Every other weekend, a small group of dedicated people get together and leave the comforts of modern life to spend a few days reliving the 1860’s, the time of America’s Civil War. These people are driven by a love of history and a fear that we will repeat our mistakes if they are allowed to be forgotten. They call themselves Civil War Re-enactors. These dedicated people depict what life was like during the war of the states, so that we will not forget our heritage, for to forget the past is to condemn oneself to repeat it. They concentrate on the life of the average soldier, so visitors can get a real feel for what it was like to be alive and enlisted in the 1860’s.

I first became interested in the Civil War because my younger sister joined a re-enacting group, and although I haven’t attended one in full dress, I have gone to several as a spectator. Who knows, maybe this year I’ll don a uniform and grab a rifle, we shall see! I also have a short video documentary planned on re-enactors, which I hope to begin shooting this summer, wish me luck! Here’s a copy of the Treatment and Script for the project, which I wrote last fall for my Electronic Field Production class. And here’s a little information on what re-enacting is all about, when it happens, what kind of investment of time and money is made by those who partake, and how you can find re-enactments or re-enacting groups in your area.

At your typical re-enactment, a group of people of both sexes and of all ages get together and dress, drill, cook, and speak like people did during the war. Mock battles are always a big attraction, although simply sitting and listening to men and women talking in period correct slang about their day to day lives is perhaps more interesting, and very educational, as well. The people are always outgoing, friendly, and eager to answer questions.

Re-enacting groups usually hold two events a month during the warm months, almost always on weekends. Some events are sleep-overs, others simply single day events. Some longer events take place during the summer, some up to a week long and of quite grand scale. If you are interesting in checking out a re-enactment, scout around, you should be able to find one in your area almost any summer weekend, especially if you live in the eastern U.S., where most of the battlefields are.

So, this re-enacting thing sounds great, huh? But what kind of money goes into getting all done up "Civil War style"? Well, here’s a rundown of some of the basic costs of re-enactor supplies. As with anything else, you can find a wide range of prices on items, depending on what you want, but he’s a look at the basic re-enactor supplies: Replica gun ($380+), Uniform ($100+), Leathers ($160+), Bayonet ($15+), Tent ($80+), for a total in the $500-$1,000 range. This may seem a little much, but remember, you don’t need to get everything at once, and re-enactors are usually willing to help out new recruits by lending them some things. Also, the cost is minimal if you truly enjoy re-enacting, especially since it can quite easily become a lifetime hobby.

If you’d like to check out a re-enactment in your area, contact your local museum or historical society for details, and keep an eye on the local papers, they’re always a good source of information, too.