Reenactment Fights

bucktailre-enactor · First Sergeant Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 24

i was just wondering have any of you guys seen any fights at a reenactment between union and reb?
like a fist fight. Just wondering if some reenactors get very hot tempered about who is a better army during the war. Kinda weird topic but it has been a question that I hved wondered about since I started reenacting.

N.W.15thAR · Captain Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 167

I havnt heard of fist fights between reeactors probably because most have a mutual respect for the other, but I've heard of fights between reeactors and people watching the reenactment. I'm not saying fights between reenactors dont happen, im sure they have, I just havnt seen or heard of any. I've also heard of instances where people brought bullets to reenactments to kill the other side....If your a reenactor and you want to hurt someone else on the other side because they are not on yours, seek mental help now because you are a loon! These people are just stupid murders and trouble makers. People reeact to relive history, and as much as I want to be authentic, I dont want bullets flying at me and I dont want people trying to start fights with me. I was almost in a fight with someone at a living history event. the unit that im in was origionally raised on the grounds of the Bentonville, AR town square and this was the first time that this unit had been there since 1861. This was also an SCV (Sons of Confederate Veterans) event as well, and we had the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd national, the troop flag and a confederate naval jack set up around the confederate statue. So someone comes up to us and calls us rasists and that we hate everyone. We tryed to calm this person down. Personally, I wanted to get my rifle, fix bayonet and charge. They were causing such a scene that an African American couple came up and told them to leave that they are not welcome around here. The couple was from South Carolina. The place I live is full of southerners, but even more northerners. Wal-mart was founded where I live so there about about 20,000 people that are from the north and it kills me, cause now we are being booed, and I say to myself, WHY? America needs to be properly educated just not about the confederacy, but about the union, or else this war is going to happen all over again and I for one could live without it.

Pvt. Gale
N.W. 15th Arkansas

N.W.15thAR · Captain Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 167

Let me ask you something bucktail....where do you live? Also, if you join a group and people talk about how they want to fight someone on the other side or have done that, I would suggest you leave the group or distance yourself from that person. My group doesn't tolerate any kind of fighting except that on the battlefield. So just to save yourself trouble, keep away from negative influencial people, and from my experience its usually the ones that are between late 20's to around 40's.

O'Bruadair · Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 1:27 pm Post subject:

“Just wondering if some reenactors get very hot tempered about who is a better army during the war”

Well I’ve seen a couple of fights at reenactments over the years but I’ve seen a lot more at school.

Never seen a lot of real animosity though between those wearing blue and those wearing gray. Most re-enactors (especially CS reenactors) do both federal and confederate impressions so they would have to fight themselves wouldn’t they?

Only time I’ve seen even a scuffle between “yanks” and “rebs” was at the 135th anniversary of Gettysburg. Any green hand re-enactor can tell you that the worst “faux pax” in the hobby (outside safety violations) is to try and take someone else’s colors if that has not been scripted and agreed upon before hand. At Pickets charge that day one CS color bearer ran up within 5 yards of the wall and several blue bellies came over the wall and attempted to take them from him (according to the “ground rules” no yankees were supposed to even cross the wall and CS that did were to immediately surrender) I was only 15 yards away but by the time I got to the color bearer there were equal numbers of blue and gray (maybe 4 or 5 of each) struggling for possession of the colors. Still don’t know how I did it but I leapt on top of the pile bowled it over and ended on top of the yankee that still held the staff. I ever so gently put my forearm to his throat and politely suggested that he release his grip. This he did and everybody got up and returned to their own lines.

Most really contentious and objectionable behavior at reenactments that I have seen is perpetrated by so-called “authentics” at “mainstream” events. I don’t really have a problem with folks that want to take authenticity to the nth degree as long as they keep their opinions to themselves unless asked.

I DO have a problem with “stitch nazi’s” that want to try and hold every body else in the hobby to their own personal unreasonable self-imposed and self proclaimed “authenticity standards” and loudly and rudely criticize everybody and everything in sight that does not meet those standards.

