Is the hobby improved MORE if someone stitches at home for 50 hours, or works on his first person, drill, battle acting, bugle signals recognition, equine savvy.


R.J.-
As much as we appreciate your knowledge and opinions here on the CGF, we just don't pick on other folks. This isn't the place.

Post edited--Grumpy Dave  

--Last edited by grumpydave on 2007-08-12 13:10:54 --

I agree. A "less authentic" kit is easily excuesed if one knows how to act like a CW soldier.

Guys,

I think we have to accept that this is a hobby and different people have different interests. There are people out there who are experts on drill, uniforms, or weapons, who wouldn't be caught dead at an event without their cot, cooler, and tent.

There are other folks, who attend nothing but the more authentic events, whose knowledge doesn't extend much beyond the minimum to get by. Probably like many of the original Civil War soldiers they portray.

Whcih is better? Attitude of course. Which is best? A combination of both. I have always said that attitude comes first since it is the hardest to fix, fixing a bad kit is easy.

We also had quite the discussion on this in the past: http://commonground.aceboard.com/249612-4922-3433-0-Questions-been-afraid.htm  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2007-08-12 15:52:51 --

Quote :

I think we have to accept that this is a hobby and different people have different interests.

Very Correct Bill..

Diffrent interest and stronmg points.   While one indivilual   may be in all orginal  gear he may not have a clue about drill or acting as a soldier.. or about the battle hes is suppose to be in ..

While another person may  know the history of battle.. nameing the corps, regiments, companies then naming indiviual soldiers and giving guotes & stories of their experiances. but may have a less than correct kit.

And this can be broken down many diffrent ways  from civlians, to food to paper goods and labels

just my 2cents worth

Yup. The faith vs good works argument goes back a long ways, and the general consensus is a combination of both works best.  

The stated goal of the majority of reenactors, as I have experienced, is to experience life as a Civil War soldier. A correct uniform is only a very small part of this experience. Uniforms are important, but we should be more advanced than that by now.

We have uniforms and equipment down to an exact science. However, fielding correct size units proves difficult. There are endless numbers of "messes," which I find to be a bit unrealistic. If we want to experience the life of Civil War soldiers, then we must be much more willing to submit to true military discipline. This can be difficult for professional soldiers, much less reenactors. It is much easier to enforce uniform standards. Beyond that is truly difficult. Being a soldier involves doing a lot of things which you'd rather not do, but must.

I think our higher-level organization is severely lacking and prevents truly great events. I think the Great War Association hit the nail on the head with a national-level organization which puts on a limited number of highly organized and coordinated events.

I've often thought of putting on a Petersburg-scenario event, perhaps every two years or so, with a small, properly constructed section of opposing trenches. Officers and NCOs would be selected based on experience and competence, and messes kept together where possible. PROPER supporting services, such as ordnance and cooks, would be organized and men detailed to work in them. Registration would be in the range of $50-100, but this would include food, ammunition, site construction, etc.

At an event like this, the uniform standards would be stringent buy by no means the most important. Much more important would be a correct, thoroughly planned military organizational structure and adherence to military discipline.

I would have to echo Robert's thoughts.  I too feel that the attitude is one of the major items that can be the positive factor.