So we do better than this than everyone else, right? the answer surprisingly is not much better, if at all. Maybe because we don't practice it enough, we aren't proficient. We've all heard the bragging about "went to an event and didn't have to clean my musket"....or the disparaging remarks about powder burners (despite what the historical accounts tell us).

But how about these CPH battle sights:
firing at too close of a range

not enough casualties at too close of a range
not enough casualties at long distances

Standing like automatons and blazing away for periods of time (powder burning) without going prone, seeking LOF shelter, sending a stream of wounded back without using a rifle as an oar or limping off with a pard helping out (they all got wounded in the legs....)

Cavalry not firing while dismounted...instead moving on their horse and firing one handed carbines or firing pistols at too great a distance....

Infantry taking zero hits from Cavalry that are dismounted and firing carbines....

Cavalry expecting Infantry to take hits when they are trotting/galloping and yelling out bang bang you're dead to the infantry

Cavalry not dismounting to fight infantry.

Men yelling at the other side to start taking casualties

"FIRE AT WILL"

Repeated volley fires in a non fixed position (one thing to be behind a breastworks, fence line, stone wall....another thing to be out in the woods)

Blazing away with no legitimate target (night time, out of range, can't see the target)....and going through a few trays of ammo.

Loading in 9 times and drawing rammers, even having fixed bayonets.....levelled muskets...a little 'kick' in the shoulder when firing...all Look Great...and help us in our 'battle' impressions..... but.....

How can we improve? 'Acting' lessons? Start practicing what we preach? after battle, after event feed back sessions where you critically evaluate what went on in an effort to improve? Read out loud to the reenactors what actually happened, eyewitness accounts about Roars, Cheers, immense sheets of musketry, firing prone, streams of casualties, shirkers routing to the rear, refusing the flank because of Cavalry carbine fire at 200 yards, et al in an effort to reinforce what we want to reenact?

Any ideas?

Hmmm..maybe that is why I have not a reenactment since the 135th Gettysburg.....

Yeah, Marc, I was thinking it had been about five years for RJ, too.

RJ is right to an extent. Over the years, I've observed a number of the sins he mentioned at some of the more authentic events I've attended. But I have also seen a lot of efforts to improve the situation.

As a very good example, we were issued "Fate Cards" when we registered at Rich Mountain. It conatined the name of an actual soldier and his fate during the battle. If we received the card of a solder who was killed or wounded, we were instructed to take a hit at a reasonable opportunity during the battle.

I can't say I was too thrilled by the order to fix bayonets during our attack on the top of Rich Mountain. Maybe because I was in the front rank and was a little worried about what the guy behind me was doing on that wet grass!

By the same token, we were ramming cartridges during this action, and that didn't bother me at all. Almost every participant was an experienced reenactor. The NCO File Closers were watching and frankly, we were watching each other.

I know there are some disagreements within the CPH branch of the Hobby concerning the use of ramrods and bayonets. Feel free to discuss this issue, but lets keep it civil.  

At Paynes Farm, the Federal organizers put quite a bit of effort into getting things right. Information was made available to each participant, from letters and diaries, as to what mem did when bulletts passed through thei clothing or equipment and men were wounded on the firing line. A strong effort was also make to mimick the actual casualties as a % of the event participants. Then, in the form of "mail" each participant was issued a first person identity, a little background on that soldier and a "fate" message of what was to happen to you during the fight. I was to have a spent ball strike my haversack. As the skirmish company, we wre deployed well over 500 yards in front of the remainder of the Battalion, which I must say, was a little disconcerting. We were led across a hay field and into some woods at quite a distance. I'm glad we had the bugler for goodness sake. As the skirmish line was driven back, I personally don't recall seeing any opposing soldier closer that 75 to 100 yards(although, oh my, we were sorely out numbered and overlapped on both flanks). When we finally halted out retreat in a swale in the hay field, that distance increased to about 150 yards as the Rebs didn't leave the cover of the woods. When we were recalled to the Battalion and, the Battalion was deployed, the action against the Confederates never got closer than 200 yards. We drew rammers through the entire "fight." However, There was two Battalions total at a very well organized event, filled with experienced participants.

Improvements must start and end with the event organizers, if they are to be made at all. Expectations must be set, well communicated and most of all enforced. And, ask Chris Anders. It works.

The key word may be "tactical." Tacticals are typically at one end of the spectrum or the other, in other words "really good," or "really bad." (For those of you experiencing deja vu, you may be reading this for the 25th time -- or more.) The problem is when folks sit out five or six years of the best events the hobby has to offer, and drop in on a tactical, well, the results are predictable.

Anyway, the two OP3 critique threads on the OTB Forum seem to be working rather well, and, as always, I'm amazed the CPH wing of the hobby (with a few A's visiting) manages to let their hair down and have a tactical every few years. It's a hoot.