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FAQ for Civil War ReenactorsQ. Why does someone get involved with reenacting? Reenacting is a hobby, and as is the case with any hobby, people have their own reasons for wanting to do it. For most reenactors, their participation comes from a fascination with the historical significance of the Civil War. Sometimes it starts with watching a movie or reading a book, or a visit to a Civil War battlefield. Once a person starts to learn about how important the Civil War was to our history and all the different ways it influenced our society, military, modern medicine, etc. it can become an obsession. Many reenactors are devoted historians who have studied this historical period for years. Some people are involved with reenacting because of their own family history. Many people can trace their family roots back to the 1860s and can identify relatives who fought on one side or the other. Our commander, for example, has done reenactments at locations where his relatives actually fought during the war. Sometimes all it takes for a person to become a reenactor is simply to watch a reenactment. The uniforms, guns, cannon, flags, horses, wagons and more add to the excitement of the event. Then the cannon start to roar, the explosions shake the ground, and lines of soldiers fire deafening volleys right in front of you . . . the spectacle of a reenactment is exciting to watch. Then you talk with the reenactors and you see how knowledgeable and passionate they are about what they're doing. After you attend a reenactment, it can be very easy to want to get involved yourself. That said, the experience of watching a reenactment is nothing compared to being a reenactor yourself. When you stand on a field and a line of soldiers form up before you, rifles aimed your way, and you see the smoke and fire pour from their weapons with a loud roar . . . in that instant, you can slip back in time 150 years and just for that moment you can truly experience what it must have been like to go into battle. The whole experience is intense and remarkably realistic. We challenge you to spend one weekend living the life of a Civil War soldier. When you see what they had to endure, you will have a new-found respect for the soldiers who fought on both sides of the war. Q. Is it expensive to be a reenactor? It can be. Besides the uniforms, you have to obtain weapons and (if you choose to camp with the reenactors at events) period-accurate camping gear. As a dismounted cavalry unit, we actually have it better than people in infantry units (who require more gear) and artillery units (who have to buy cannon and all the associated supplies). Regular cavalry reenactors have a significant expense with the purchase, upkeep and extensive training for their horses. Fortunately, as a dismounted cavalry unit we don't incur those expenses. Virtually everyone who gets involved with reenacting starts out very simply and expands their attire and equipment over time. Sometimes fellow reenactors can loan certain items to you as a beginner, with the expectation that you'll purchase your own items over time. Members of our unit will be happy to help you select items that you'll need and can steer you to or away from good opportunities to buy wisely. In fact, we strongly encourage you to talk with us before you buy anything. Sutlers will be happy to sell you ANYTHING, whether it's needed or not - or even appropriate or not. Let us help you choose items that are appropriate for our unit so you don't waste money. Q. I don't own a gun. Can I still participate? Yes. We need targets. ;-) You don't have to own a weapon to enjoy reenacting. If it's a matter of needing time to save up for a rifle, a fellow reenactor may have one you can borrow until you get your own. Even for people who don't want to own a firearm, there are opportunities to participate - flag bearers, buglers, drummers, medical personnel, etc. There is also a multitude of opportunities for civilian reenactors for men and women in all age groups. Q. You aren't shooting real bullets at each other, are you?
Even though we don't use bullets, our weapons can still cause serious injury if they're not handled properly. Look at the photo to the right: you can see the flame coming from the barrel of the rifle. Which leads to the next question . . . Q. Is Civil War reenacting a dangerous hobby?
The most obvious hazard lies with our weaponry. We don't use real ammunition but the discharge of a weapon can cause serious injury if not done properly. Obviously, the blast from a cannon is even more dangerous. We strongly discourage anyone from bringing knives onto the battlefield during a reenactment; the risk of injury is too great, even if the reenactors are not trying to hurt each other. You will find bayonets on the infantry's rifles, however, and like everything else those are real. For these reasons reenactors try to maintain a safe separation during a battle, to avoid getting caught in the opposing force's rifle fire or on their bayonets. You'll also notice that reenactors aim their weapons above the heads of their targets if they're fairly close. When you hear reenactors yelling "Elevate!" they're reminding each other to aim their weapons high to avoid hurting the opposing force.
