Why become a reenactor?

That is a question. I think that you may find several different answers. Among them would be an interest of the era, a fascination with military way of life, a fascination with the ways civilians lived, a love of history. I would think that you will find that every reenactor has elements of all of these. It would be foolish to dress and live the way they did 150 years ago without loving it in some way. The reenactor doesn’t just show up in costume and do things for the public. There are, as I understand it, three levels of reenactors.

Farbs: These people don’t try to be accurate in their reenactment. They have obviously machine made uniforms, they don’t spend a lot of time learning about the period or the people of the civil war. Picture the guy at Halloween who dresses like he was from the Civil War. The term “Farb” is used to describe something that is not period correct, Polyester and zippers for example.

The second level is probably the largest group. These are known as Mainstream: These are a combination between Farbs and Authentic campaigners. These people will look the part on the outside but may be wearing superman underwear. These people also in my experience will interact with the general public more accurately than the Farbs and more easily than the Authentic Campaigners.

The last group is obviously the Authentic Campaigners. These people live the 1860’s their dress is dead on accurate, their way of camping is dead on accurate, and their food is dead on accurate. It is the hardest form of reenacting because these people will lie down in the rain wrapped in a blanket and gum blanket and go to sleep. They are a great group and know more about the day to day life of a civil war soldier then anyone. 

Next I will talk about what role you may want to choose when reenacting.

Until then I am your servant, Pvt. Smith 21st GA Inf.