Blacksmith
The Blue and Gray Brigade is made up of men, women and children who
represent the 1861 - 1865 time period. Not every man has to be a
military person. You can be a farmer, tradesman, doctor, suttler, even
a politician. Do some research and become what you want.
Most women during the civil war that were found at military camps were not
"Soiled Doves". They were wives or sweethearts of officers or
soldiers, they were local women who came to the camp to assist with cooking
and writing letters home. They were members of Sanitary Commission,
nuns, seamstress, members of the Ladies Aid Society. There are so many
roles a woman can present herself as, including a soldier.
A website that has helped many women in becoming a Living Historian is
Fanny & Vera's .
They provide a very down to earth approach to reenacting, with helpful
hints, and projects. Check it out before you go and buy everything.
For both men and women, this can be a very expensive hobby, so be smart and
shop around. Ask other members where they have purchased their gear or
clothing.
Talk with some of the established members. They can help at your first few events by lending you a dress and accessories, sharing tent space or incorporating you into their portrayal for a few events. This is an easy way to learn the ropes until you decide which direction you want to take.
Before you spend tons of money on clothing and gear, go to a couple of events in a simple role. Test the waters as it were, by portraying a general role such as farm wife. Be a maid or servant to someone with an established role and learn by watching.
If you have a skill you enjoy and would like to share with others, check out its history in connection to the Civil War. Do you like to knit? Knitting played a very important part as the ladies of the home front kept their needles busy to supply warm socks and gloves to their sons in the army. Many of today's children have never seen anyone knit. This persona would teach them that once upon a time socks did not come from Wal-Mart. This tip applies to everything from blacksmithing to quilting.
One of the best lines I ever heard at a reenactment was a young lady who said, with a straight face, "I don't want to read history, I just want to live it!" I laughed so hard I nearly burst my corset. After apologizing for laughing, I asked her how she could live history if she didn't know it?
Research is a treasure hunt. It's your job to dig up the gold that you will use to create your persona. Sure you can put on a slat bonnet, grab a basket and be a farm wife; but think how much more you can teach people if you can talk about farm animals, crops, the effects of the weather, the effects of insects on your crops, the effects of the economic times on your farm income. How much milk does it take to make a pound of butter? How much will that pound of butter sell for? How do you get that pound of butter to market? How do you keep it fresh without a refrigerator? How does a butter churn work and what is a butter mold? Do you get to keep the butter and egg money for yourself or does your skinflint husband take it from you?
The more background information you have on the character you portray, the more realistic and three-dimensional you will become in your role.
Many long time re-enactors are quick to make remarks that are stereotypical rather than true. A woman was not an old maid if she was unmarried at 18. Not everyone had or wanted a 17" waist. Not everyone was religious. Vice was common and not always illegal. Most people were literate and with much better vocabularies than we use today. Most women worked, farm, factory or cottage industry. People with slaves or servants were a minority of the population. The North was not a united front. Many Northerners did not support the war and worked to further the Southern cause. Not every Northerner supported or liked President Lincoln. Don't present your persona in a vacuum. Learn some of the social background of the mid Victorian era.