There are other potential risks to reenacting that are common to any outdoor activity. You're running around on a field so there is the potential for tripping or stepping in a hole and twisting an ankle. Some reenactors, in the midst of an epic death scene, have been known to fall on to thistles or mounds of fire ants as well. On a more serious note, the uniforms we wear and the gear we carry are heavy and we often do reenactments in hot weather. Dehydration is a legitimate concern on these occasions. Reenactors are well aware of these potential hazards. Here are just some of the safety initiatives we implement for our engagements:
There are risks associated with reenacting, but you will find that people who participate in this hobby take safety very seriously. They tend to follow the rules, use a lot of common sense, and they have no problem calling out other people who are breaking safety rules. Reenacting is a passion for us; in site of the fact that we're wearing opposing uniforms, we're an extremely friendly and caring community and we don't want to see anyone get hurt. Q. How physically demanding is this hobby? This is definitely a physical activity. You will be wearing heavy uniforms and gear, carrying a rifle, marching, crouching and getting back up, running occasionally. That said, we have people in our unit at all ages and in varying levels of fitness. We are an inclusive group and do our best to accommodate anyone who wants to be a member of our group. If someone gets tired during an engagement, they can always "take a hit" and sit the rest of the battle out. The point is, there are some physical aspects to being a reenactor but most people will have no trouble finding a level of involvement they're comfortable with. If you have any questions about this, just talk to one of us and we can expand on that. Q. Is this affiliated with some militia or political group? No. The 13th Texas Cavalry is not affiliated in any way with any political or militia organizations. We have nothing to do with either activity. There is no "ulterior motive" to reenacting. Our interests lie in learning more about the period of American history centering on the Civil War. By wearing the uniforms, recreating the military customs and reenacting battles we gain a better understanding of what life was like for the soldiers who actually fought in that war. The 13th Texas Cavalry will not tolerate racism, hate speech, or other behavior that brings discredit to the unit. We are a family-centered organization. Q. I see that many of your events are fictional battles, ones that never happened during the Civil War. How exactly do you "reenact" something that never happened in the first place? That does sound like a contradiction, doesn't it? Like "genuine faux pearls" or "jumbo shrimp" . . . the fact is, we reenact the historically accurate tactics, uniforms, weaponry and military structure / discipline of the armies on both sides of the Civil War conflict. We then apply those aspects of reenactment to different scenarios. What would happen if Federal forces of a certain size attacked Confederate forces that were entrenched in and around a redoubt? What would happen if Confederate infantry happened upon Union dismounted cavalry and the initial skirmish led to a major battle with artillery and cavalry forces? By using fictional scenarios we have limitless situations to engage in, for our own education and the entertainment of the crowds who come to watch us. Think of it this way - if we were reenacting an actual battle, you'd know how it was going to end. What's the fun in that? Q. So how do you guys decide who wins the battle? That is highly classified information. Can't tell you that one. We can tell you this - in many cases, the enlisted soldiers taking the field don't know how the battle will end, so they fight the battle and watch it unfold just as the spectators do.
Nope. Women are welcome as reenactors (see the picture to the right). They can participate as soldiers or they can dress in period-authentic civilian attire and participate that way. You will hear it over and over from us: The 13th Texas Cavalry is a family group. We want your family to take part in our activities and have fun doing it.
