[LightSeeker]

WadeDog,
    I haven't as of yet, just getting into this CW thing, but Perryville is about an hour away from me.  If you ever get the chance, every third Saturday of the month we meet at Bardstown Ky civil war museum and do some reenacting in the pioneer village...it would be a chance to pick some of the peoples brains if you want info.  Just go to Lexington then get on I-64 W and follow to Bardstown- You will see the Stephen Foster State Park sign and the CW museum sign.  Let me know if your coming and we can show you around the place- I will generally be inthe blacksmith shop.

[Firewalker]

I wouldn't mind doing some skirmishing, but there are no events near here and I have enough trouble just getting to rondy now and again. I do favor those muskets though. Especially the ones that shoot a PRB decently!

[wadedog]

Sounds good lightseeker, If i come down i'll try and let you know.
Sounds like a place i want to check out.

Also i know what you mean firewalker, things have got real slim around here on rondys too.

[macNnc]

CW reenacting was how I started in this hobby..waaaayyyy back in the 1970s...worked my way "backwards in time" from there...