Hello,

OK so what are some of the best things you have done at a Living history program. What I mean is scrïpted activities? We all know that we can have good and period moments talking to pards under the stars but what did some organizers do that just made the event tops?

Reason I am asking is well…I need help. I have been put in charge of a Living History Program and I am at a loss as to what would be a great plan of events.  The place we are doing this is a Allatoona….. So not a lot of room for drill, mail call, pay, anything. I know the historical context of what happened prior to the battle and during. I am just having a problem trying to implement it into a program. Keeping mind I have mainstream CS on the other side of us doing SOYA programs, I want to be better….different.

When you have little room for drilling (School of company), you could always go through School of the soldier.  Have an NCO run the drill while the officer interprets to the spectators.

One thing we had happen at a recent event was a couple of our younger guys get into a wrestling match that looked pretty good.
Once the fight was broken up, we enacted period punishments.  
We have used a buck and gag at events.  

Will there be any citizens involved in the programs?  At our last living history we had a lady who brought her cow to the event and the soldiers looked to get fresh milk from her.  Or if you don't have room for a cow, what about some chickens..

Anyone play any instruments?  

Howdy,


Yea we have thought about that, the CS forces down at the base of the pass  will be doing a similar program. We have civilians but they are mainstream and will not be camped on the pass nor do they like to do anything really except sit around.

Here is what I have planned so far, tell me what you think and if you think it is practical.

We will have troops on the Eastern side of the Pass representing the 18 WI (and 4th MI) if we have enough. We will throw pickets out and let them stay as they prepare for the assault which Sears MS brigade will soon deliver. I would have the guys on picket randomly exchanging shots with “the Mississippians” so that when spectators walk through the pass the hear the “imminent attack’. Basically thinking of having an inclusive vignette for specators and participants, and still trying to come up with more ideas and some stuff just for the participants

Joey,

One of the maxims we use is "Read history, and then do it."  Take the time to do some background reading, and then write up an interp plan, as if you were making a formal submittal instead of just going out to the park for a weekend. This sounds a bit strange, but having to commit to putting thoughts on paper will jog a few brain cells, and guide the program from "duh usual" to mining a few nuggets from what happened before, during, and after the battle.

Just a few questions to spur things along:

Why did the battle happen there?

How did Jeff Davis hose up Hood's plans?

What goods were stored here that the CS troops could have used?

When were the fortifications initially built?

Who built them?

Where did Sherman shift his route of march to avoid this battle earlier in the Atlanta Campaign?

And, my favorite: "Are you hot in that wool, and are you going to eat that fire?"

Simple stuff, but most visitors aren't looking for a dissertation.

Reading history and doing it is what I plan on, I am juts having "writers block" as how to implement them and what I should do. Meh i am sure somethign will come to mind.

Quote :

Joey21stga wrote : Howdy,  We have civilians but they are mainstream and will not be camped on the pass nor do they like to do anything really except sit around.

Joey--first suggestion:  "Get better civilians"    
Seriously, I intentionally showed up for a typical SOYA here lately. In the course of the available time, we made pies; roasted meat on a stick; packed and unpacked and repacked and unpacked and.....a box of period labeled can goods, food stuff and books; read period newspapers, and later sliced them up to line bandboxes and pack food crates;  took children flower gathering and made braided flower chains; picked dewberries and ate them; and somewhere in all this piled some plunder in the hand cart and fled from the army.  The only thing preplanned was the bandbox making, which required that somebody show up with some pasteboard and wallpaper.  If your civilians are sitting around and unwrapping sammiches, then its time to do some quality recruiting and planning to have those civilians be a vital part of your experience.  

Second, if you go with the idea of drilling, for an uneducated eye (like mine)  most of it looks like guys standing in the hot sun for long periods of time.  Probably the most interesting drill I've ever seen was a square formation used by men on foot to defend against mounted troops.  And placed into action with mounted troops running towards those guys on the ground, quite exciting.  

Hello Mrs Lawson

Yea I wish we could better Civilians, but I have no control over that. My one unit is in a sizable Maisntream group in GA and they have to have the ball and deputante girls about.  I stay as far away from that as I can. They wont do anything outside of a ball or some poorly planned hoaky vignettes.  
Well not all are bad, just several. Good thing is that they really have no role in what we do so it keeps them away from us.

Now my other unit (Flatlander's Mess). We have a "big Sister group out of FL that are excellent at the skills of the time. They are the Golden Teacup Soc.  They are just impressive to me too watch. I have though of using them for this for a couple civilian roles but they have SOS 2 weeks later and that is a long drive to the Toona.

BTW I replied to your email.