Our Civil War reenactment unit has just finished up with a non-Civil War event.  

http://www.fortmims.org/

It is a pre-Creek Indian war activity that was strictly an Indian victory.  It has been interesting watching this thing slowly get better over the years.  At first it was nothing more than a lark on a high spot out in the Mobile River Delta with a bunch of guys who knew nothing of how they were supposed to look.  We did not have a clue about Mississippi Territorial Militia and even less about the appearance of Red Stick Creek Indians.  During its beginning stages about all it meant was “Hey, this is a good excuse to buy a flintlock.”  Some went for the Davy Crocket/Daniel Boon look while the others patterned themselves after the early movie and TV Indians.  It didn’t take long to figure out both were far, far from accurate.  One of the best things to happen were annual classes conducted (that are still on going) up by a real Creek Indian who coached a bunch of middle aged (and older) Civil War reenactor white guys into the proper Indian attire.  A contingent of ‘buckskinner’ guys portray the settlers and they have researched how they are supposed to look.  After some sho nuff digging into the archives of the Mississippi Territory (present day states of Alabama and Mississippi) even a plausible territorial militia impression has been put together by the group interested in that aspect.  This thing is a still a festival.  It involves lots of children and people who are not reenactors of any kind.  After the deep South summer hiatus it is a nice way to crank up the latter part of the reenactment year.  We even had some tee shirts made up that said “You haven’t lived until you have died at Ft Mims.”

Now, all of that has been said to ask do any of your units participate in any activities that are not Civil War related?

Well, I don't know if asking about "units" disqualifies this answer, since I'm not part of any unit, for the Civil War or any other era. However, the non-CW-era things I've done in the past, in addition to once working at an 1836 museum, include: an 1888 veterans reunion (though that was still Civil War related), an 1857 camping trip, a fall-of-1865 week-long trip on foot, an afternoon presentation in 1876, an 1869 horse auction, and this year an 1859 timber exploring trip, plus I'll be going on an 1857 camping trip this coming weekend, and will be doing an afternoon cemetery living history as someone circa late 1860s. There might be a few more, but that's all I can think of right now.

Those are all a lot closer to the 1860s, though (except the 1888 one), so a lot of the same clothing applies, and for the earlier ones, it's easy enough to just portray yourself a few years younger and use the same mental timeline, cutting it off at whatever year. Doing the 1830s was a whole different ballgame, though I'm starting to be old enough now that I can portray myself in the 1860s with the same birth year as I used to use in the 1830s.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

It always takes me about three years to forget why I don't do Fort Mims, and then I show up again.  This would have been an 'on' year had MyDaddy not had two trips to the hospital in that ten day span.  

Still, that site is worth enduring conditions that amount to an engraved invitation to hell.  And yes, its certainly progressed from the early years.  There is still value though, in drawing in face paint on boy scouts with eyebrow pencils.  Today, some of them are grown indians, and properly attired.  

Mims took me into the 1812 War, and I'd grown up in Rev War.  French Settlement of Alabama 1740 is always fun.  Much of this is made possible by the fact that, for the rural poor white female along the Alabama Delta, working clothing does not change appreciably for more than 100 years.  

What's more important though-reenacting 18th century informs my 19th century persona--I know more of the history and culture that a common woman of 1860 would have known throughout her lifetime.  I draw my primary 1860 persona from a girl who was a child in 1812 Fort Mims, and base my period skills upon what she would have known.  

Curtis, if its any consolation, I wore my "Lord Willing and the Creeks Don't Rise" shirt up in Ohio last weekend to the Fair at New Boston.  Eventually, I'll be home enough to relieve you of all those iron pots you are hauling for me.