It’s official we are now starting the journey of reenacting.  Finally! right??  We got the book(s) and the patterns our group suggested we used as references in creating our kit.  Now comes the hard but fun part.  Ordering the cloth and finally sewing our clothing. I will post images of the clothing as it is being completed for all those who are interested in that kind of stuff.

I love a good ghost story especially during this time of year. Granted when I was little I used to hate Halloween, but now as an adult I love it. Does anyone have a really good ghost story? Let see how many ghost stories will be posted here in time for Halloween. So keep sending your ghost stories…. And they don’t have to be true…

I’ll start…. with a true story, considering it is very hard for me to make anything up since I’ve experienced a few paranormal events… You don’t have to believe me… you can think of it as a really neat tale. 

Date: March 5th 2005
Place: Gettysburg Pennsylvania
Time Of Occurrence: Dusk
Paranormal Happening: In total 3 occurred within 6 hrs.
Camera Shot: Image 13 

To View a Bigger copy of this image click image…. 
Once you get to the site it might take awhile for the gallery to upload… 

 Mysterious photo…. Interesting photo huh?? It is of two average looking Union soldiers standing at Triangular field one cold Winter day in 2005. Except these soldiers are dead. There weren’t any reenactors around at the time, so why do they appear in this photo?

During this particular trip I was joined with my friend Katie, her boyfriend, and my sister Jenn. We arrived in Gettysburg after spending the day in Ellicott City. We toured around the battlefield to take some time to remember and honor the men who fought their way back in 1863. After taking some time enjoying the beautiful sunset at Little Round top we decided to go to Triangular Field.

We went down to the field and did some exploring like we usually do. But for some reason Katie’s boyfriend decided to stay in the car. I guess since it was still day light, he really had nothing to worry about three girls roaming around a very scary and empty field surrounded by trees. Or did he???

Usually my sis is the first one to notice any paranormal occurrence, and I am usually the second person to feel any changes within the atmosphere. All of us kept on seeing figures passing the corner of our eyes but other than that it was pretty quiet. We sometime hear sounds of gunfire, foot steps maybe a couple of moans. But as far as sounds it was pretty silent that day. Jenn usually hates going to this field and tries to stay away from it.  Since Katie and I wanted to go into the field she probably felt best that she should be an extra person just incase something happens.  The atmosphere of the day was no different from any other trips we’ve taken. What was different was we were alone. Usually there are a couple of people walking within the field.

As Jenn got more afraid she decided to head back to the car. As we walk back to the entrance of the field I decided to walk a little bit slower than Jenn and Katie. As I was walking closer to them I had the feeling that someone was watching us, or walking right behind us. I looked to see why I felt this way. I wish I had never looked back because there was a figure of a union soldier following my friends and me. As I looked he disappeared. So since I was quite scared to what I had seen I ran in front of my two comrades.

The story doesn’t end. We figured maybe it was just my imagination. So we decided to do some video and take more photographs of the surrounding area before we went back into the car. Before leaving Gettysburg that day we had our car pushed by an unseen force, and after locking our car to tour around another part of the area the lights inside the car all of the sudden turned on than off. Meaning after the car had been sitting for about 5 minutes or more, the lights inside the car turned on. Then after that happened like two times the headlights of the car turned on. Since we didn’t want a ghost following us we decided to let who ever was with us that we appreciate the attention, but would rather have him stay in Gettysburg than follow us home. When we got home we looked at the video and the photographs we took. Within the video and the still images have these two figures appearing in them. Which we find that strange since we were the only people in the field that day.

Since than every time we go to Gettysburg nothing seems to happen.
And nothing out of the ordinary seems to happen at home.

Happy Halloween!
Please stay safe this Halloween Season

Reenacting Research:

August 28th:   This season we tried figuring out rather reenacting or historical interpretation was right for us. What we wanted and could get out of it. Most of us who get into this hobby enjoy history and want to learn more about a different aspect in history or era.  But the objective is all different and that the hardest to figure out.

The following are some of the questions we asked ourselves, research before getting in touch with the different groups we were interested in and questions we had for the groups recruiter. We hope these questions were as helpful to us as they may be to you.  Many of the questions we came up with were thanks to some of our face book friends.
 

Some questions you should ask yourself to see if reenacting is for you.

1. What you’re looking to get out of the hobby?
   
2. How much time and money are you willing to spend?
   
3. What type of reenacting would you like to take part in?
   
4. What period you would like to portray?
   
5. What type of reeenacting or part of history is being portrayed in your area?
   

Some question to research on the groups you are interested to join. Some you may have to ask to get further information.

