What is Civil War reenacting?
Civil War reenacting is a hobby where participants reenact various events around the general timeframe of the American Civil War. These events can be big like battles or important happenings such as a trial or a surrender. The events can also be small, like the happenings in the everyday lives of soldiers in camp or on the homefront.

Since Civil War reenacting centers around the war itself, the most common portrayals are of soldiers. Most reenacting events center around battles.

Care is taken to reproduce the events, atmosphere, and the look of the period. This is the core interest of the reenacting hobby. Most reenactors strive for “authenticity” or a greater sense of realism. Everything in the hobby is recreated as accurately as possible. Clothing is woven and dyed with the materials and methods used to make them. People talk as a person would have spoken back in the time. Life is recreated as closely as possible.

Why is authenticity so important?
“Authenticity” is the core of what reenactors strive for within the hobby. Come as close to real life as possible. Some casual observers tend ask “why?”

The answer is simply this: credibility.

If you reenact, you are recreating how things were back in the Civil War and presenting it for public view or for your and your reenacting peers satisfaction. In order for the public and your fellow reenactors to fully believe in what you are presenting, you must be credible.

Is Reenacting expensive?
It depends on how you want to look at it. The up-front cost of reenacting is expensive. A good start-up impression can cost anywhere from $1500 to $2000. But another way to look at it is this, once you buy your uniform, rifle, and gear (known collectively as a “kit”) you do not have to buy much else, other than gas for your car and event registration fees.

In comparison, a train modeler can spend upwards to $10,000 for trains, track, landscaping. A tropical fish aficionado can spend as much on the fish alone! Sport fishermen buy boats and tackle that are much more expensive than what an accomplished reenactor would spend to do Confederate, Union and civilian impressions. With all things compared, reenacting is not as expensive as it seems.

How to start

Before you decide to become a reenactor, realize this - you need to understand that reenacting also requires commitment not only in money, but in time. In order to fully enjoy the hobby, you must be able to arrive at events on a consistent basis.