| The Home Front |
| Stories, ideas and more for the civilian reenactor. |
The Five Rules for the Authentic Civilian Reenactor summarized from the Article by Meg Galente-DeAngelis, Pam Kingsley-Byrda and Karen Metheny entitled
"Re-Defining the Civilian Reenactor, Getting Beyond the Clothes in the April/May 2003 The Citizens' Companion.
Rule #1: Civilians reenactors need to think of themselves as separate from the military. There are two components to this rule, first the physical, establishing a
separate presence from the military camp. The second is mentally, which presents more of a challenge as a civilian extracted from military camp and create civilian
orientated scenarios.
Rule #2: Get out of the habit of treating civilian camp as a camp of convenience. This rule attempts to change a civilian's impression that their tent is their "home"
unless the specific scenario allows it (nurse, laundress or other camp worker).
Rule #3: Be Self-Sufficient. Asks that civilian reenactors be prepared to carry everything they need for the day, whether it is a cup for your beverage, a bonnet,
period-appropriate lunch, period-correct tools of the trade or personal papers or items such as photograph or a lock of hair from a loved one.
Rule #4: Respect te scenario established by the event organizer. Keep lines of communication with the hosts to be aware of any specific issues such as certain
spaces or furnishings and always clean up after yourself.
Rule #5: Respect the lives of the men, women and children who lived through this terrible time in our nation's history. While portraying the unusual attracts the most
attention the true mission of the civilian is the portrayal of the ordinary citizen..
Civilian Corner: While for the most part our group is built around a military impression of an artillery battery it is important to remember the significant part that
civilian impressions play in reenacting the Civil War time period. Civilians ranged in profession from journalists, politicians, sutlers, and laundresses but they can
also represent the status of a civilian such as refugee and camp follower. There is also a wealth of sources for civilian impression both on the web like the Atlantic
Guards Soldier's Aid Society at www.agsas.org and publications such as the Citizens' Companion .The civilian impression represents an important aspect to the
time period and I would like to thank our civilians for their efforts in field with us. I would like to continue to include future articles regarding civilians and would
welcome any articles or suggestions.
"Re-Defining the Civilian Reenactor, Getting Beyond the Clothes in the April/May 2003 The Citizens' Companion.
Rule #1: Civilians reenactors need to think of themselves as separate from the military. There are two components to this rule, first the physical, establishing a
separate presence from the military camp. The second is mentally, which presents more of a challenge as a civilian extracted from military camp and create civilian
orientated scenarios.
Rule #2: Get out of the habit of treating civilian camp as a camp of convenience. This rule attempts to change a civilian's impression that their tent is their "home"
unless the specific scenario allows it (nurse, laundress or other camp worker).
Rule #3: Be Self-Sufficient. Asks that civilian reenactors be prepared to carry everything they need for the day, whether it is a cup for your beverage, a bonnet,
period-appropriate lunch, period-correct tools of the trade or personal papers or items such as photograph or a lock of hair from a loved one.
Rule #4: Respect te scenario established by the event organizer. Keep lines of communication with the hosts to be aware of any specific issues such as certain
spaces or furnishings and always clean up after yourself.
Rule #5: Respect the lives of the men, women and children who lived through this terrible time in our nation's history. While portraying the unusual attracts the most
attention the true mission of the civilian is the portrayal of the ordinary citizen..
Civilian Corner: While for the most part our group is built around a military impression of an artillery battery it is important to remember the significant part that
civilian impressions play in reenacting the Civil War time period. Civilians ranged in profession from journalists, politicians, sutlers, and laundresses but they can
also represent the status of a civilian such as refugee and camp follower. There is also a wealth of sources for civilian impression both on the web like the Atlantic
Guards Soldier's Aid Society at www.agsas.org and publications such as the Citizens' Companion .The civilian impression represents an important aspect to the
time period and I would like to thank our civilians for their efforts in field with us. I would like to continue to include future articles regarding civilians and would
welcome any articles or suggestions.
| The civilian image. |
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Suzy Young baking pies at
Mukwanago, June 14, 2003
Mukwanago, June 14, 2003
| Ready for a swim in their new swimsuits |
| The last place I want to be. Ed Klug portrays a mortician. |
| Keeping warm at Wade House, Sept. 2003 |
| Suzy had better keep her eye on her pies with this group. |
| Mmmm, pie! by Suzy Young, Mukwanago, June 20, 2004 |
| PERIOD RECIPES |
| BEAN SOUP 1/2 pound uncooked navy beans 3/4 pound ham shank 1 cup diced potatoes (uncooked) 3/4 cup diced onion 3 large tomatoes, skinned and finely chopped Salt and pepper 1 Tbsp parsley Cover the beans with cold water and soak overnight. Rinse the beans, cover with fresh water cook until tender and then strain. Cover the ham with cold water and simmer until tender, skimming off the fat. Add the beans, potatoes, and onion to the ham and simmer gently. When the vegetables are almost tender, add the tomatoes, salt and pepper, and parsley, and cook slowly until the vegetables are ready. The soup can be served immediately but tastes better reheated on the following day. Serves 6. (From The Civil War Cookbook, William C. Davis) |