1. Where is the location of the group?
   
2. Numbers and types of events they participate in.
   A. Numbers: how active you will be once you join.
   B. Numbers: If the group does any events closer to home.
   C. Types: what kind of reenacting they do.
   D. Types: who they are portraying. 
3. How much it will cost to join the group?
   
4. What goes into the cost to join the group? Or How the money is spent?
   
5. What is the reputation of the group?
   
6. How do they treat new recruits or what is their recruiting process like?
   

Some questions to ask the representative or recruiter of the group. This will also give you a feeling of the group and the opportunity to interact with them.

1. Do they offer the type of reenacting or part of history you would like to portray.
   
2. What is your recruiting process?
   
3. What are your membership requirements?
   
4. What is your membership cost?
   
5. What goes into the membership cost?
   
6. How long is the membership or season?
   
7. What is your age ratio within your group?
   
8. What is the involving requirements?
   
9. What documentation do you have?
   
10. What are a few helpful documents that I should read to learn more about the time period? 
    
11. What are your authenticity standards or level?
    
12. How authentic does one have to be?
    
13. What does your unit provide for each event?
    
14. Does your unit provide members with food at each event?
    
15. Are you a nonprofit? And is it tax deductible?
    
16. What items will be tax deductible?
    
17. Is there any extra fee for each event that I will take part in?
    

Finding A Unit:

September 4th:  This season we spent most of our time exploring the 18th Century through battle reenactments and living history.  We were fortunate enough to go to two Civil War living history events and 1 military through time event.  I think it is important for everyone who is considering reenacting as a new hobby to go to at least one military through time event and those who have been reenacting for a while to participate in such an event.

As of September 1st I took the first step in becoming a reenactor.  It is probably one of the hardest steps and that is “Finding a Unit” to join.  You can’t just pick a unit out of a hat and say okay that’s it I’m ready to go.  You have to find the unit that is closest to you and then find out if it is the unit for you by contacting the unit and then talking to them face to face.  And then the fun begins when you go to your first event as a reenactor.  I’m not at this point yet.

I’ve found a well known group in my area that does a lot of great work in preserving the history in the area.  I just hope that all ends well. Like anything else it takes time and  patience.  I’ve learned both from the kind of work I’ve been doing.

Meeting the group:

September 19th:  This will take place in many forms depending on the kind of group you join and your personality.  Some people can makes a decision very quickly whereas some people take time in making a decision.  I’m a little of both.  I made plans ahead of time with someone in the group that I would be going to an event the group was participating in as a spectator.  Before hand I had asked many of the question within the e-mail except for one question revolving expenses and clothing.  I was expecting to just spend 10 minutes talking to one persona about the hobby and the group in general. What I actually got out of was so completed unexpected.

I talked to one of the female members who was working on a piece of clothing at the time and after she reviewed the little details of how to make it I simply asked if the person I had contacted was around.  She nicely pointed to him and then I said he looks kinda busy but then she yells his name and comes right over.  I introduce my self to him and asked him about the details of the group and cost of the hobby.  He told me of what he knew and then all of the sudden other members of the group join in the conversation about how to get most out of the hobby.  Then he introduced me to some of the women who would give me additional information about preparing my clothing for the hobby and what would follow once I made my decision.

By the end of the meeting I got what I thought would only take 10 minutes ended up being like an hour or more conversation.  I got more information than what I had anticipated.  Now all I have to do is contact the group back and officially join the group.

Joining the Group:

October 1st: the hardest part is deciding rather you want to get into reenacting. You find the group now comes the hard part filling out the membership and sending in the membership fee.  There are always question and concerns that will cause you to hold back. Some could be about the group or hobby or just concerns that you have about your life at this point. 

You could be thinking rather this is the right time to take part in an expensive hobby.   Or do I have enough money to participate.  It could be fears of being the new guy or girl.   

Reenactors! Duty calls! Do not let fear hold you back.   COME ON, step off into “HISTORY” HONOR our forefathers,by learning and teaching. The only thing you have to fear is fear itself! 

Third Maryland Regiment Infantry Co. B

After viewing what events were happening this weekend I decided to visit Mount Vernon located in Alexandria Virgina.  It has been a long long time since I’ve been there.  I think I was really young when I last toured the house, so I don’t remember much from that trip.  This trip I went with my family and what made the day even more exciting is there was a 18th Century Faire being held on the grounds.  I’ll talk more about the living history aspect within the 2009 Reenactments page.

