How to be a Civil War reenactor

What does it take to be a Civil War reenactor?

Here's a view from Don Ernsberger, a Lansdale author of several Civil War books and one of about 8,000 reenactors at a re-creation of the Battle of Gettysburg on Sunday. A larger reenactment by up to 15,000 reenactors will be from Thursday to next Sunday on Table Rock Road.

How does someone become a reenactor?

Most people who become reenactors have had an interest in Civil War history, and generally, they will attend a reenactment, meet a group of reenactors, become acquainted with them, and come to a meeting.

How much does it cost?

Reenacting has a large up-front cost but low annual costs. Once you buy a gun, uniform, and tent, you only have to pay for the gas, gunpowder, and the food you take with you.

If you want to get started, the average person will spend $1,000 to $1,200. Your rifle costs about $500 or $600, and then you have to have a uniform, canteen, and tent. Officers have to buy a more expensive uniform, along with boots, sword, and pistol. That might cost about $1,700.

 How does a reenactor determine which side to fight for?

Your ancestry or interests determine it. Some like the Confederates because they see them as the underdogs; some like Abraham Lincoln and want to fight for the Union. Some trace their ancestry to my regiment, the 69th Pennsylvania Irish Volunteers. We have four or five who are descendants of men who fought with the regiment at Gettysburg or during other parts of war.

 How do soldiers know where to be on the battlefield during a reenactment?

We do a lot of drill. We do it each morning before battle. The soldiers of the Civil War operated as a unit. You need to know where to hold the rifle based on commands. You have to know where each man moves to get into position to fire your gun.

What determines when and how a reenactor dies?

If the enemy fires a whole volley or if a cannon is fired right at you, you would expect two or three would go down.

In a formal battle, many units put an X with a Magic Marker on about three or four out of 30 [gun powder-filled paper] cartridges. Each soldier has his own - and as he randomly chooses them during battle - he'd come up with one and take a "hit" after firing his gun. You never go down with a loaded gun, for safety purposes.

Do reenactors receive safety instruction?

Before we go into battle, every gun is inspected by our safety officers to make sure there's no foreign matter inside and that everything is working.

When you're firing gunpowder, you can be burnt three feet away. If the enemy gets within certain distance of you, you fire at a 45-degree over their heads. Officers will yell the order "Elevate!" The other side is too close. Both sides do that.