Welcome to the world of Civil War re-enacting! Re-enacting is a hobby, just as gun collecting, motorcycle racing, or woodworking is a hobby. But, Civil War re-enacting, as a hobby, is unique in the world. There is nothing like it, anywhere, and it is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the country.
People
get into Civil War re-enacting for a variety of reasons but, typically, a
re-enactor is keenly interested in history: military history generally, and
Civil War history specifically. He is also interested in genealogy or the
history of his family’s roots. Most serious Civil War re-enactors have
thoroughly researched their ancestors who served in the Civil War (War Between
the States or War of Northern Aggression, if you do a Confederate impression).
They know what units their ancestors fought in, the battles in which they
participated, and usually have a wide-ranging knowledge of the Civil War itself.
Like all hobbies, re-enacting is intended to be fun. But just as with any other activity in which you engage, participation carries some responsibilities. Just like your Confederate ancestors, you will be carrying weapons — authentic, firing replicas of Civil War-vintage muskets and pistols. You will be firing full charges of black powder in battle, often at close quarters with your comrades in arms. Do not think for a minute that, because you are not firing live rounds in your musket or pistol, that it can’t cause serious injury. Firearm safety will be covered in greater detail later in this guidebook.
As a member of the 7th Texas Cavalry, from time to time, you will be requested to “galvanize,” which means that you will wear a Federal uniform and portray a Union soldier. There just aren’t enough Union re-enactors available to stage a proper re-enactment. This is a common practice, and all units that do a Confederate impression are required, on occasion, to “suit up in the blue.” If you are strongly opposed to this and refuse to galvanize for an event, then you need to find another unit to join. It is not likely that you will find another unit, as virtually all units have this requirement; it’s just part of the hobby. It is not uncommon, also, for units doing a Federal impression, to galvanize as Confederates. The goal in all events is to portray a Civil War engagement that is accurate, balanced, and believable.
