Company B Sixth Louisiana Infantry "Irish Brigade"

Captain Wm. Monaghan
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First and foremost, you don't need anything to start reenacting. Reenactors almost always have enough equipment that, properly scrounged, can outfit a "Walk-on" to be able to participate without looking out of place in the ranks. You'll probably start out as an Infantryman, so this is where I'll start.
Ask around at the first reenactment you attend, and you'll soon find the "Scrounger" of the event. He/She is the person who knows almost everyone by both given name and first person. He knows who has extra uniforms, and, strange it may seem, what sizes each person has extras of. He can locate leathers, and sometimes, even a musket for you to use. This guy will be easy to identify by the number of people asking him for gear.
Loaned gear, no matter the condition, is still property of the lender. Use it with respect, try to keep it clean, return it promptly when the day's action is over.

Now that you know how little it takes to get started, you might want to decide on a role. Ask yourself  a couple of questions. 

  • Which side should I take, North or South?

    • Keep an open mind, many reenactors have costumes for both sides, and at certain periods in the original events, it was hard to tell sides. Many Confederate Officers in the early war had left the original Union to fight for their home states. They still wore the Blue Uniforms, as that was all they had.

  • Do I want to be Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Provost, Sharpshooter, Medical, or one of the many other roles available?

    • Most reenactors start as Infantry soldiers, and younger boys find themselves indispensable as flag bearers, as many reenactments kill off several per battle. Ask around about the role you think would be interesting to you. Original battle units were vastly larger than most reenactments, so there is quite often room for an additional character.

    First step should be to scout the event on Friday night while everyone is settling in after setting up camp. Walk through the camps and visit with the reenactors. Get to know who's who. As in all things, there are people to cling to and people to avoid. You will meet people from all walks of life, and with standards to match. People who quote scripture and people who tell dirty jokes. Sometimes,they are the same person... Keep an open mind while walking through the camps. Many military reenactors will spend Friday night around the campfire telling stories of reenactments past, with proud moments and horrible shames. These guys are getting into their roles in a way similar to how movie actors develop the characters they will portray. Listen well, and you could be drawn in and relive history as if you were there.

     

     Now that you have the mood, it is also a good time to ask a few questions that probably haven't been addressed.

    • How do I march? Your group will fit you in and put you through a little training, "Drills". You will soon be marching off to war like a  veteran.
    • When do I die? This question is difficult to answer. Some units choreograph battle plans down to where each soldier will expire. Many believe in the "moment method" where you choose when and how violently you will go down. This is often refined by options as being out of powder, being out of energy to keep going, or even receiving heavy cannon or musket fire.
    • Now that I'm dead, what do I do? Lay still. Nobody likes an impatient corpse.  Try to casually move your hat over your face to ease the impending sunburn. Don't be too worried, though, as most spectators are following the action and making small adjustments shouldn't attract any attention. At the end of the battle, your commander will give a signal to "Resurrect" where all the dead come back to life and regroup with their unit.
    • What if someone asks me a question? Answer it, if you can. Being new, you probably will be shy and uninformed. You should also be accompanied everywhere by a more experienced trooper. Pass the buck and let this person field the question. When in doubt, silence is golden. Try not to give an off-the-cuff answer. Being historically accurate will help preserve the history of the story. Nobody has all the answers, and it's better to say "I don't know, maybe you should ask my Captain" than send someone off misinformed.