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28th New York Infantry Regiment

Niagara Rifles; Scott Life Guard

Frequently Asked Questions

When we’re at the events, the public asks us many questions that are the same from year to year. This list touches on the more common ones. 1) Q -- I've always wanted to try this, how do I get into a re-enacting unit? A -- Go to an event and look around. Talk to the re-enactors. The friendliest and most approachable units might just hand you an application or contact form right on the spot. Some may even have loaner clothing to let you settle in with them right that weekend. Be careful of units who don’t want to talk to you. 2) Q -- Where do I get my training? A -- All safe units require a certain amount of their own in-house training. Additionally, at the battle events, there will usually be a drill on Saturday morning for both armies. On the off-season, seminars or “schools” may be held in your area for artillery, infantry, signal corps, etc…. Many units have loan-out gear and will allow beginners on the field right away, providing they have been drilled to minimum standards, cleared with the host unit’s safety officer and are paired with a veteran. 3) Q -- Where do I get my gear? A -- There are several places. If you are buying new kit, there are online sutlers and sutlers who travel the re-enactment circuit. Many units have seamstresses who can make, by hand, the correct uniforms to order- often at a better price. If you can only afford used equipment, you’ll need to watch some of the traveling sutlers for used gear on consignment or ask other re-enactors if anyone’s selling their stuff. Be very careful what you buy to ensure it is period correct, unit correct and in good working order. Talk to the unit commanders/coordinators to make sure you get what is appropriate for that unit. 4) Q -- How much can I expect to spend? A -- To get a basic infantry private’s kit (all new) figure $800 to $1000. If you take good care of your stuff it’ll last for decades. In comparison to other hobbies, it’s cheap. How much will you spend on a motorcycle, camper, SUV, muscle car, boat, trip to Disneyland, Vegas, Atlantic City, a ski resort, cigarettes and beer for a year? As a bonus, a minimal private’s kit is compact enough that it can be carried in the back seat of a small car, so you won’t need an expensive trailer or truck to haul it. The cost for each event may vary. In the Rochester, NY area most events are $2 to $7 for registration for a weekend (Friday afternoon through Sunday evening). That gets you fairly unrestricted admission to the host facility, water, firewood, straw, sometimes one or more meals, sanitary facilities, sometimes a Saturday formal dress ball with live period music, and sometimes gunpowder issue and door prizes. There are other smaller benefits too numerous to be listed here. It’s quite a bargain. 5) Q -- Is the rifle real? A -- Yep. The reproduction rifles are every bit as functional as the originals, as are the bayonets. That’s the reason for drilling, training, safety rules, close supervision….. Even when just shooting loose powder as blanks you can accidentally make a mess of someone’s face at close range. If you are interested in live shooting with minie’ balls there is a segment of the re-enacting community (NSSA) that shoots in competitions using reproduction rifles identical to the battle units 6) Q -- I don’t want to be a soldier and/or I have health problems. Can I do something else as a Civil War re-enactor? A -- By all means yes! Most units have a contingent of civilians. They are all ages and can portray farm wives, school children, washerwomen, nurses, preachers, newspapermen, surgeons, photographers, undertakers, craftspeople……..Any facet of 1860’s society might be found at an event. 7) Q -- I don’t want to, or can’t, sleep in a little tent on the ground but still want to re-enact. Can I sleep somewhere else? A -- It depends on the unit you join and how each particular event is organized. Many events allow larger tents pitched in the appropriate section of the camp. Some events allow a distant area for modern trailers. You may also be allowed to “day trip”. Each individual unit may also dictate camping kit. Some are very flexible, others are extremely rigid. You’ll need to get the unit’s policy on these types of arrangements to see if it suits your needs. This is a hobby and your health comes first. 8) Q -- How far do you travel to the events? A -- Once again, it depends on the unit you join. Some units primarily attend events within a couple hours’ drive from a particular city. Others will go to National events where you may need to travel across the country. 9) Q -- During a battle, how do you know when you are “hit” or “killed”? A -- Most battles are choreographed to a certain extent. You’ll usually have somewhat of an idea ahead of time how the battle is supposed to unfold. After that it’s up to the individual soldier to decide exactly when to fall within the context of the battle. 10) Q -- Exactly how authentic is all this? A -- Again, it depends on the unit, and they can vary widely in authenticity standards. Some have rather loose standards, others are exceptionally strict. Most are somewhere in the middle. The clothing and equipment available are just about identical to what the people had back then. The methods of living, cooking and fighting at the events are as authentic as we can make them while taking consideration that we’re living in the 21st Century. The fighting tactics can be fairly authentic if done properly, but are usually restricted by the size and layout of the facility we are using.………. 11) Questions we’re asked by the public that go in the “out there” file…….. Q - Are you hot in that wool outfit? (it’s 95F and humid) Is that a real camp fire? Are you cold? (it’s 30F and snowing) Is that real food in the pan? A - Yes to all. Q - Were you in the war? Do you actually live here? (in a dog tent in the middle of an open field in a State Park) Are you gonna use real bullets in the battle? Are you gonna eat that? (as they are sticking their grime encrusted fingers in it) A - No No No Not anymore, you can have it……………….