Misc.
Here are some answers to your general reenacting questions.
If you have any questions regarding clothing don’t hesitate to e-mail us your questions.
1. For the time period you portray what has been the best resource for you in finding information on the period and fashion you portray?
JL: The War Letters of Robert McAllister and the McAllister Collection Rutgers Library.
SWJ: Historic Colonial French Dress: A Guide to Re-Creating North American French Clothing by Mary Moyars Johnson, Judy Forbes, and Kathy Delaney (Paperback – Jun 1982). Almost anything written by Allan W. Eckert.
LFK: Fashionable First Lady: The Victorian Wardrobe of Mary Lincoln by Donna McCreary
JR: Rebel Leathernecks, by Ralph Donnelly
KB: Prinz Eugen im Bild, by Otto Kumm
2. If you could give a single advice to a new recruit what would it be?
JB: Learn stuff before you buy stuff.
DL: Learn the difference between what looks cool and what looks accurate and act accordingly.
CS: Don’t try to cut corners go all the way out to be appropriate for the time period.
GWG: If you can’t find something – ASK FOR HELP!
MPT: As a newbie myself, research and ask question!
JP: Don’t portray an unusual or a typical persona – General, Admiral, Nobility, etc. Be a typical person from your time – farmer/militia, seaman, peasant, etc. Show how it was for the average person. Don’t pick a role just because you want to show off your flashy kit.
AF: Remember that if you can afford a nice big flashy sword, you can afford to buy a pair of boots!
WH: Go to several events as public (spectator) first and ask a lot of questions.
JR: Ask Twice, Buy Once.
KB: Stop buying junk from ebay! How many times do we have to tell you!!!
GFFIII: Borrow kit items if you can so you can take time to make, have made or buy the best. It will last for years and years and you will never regret it. Get advice from older members on sutlers to use – and avoid.
MK: read, read, read and when your done, read some more
3. What has been the most useful and helpful book(s) in researching the time period you reenact?
GF: Phil Katcher’s works on uniforms, Peterson’s Continental Soldier, Neumann’s 4 books on the Revolutionary War period, Troiani/Kochan’s books and the dated but ever helpful Sketchbook ‘76 by the late Robert Klinger. And dont forget Military Collector & Historian (Journal).
CW: Primary source material. There is nothing better than primary sources. Secondary resources will be distorted by the historian who is writing the book. Fasset’s journal, de Kalbe’s journal, Joseph Plumb Martin’s memoir, Washington’s letters, & etc. All of these are good (I do Rev War and F&I).
MB: Everyday Life in the Massachessetts Bay Colony”
CW: I would be careful with Sketchbook ‘76. While I cannot say too much about it, having never purchased it myself, I have been a part of discussions on “good” historical books, and ‘76 was refused entry into that list, quite explicitly actually. One of the arguments I remember about the redeeming qualities of the book was its section on period hats, though.
TP: Doddridge,clinkenbeard,draper,woodmason, right now I’m trying to find out more about Nathanil Parker. I have his will there are a.lot of other books for rev war.
GF: Do not get down on SKETCHBOOK. It was the best thing done at the time. Although there has been a lot found out since then and some things basically disproved – it was and still is a landmark working and resource in the area of historical material culture and re-creation.
CW: As I said, I cannot rightly provide a good defense against Sketchbook, but if you suggested that some things have been disproved, I do not recommend trusting the entire thing. Find some original sources yourself, instead. You’ll find it’ll benefit you in the long run. Neumann’s books are good as are Troiani’s. I will still stick by what I wrote though- that primary sources are far better. You can avoid the historian’s assumptions and guesses, and read the history in the same words as it was written.
HSW: Scotland and the Thirty Years War, 1618-1648, edited by Steve Murdoch.
DL: By far “Soldiers of the King” by William Gray
MK: Actually, Their Bearing is Noble and Proud, The Middle Ground, Scouwa, countless journals, plenty of others.
LB: The Annals of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps …various volumes
MPT: From a campfollower’s point of view( Rev War) , “Belonging To The Army” by Holly Mayer
4. What are your top five favorite reenacting events?
SO: The Joey, The Leo, OFN 4th of July, Klock and FnI Ticonderoga
FR: Bethpage Ny, Whitehall, Cedar Creek, Camp Wood and Britney’s Hope
CS: Fort Ticonderoga,crown point, Fort at #4, Quebec,niagra,louibourg even though we’ve only done niagra,quebec, and louisbourg once each but still very nice events but Ti,fort at #4, and crown point are yearly places my family goes to.
AF: Lanark, Bannockburn, St Andrew’s, Stirling Castle and Fort George
MK: Ofn, Bushy run, Ligoneir, Cook and the old federick competition they used to have
LHW: L’Assault au Capitale en Quebec, Fort Mifflin, Germantown, 225th Lexington and Concord and 225th Yorktown
GFF: Monmouth 200, Springfield Death March, Fort Wayne (Indiana), New Windsor Cantonment anytime and Yorktown 225
JR: Ft De Chartres, Fort Massac, Jefferson Barracks, Gettysburg, Danville Cw Days, Conners Prairie, Prairie Du Chien, Jour De Fete, Fort Bellefontaine, Border Skirmish, W W, Ethel (reenactor Garage Sale)
MH: Crown Point NY, Fort at No. 4 Charlestown NH, and any other F&I event with friends and family!
CW: I only have 3 – The Great Fur Trade Rendezvous at Fort Folle Avoine- Webster,Wisconsin. Fur trade Rendezvous at Pine City, Wisconsin & Fur Trade Rendezvous at Fort William in Canada.
NB: 1. Riding through Nottingham to raise King Charles’ Standard on the 350th anniversary in 1992., 2. Riding in the 350th anniversary reenactment at Powick Bridge., 3. Getting thrown from a horse whilst taking the salute during the march off at a Sealed Knot muster., 4. The one occasion when, in the Lord General’s absence, in my capacity as Chief of Staff I had the privilege of commanding the Army of Parliament. and 5. My first attempt at commentary when Devereux Regt of the RA did the Battle of Sedgemoor for the 300th Anniversary in the main ring at the Royal Bath & West Show. My first words as commentator were, “Now, ladies and gentlemen, we can see Lord Feversham’s army taking to the field at the cheese pavillion end.”
SWJ: 1. Lore of the Laughery, 2.Fort Ouiatenon (before the Flood), 3.Mississinewa 1812, 4. School of the Soldier (not for Flatlanders, school for us) and 5. Gettysburg: Sorry I mixed my time periods but I love them all.
5. What events are happening outside the U.S.A this reenacting season??
ED: http://www.bucks-retinue.org.uk/content/view/333/354/
Check it out.
EL: I was hoping to be able to go to this one (Linlithgow, Scotland), but unfortunately something else has come up and I can’t : ( http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/clash
SP: the Battle of Losely Park at Guildford, in Surrey, this weekend.
TN: See the 95th Rifles @ Surrey County Fair – Epsom, UK
http://www.95thrifles.com/95th/events/
BF: Theres a big event at Westerham, Kent in September to commemorate Quebec. Should be huge! (As the Frogs in Canada decided that any ‘celebration’ of the battle on plains of Abraham at Quebec would be wrong!)
CM: The War of 1812 Grand Tactical at Crysler’s Farm Ontario…should be a good one
6. How did you find a reenacting unit or group to join?
Coming soon!