I spent sometime within that section but the rest of the day I toured around the gardens and then finally to the house.  It takes about 10-30 minutes standing in a long line to view the house and then once you finally get into the house it takes about 30 minutes to tour the house.  Within each floor or section there is guide that tells you a brief summary about the room and about the life of George Washington our first President in the U.S.A. It felt a little rushed but I’m used to taking my time exploring the little details within a historic home.  It’s too bad really because I felt like I didn’t really connect with the history of the house.  The gardens were nice but it appeared that they were doing some work in some sections of the gardens.

I would have to grade the house and the trip as a B- because the house tour, the cost and due to the fact that if it wasn’t for the 18th Century faire I probably would not have visited Mount Vernon at all.  If you’re considering to visit Mount Vernon in the future please wait till an event is hosted there.  Also I would probably have to higher the grade because they have a brand new interactive museum and short films that bring the life of George Washington to life.  But then again I would have to lower it again because of the cheesy museum gift shops and that it is very close to being in the category of a Tourist Trap.  So if you really look at it the grade of B- stands.  

Back to the whole reenacting thing.  If you’ve haven’t heard I’ve started the journey of finding a group.  I think I’ve found a group but then now I have to continue researching.  But all life is researching no matter if you’re into history, art, science, psychology, math or what ever else you might be into you still have to do some sort of form of research. 

The Research Continues:

Before leaving the group one of the members advised me to buy a book that talked about the clothing that women wore at the time.  The greatest knowledge I was left with is that a lot of what I will have to buy I can make myself and therefore it will save me a lot of money in the end.  I also was left with that they are ready to guide any new member in the right direction of getting their clothing buying it or sewing it themselves.

The research that I am left to do is to continue all of what I can learn about the period.  But also try to answer the most important question which is “What women did when living in the camp or just visiting the camp of the army.”  Until I find the answer I can only image the things that I would be doing if I was an 18th Century woman.

Happy Holidays & New Year Everyone!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here…  To start here are a few article ideas or things I’ve been interesting in finding more about since I’m interested in possibly reenacting the 18th Century or 19th Century.  I’ll cross them as I research them, and find material on the subject.

Possible Articles for 2009:

1. Fashion during the 18th & 19th Century
2. Women of the American Revolution (detail on campfollowers)
3. Women of the American Civil War
4. Duties women had during 18th & 19th Century and how they changed?
5. What they ate in the past? Specifically in camp & find more recipes)
6. The world of reenacting in female perspective.
7. Songs & music from the past.
8. Women portraiture through the ages.
9. Must haves for the newrecruit.  (What you need during 1yr of reenacting.)

What’s New??:

Original posted:  January 1, 2009  

I’m really bad at updating, and posting entres onto this website, but I’ve been very busy with graphic and web projects.   Better than not being busy at all especially when the economy is as it is.  Also ready a lot about 18th Century and 19th Century life.  There are many great books that speak just about the lives and people of the time period.  The series I’ve been reading is called “Daily Life during the American Revolution” and Daily Life in Civil War America. I hope to be done reading a publish some of the notes I’ve written from both books sometime late February to mid March.  Once I’ve finished these two books and the projects I’m currently working on;  I hope to write a little bit more.

2009 Season:

Original posted:  April 26, 2009  

Last year we went to a total of five reenacting events and meant alot of new people.  This year we are going to double that number to at least 10 events for this reeancting season.  This seaoson officially started for us on February 15th, 2009.  It won’t start up again until sometime in April, since everything for this month seems to be a little further away from us.

Like I said before our goal for this season is to go to at least 10 events for the whole year.  Hopefully we can do a wide arrangement of events and not stick with the typical Civil War and America Revolutionary War.  As we tour around Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania for this season,  I’ll  start a list that has the events and dates we go for this season.  As the season starts and ends continue to look for journal entries and galleries within our traverlers journal/website.

2009 Season:

To view our observations and what happened during this reenacting season please
click here. Here are the current events that have been posted. 

1. February 15, 2009 - Presidents’ Day Revolutionary Reenactment  
Alexandria, VA

2. April 19, 2009 - Marietta House  Military Through Time  
Glenn Dale, MD

3. April 25, 2009 – Southern Maryland Celtic Festival
St. Leonard, MD

4. May 16, 2009 – Cherry Hill Farm
Virgina

5. June 27, 2009 – Battle of Monmouth
New Jersey

6. July 11, 2009– Rose Hill Manor
Frederick, MD

7. September 2009 – Mount Vernon
Alexandria, VA