What to Expect on a Reenactment Weekend

Friday night will start at Capt. Glass's house where most of us gather to load the trailer and discuss directions, if we are going to stop to eat and where. I suggest bringing extra money for the trip there and back. Depending on how far away the reenactment is determines if and when we will stop the farther away we go we usually stop. I suggest around $20 that will cover eats both ways.

When we arrive at the reenactment grounds we will register then go to set up camp. First the tents are set up, everyone helps set up all the tents then we get our stuff to put in the tents. The tents are set up in rows, the girls are sectioned off from the guys by having the cook on one end and the female advisor on the other. This is due to BSA Youth Protection rules. The cars are usually left in camp until the next morning when they have to be moved to reenactor parking. I have found that what works best for me is to pack everything I will need for Friday night in one place; sleeping clothes, flashlight, etc. It will usually be late when we finally get to bed and having everything you need in one place is easier than having to search for stuff. The first thing you want to do is stretch out your ground cloth. Then put your bed roll in place and arrange your tent. If the cars are left in camp, you can leave some of your gear in the car until morning. At registration you will most likely be given an event schedule take time Friday night to review it. At one reenactment civilians are required to attend a meeting bright and early Saturday morning. Things that are usually on the schedule include: ladies tea, battle, any meals provided, dance, church service, demonstrations, etc.

The first thing every morning our First Sergeant with give the command "First Call" that means that we are to wake up and get ready for the day. I have learned the hard way that I need to keep an ear on what is going on as I get ready so that I don't miss breakfast. Since breakfast usually occurs before the public arrive you don't have to be fully ready for the day at breakfast. Usually around 9 o'clock is when the gates open to the public as long as everything outside the tent is period correct you can be in your tent continuing to get ready if you need extra time. Sometimes it will take alittle longer to get ready. On Sunday you will need to have as much as possible ready to leave before the battle. As soon as the soldiers get back from the battle we start breaking camp. They will usually leave the girls tents for last to give us the opportunity to change. This is were having clothes on under your dress helps because then you can just pull off your dress and get things packed up. I suggest a tank top that you can then put a shirt over and pull your pants on before you take off your dress. We liked to get out of camp and on the road home as soon as possible.

The things that civilians usually do around camp are help the cook, mend uniforms, and answer spectators questions. Don't worry about not knowing how to do something, we will help you. Spectators ask all kinds of questions, don't worry about getting asked something you don't know. If you don't know, tell them and direct them to someone that would know. But you will find that after a few reenactments that you will start to learning more and more just by listening to the others answer questions. I like to write the questions down at the end of the night to research later so that I will know the answer next time. You will find that by being able to answer some of the spectators questions and engage them in a conversation it will add to your fun. As a civilian group we will decide on some other activities to do while in camp. This will give us some activity to do/demonstrate for the spectators. Some activities are sewing, crochet/knit, quilting, giving a speech, everyday period activities.