Question For Reenactors

[charge_of_glory]

Obviously if you reenact the Civil War, you must really be into the war and its history. But have any of you ever started to question why it was fought or what was so great about it? Why men enlisted and died during those years? Have you ever thought about such things and gotten a really odd and unpleasant feeling? I'm not questioning why anyone does it. I want to be a reenactor myself, but sometimes when I think about those questions, I get this horrible, confused feeling in my gut. I would just like some help or advice or anything really. Thanks.

[charge_of_glory]

Guys, please. I really need your help. Any advice or response will be greatly appreciated!

[bucktailre-enactor]

One of the reasons men and boys enlisted was because many of them have never travelled away from their homes and thought that it would be a great adventure and they would be able to see the rest of the country. One other reason they enlisted was because in 1861 the war fever broke out and they wanted to be heroes. Yes, many soldiers were killed in battle but they fought because their lands and states were being invaded by unwanted tyrants. Many southern soldiers did not even own a slave they fought because their homes were being thereatened.

[charge_of_glory]

Thanks!

[GeoMcClellan]

Most Union men fought for honourable intentions; they were saving the Constitution, Union, the whole United States as they knew it. Others fought for money. Some were drafted. Same as today.

[charge_of_glory]

That's a question I wonder about sometimes and I think out of the many reasons there are, the most important are to preserve the history of our nation and to honor those who fought.

[Civility_C]

Well don’t know about Gettysburg but I do know there were at least 400 documented cases of women disguising themselves as men and fighting in the ranks. And this is just the ones who were either discovered or who admitted it later (at least one of these later applied for and was finally granted a soldier’s pension by the US government).

I have known a few women re-enactors who can pull it off too! We have a female soldier that fights with us about twice a year (see the link below) To tell the truth as far as size she is a *beep* of a lot closer to the real thing (5’4” and 125 lbs) than most male re-enactors (your’s truly included). Unless you really give her a close looking over you can’t tell! (Her facial features are just too pretty for even a teenaged boy, but after she smears her face with a little dirt you really have to look close!)

But if marching and shootin ain't your cup of tea you can always get a folding fan a hoop skirt and ball gown!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1197676/

You guys are lucky! Most reenacting groups have women that do not try in the least bit to hide their true gender. I personaly am an authentic civilian reenactor who has thought many times about inlisting in the ranks as a drummer boy. I have a belief that if you can't past as a male at 5-8ft away then you shouldn't be doing it. I know of some women who can go through a whole reenactment and no one, not even their own mess mates, know that they are, in fact, a woman.
As far as looks, yes most women can portray a more accurate appearance. :lol:

[Civility_C]

Yes, I am sad to say that most women do not feel the need to play the role properly. I have seen some women who didn't put their hair up and didn't try to hide their... curves shall we say. It is a sad fact when non-reenactors complain about having women on the field, because it messes up the whole "time travel" effect.

[bucktailre-enactor]

get the **** off this website you god **** shity foriengers. son's of bitches

[Civility_C]

get the *beep* off this website you god *beep* *beep* foriengers. son's of *beep*

Are you speaking to me? If you are, I think you should make yourself a little more clear as to what you're referring to. And Possum is right. A bit of a delay. Did you get a little bored and look up an old thread to start a fight?

[bucktailre-enactor]

sorry