Q. This looks like fun. Can I be Robert E. Lee? Not so fast. Being a general isn't an entry level position. People typically start reenacting as enlisted soldiers. As they develop their knowledge and experience, they can move up in ranks, become officers, etc. The specific actions you see in a battle are NOT scripted. Officers have great latitude in the tactics they use during a fight; just as in a real battle, the officers respond to the changing conditions on the field, make decisions on the fly and lead their troops accordingly. Being a leader in a reenactment takes a lot more than a fancy uniform. It requires a great deal of knowledge about the tactics and weaponry of the 1860s. This is necessary to maintain the authenticity of the battles and to keep things safe as well. Q. What do you guys do except shoot at each other? What else is there? Actually, a typical reenactment lasts over a long weekend. That weekend will include two to three battles. The rest of time we're doing other things - practicing and drilling to learn the tactics we will use in the battles, checking out the sales tents, talking with people who attend the reenactment and just hanging out and having fun in each other's company. They often have a dance in the evening, church service on Sunday morning, and other fun activities. Our unit has a Christmas party every December, a picnic in the summer, and other get-togethers. We also do living history displays where we set up at a school or event and meet the public, as an educational service. Q. Your unit is called "dismounted cavalry" - does that mean I would have to ride a horse if I joined your unit? No. A dismounted cavalry unit during the war was a hybrid of a cavalry unit and an infantry unit. They traveled by horse, but when it got to a battle the soldiers would dismount. Two soldiers would go to the fight on foot, and one soldier would stay back to hold the horses for all three. Our group functions as the portion of the unit that has dismounted and has gone into battle. That's not to say we're essentially the same as infantry though; our weapons, gear and tactics are different than those of an infantry unit. Q. Do I have to stay at the campgrounds during the reenactment? Every unit has its own rules for many aspects of its operation, including where you stay during reenactments. The 13th Texas Cavalry is very flexible in this regard; some members like to camp at the battlefield while others prefer to stay in local hotels. Q. I don't know anything about the Civil War. Can I still participate? If your only desire is to shoot guns, you can probably do that better and less expensively on your own, without being a reenactor. You're welcome to join our group but that certainly isn't all we do. The proper term for reenacting is "living history" - you will find that people in our group are passionate about the Civil War from a historical perspective. We don't just dress up and shoot guns. We create impressions, or characters. Many of us develop entire life histories of the people we represent - where we come from, when we were born, what we do for a living, how we got into the war . . . and all that requires a substantial understanding of life in the 1850s - 1860s. You don't have to be an expert on the Civil War, but to derive the full value of the experience you will want to the history, the names of battles and generals, understand what happened and why. There are LOTS of good books and some good movies and TV shows on the war and we can recommend many of them to you. Q. Is there a commitment to "enlisting" with a reenactment group? Not formally, no. We all do this for fun and because we really enjoy the time we spend with each other. There is no commitment to participating for a certain period of time. The cost for uniforms and materials is the greatest commitment you will incur. Chances are, if you're willing to spend the time and money to assemble the necessary gear to do reenacting, you will want to stay with it. Q. I'm going to get started. Should I just find a website that sells Civil War stuff and buy what I like? No! You can buy lots of stuff from websites, but some things aren't period-authentic or appropriate to our unit. For example, that slouch hat with a red braid looks really cool, but we're a dismounted cavalry unit - our hat should have a yellow braid. We have specific standards for the types of weapons that can be used. There are many things you don't need and you don't want to be talked into buying those. Talk with us before you start purchasing items and we'll help you get what you need and save money. How do I get started? Check out our Getting Started page for lots of information. |
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About Civil War Reenacting:
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Using
real bullets might make the reenactment more exciting, but it would
require us to find new recruits constantly. We don't use bullets at
reenactments but we do use black powder and firing caps. Our pistols,
rifles and swords aren't toys; we use actual weapons that are authentically designed to the standards and technologies of the 1850s-60s.
There
are potential hazards to this hobby you should be aware of. 
Other
hazards: Officers carry swords and typically use them as a means of
communication. In some instances they will reenact a sword fight with
another officer but these interactions are done very carefully and are
practiced beforehand. Many reenactments are now using pyrotechnics to
represent the explosion of a cannonball. These are substantial explosions
that shake the ground even at a distance, and reenactors must take care
to stay away from areas where pyrotechnics have been deployed. Many
reenactments include cavalry units, which means that horses are running
through the same battlefield as the dozens, or hundreds, of reenactors.
The horses are remarkably well trained but they are animals that can
become spooked.
Our reenactors are given multiple safety briefings prior to each
engagement, with discussion of hazards unique to the battlefield and
overall safety standards. 
Q.
Who can join? This is basically just a bunch of old white guys, right?
Adult
reenactors range from the early 20s to senior citizens, but you will
find many teen-agers doing reenacting as well, as you can see in this
photo. Some boy scouts do reenacting to earn patches and the hobby is
popular with students in JROTC and ROTC programs as well. All races,
genders and age groups are welcome to take part.