Any Civil War Re-enactors?

[Stinsok]

Maybe someone can answer my question. How are battles recreated? As part of history we may know who won, but how is it decided who dies in battle? How did they die (gunshot, cannon ball explosion, hacked to death, etc.?) How is it choregraphed so that it looks right and the body count is correct?

I can picture something like:
Bang Bang! You're dead!

Nuh-uhh! I had my force field on, man.

[Relic]

Depends. There are public "reenactments" where the battles are choreographed to be as close to the original as possible and there are private "tacticals" where the participants disregard recreating any particular battle and just use their knowledge of the tactics of the day to pit their skills against their adversary - in this way you sort of hone your skills and your abilities as a combination of "actor" and "living historian".

The guns that are used fire blank charges, as do the cannons and such. If you feel that you have been shot or it's appropriate in the battle scenario for you to be "shot" then you "take a hit" and fall down "dead" or wounded. Some reenactors do it well, others are incredibly goofy.

Battles of the Civil War, Revolutionary War and Napoleonic Wars were more than one man shooting at another. They were actually reliant on movements of whole large groups of troops - formations, moves, counter-moves, speed of movement. It was a science. He who could do it better and faster was usually the winner. That's really more the focus in Civil War and Revolutionary War reenactments than Hollywood special effect and blood and gore.
I've done Civil War reenactments years ago (thinking about getting back into it actually) and have been doing French and Indian/7 Years War, Revolutionary War, WW1, WW2 for many years now.

It's an acquired taste. Some folks find it ludicrous, others find it fascinating. As for me, I'm a history junky and love it.

[jp58]

I've been a few times to help out a blacksmithing friend and his dad. They were quite distraught when I showed up in jeans and a t-shirt, and I was quickly changed into the spare leather apron and some black pants.

I'm not too sure on how the battle actually works as most of what we did was "fix" broken equipment and make souvenirs and the like. We were taken over at gunpoint, and so we wisely converted to the other side as opposed to having to play dead for an hour.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by jp58

I've been a few times to help out a blacksmithing friend and his dad. They were quite distraught when I showed up in jeans and a t-shirt, and I was quickly changed into the spare leather apron and some black pants.

I'm not too sure on how the battle actually works as most of what we did was "fix" broken equipment and make souvenirs and the like. We were taken over at gunpoint, and so we wisely converted to the other side as opposed to having to play dead for an hour.

In my Revolutionary war group we have a guy who's currently in art school. Not sure which college, but he's a sculptor who works in metals and such. He sets up a mobile blacksmith shop at reenactment events and makes stuff for the group and sometimes the public. Really really talented dude.
Reenactment groups are kind of like bands - you have some that really suck and you have some that are phenomenal.

While I'm talking about it (and 3 beers into a great buzz...) Another sort of event that some some reenactors take part in, are "immersion" events - these are by far the most demanding and may require a little bit of insanity... the purpose is to give you a better taste and understanding of what it may have been like to live the life of those who you portray.
These are where you take a weekend or a few days and actually try to live the life of the folks (to the best of your ability) who you are reenacting. It's not for the public, but more for personal reasons/interests. I've done it for WW1 and French and Indian War.
It's freaking awesome. For the French and Indian war one, a few of us took a three day hike through the mountains of upstate PA, near the NY border. Not a single modern item (except for one cell phone just in case) We slept on the ground
under the stars at night, any food we had to carry with us - flat breads salted meats, no tents, no flashlights, NOTHING modern, just your clothes a blanket and musket. Amazing experience. God I love the 21st century

[jp58]

My friend's father is VERY good at what he does. He has went as far as to make his own era appropriate gear for his Civil War days. It was great fun and I can't believe I got paid to be there, even though I was probably more of a liability than a helper. My biggest contribution was carrying/moving heavy gear.

Hopefully they invite me again a time or two.

[MJ5150]

Does your friend make any chain mail armor?

-Mike

[KillerNeuron]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Does your friend make any chain mail armor?

-Mike

I'll sell you my ex-husbands chain mail for veeeeeedy good price.

[jp58]

Nah. He only make revolutionary/civil war stuff. I think he helped make a functioning cannon at one point. He also made one of those cool medieval chandeliers for his house. If I can find a few pictures of his work, I'll post them here.

[MJ5150]

I need someone to make me three rain chains with a custom design my wife chose. Think he's be down for it?

-Mike