O'Bruadair · Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 1:28 pm Post subject:

“Just wondering if some reenactors get very hot tempered about who is a better army during the war”

Well I’ve seen a couple of fights at reenactments over the years but I’ve seen a lot more at school.

Never seen a lot of real animosity though between those wearing blue and those wearing gray. Most re-enactors (especially CS reenactors) do both federal and confederate impressions so they would have to fight themselves wouldn’t they?

Only time I’ve seen even a scuffle between “yanks” and “rebs” was at the 135th anniversary of Gettysburg. Any green hand re-enactor can tell you that the worst “faux pax” in the hobby (outside safety violations) is to try and take someone else’s colors if that has not been scripted and agreed upon before hand. At Pickets charge that day one CS color bearer ran up within 5 yards of the wall and several blue bellies came over the wall and attempted to take them from him (according to the “ground rules” no yankees were supposed to even cross the wall and CS that did were to immediately surrender) I was only 15 yards away but by the time I got to the color bearer there were equal numbers of blue and gray (maybe 4 or 5 of each) struggling for possession of the colors. Still don’t know how I did it but I leapt on top of the pile bowled it over and ended on top of the yankee that still held the staff. I ever so gently put my forearm to his throat and politely suggested that he release his grip. This he did and everybody got up and returned to their own lines.

Most really contentious and objectionable behavior at reenactments that I have seen is perpetrated by so-called “authentics” at “mainstream” events. I don’t really have a problem with folks that want to take authenticity to the nth degree as long as they keep their opinions to themselves unless asked.

I DO have a problem with “stitch nazi’s” that want to try and hold every body else in the hobby to their own personal unreasonable self-imposed and self proclaimed “authenticity standards” and loudly and rudely criticize everybody and everything in sight that does not meet those standards.

Ollie439 · Sergeant Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Alabama

and youre still fightin it

N.W.15thAR · Captain Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 167

The war still isnt over. Not everyone swore the oath and not everyone surrendered. Dont get me wrong, I love the U.S. and I love being an American. But I love the south more. Just as I belive it was jackson who said it "I love the Union, but I love Virginia more."

Pvt. Gale
N.W. 15th Arkansas

Ollie439 · Sergeant Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Alabama

not over....unbelievable.

charge_of_glory · Captain Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 136

How is that unbeleieveable? It's true. While physically, the war is over, mentally and emotionally, it's not.

Anyway, back to the topic. I can't believe someone would bring real bullets in an attempt to actually harm the other side. Are those people usually caught before the battle? I sure hope so, because that could end very badly...

N.W.15thAR · Captain Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 167

Well Captains are suppost to check cap pouches and cartrige boxes during inspection and they could be caught then, but even then its really hard since the bullet and powder are all contained together and you cant see in them, so unless you inspect every cartridge, every haversack, and anywhere else,you wouldnt catch someone till its too late. Usually if this happens its an accident. Some guys shoot live rounds occasionally like myself, but I always make sure when I'm done its completely unloaded. There are psycho's out there that want to keep drawing blood.

Pvt. Gale
N.W. 15th Arkansas

csaharty · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject: Fights at events

I think all of us know that there are always adult egos that do not yield to common sense. And reencating is no different. So there are disputes that arise, but I haven't seen an issue over which side was 'right'.

I think many are involved to honor their ancestors who fough in the War Between the States. As for live ammo, that is forbidden at events and criminals would be dealt with normally under the law. Of course, that would be an ugly blight on the hobby and movement to preserve history of future generations.

the.past.fate · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 9:59 am Post subject:

i have seen in battle a real fight. this was 2 years ago at Ceader Creek. one of our guns was running back to the union side up the steep hill. some confeds came up running behind pulling afew of our cannoneers down by their necks choaking them. one of our cannoneers was a girl and a boy whom liked her jumped over the cannon and punched the confed. The confed was banned form the battle for the rest of his life.... thats to the extent i have seen a fight in battle.
In another battle there was a infintry group that got wasted the previous night. They were hot and tempered. The confeds were charging and fireing one got into a fist fight and fired his pistol in a mans face. There were no charges filed but the man had to go to the hospital.
Though i have seen and heard conflicts vocally. They are somethingI avoid them like the plauge!!