To what extent are the so-called ‘Civil War- re-enactments’ a popular aspect of contemporary American culture and may portrait an American stereotype?
Stereotype-thinking is a big part of being a human being. Everybody knows some kind of stereotype or prejudice and hardly anyone or anything is spared! American citizens are not spared either, but are exposed to many different stereotypes such as ‘all Americans are fat’. Very often, these stereotypes are reinforced by modern media.
In the context of the seminar, we made it our task to take a closer look at a specific stereotype. In the following, we will look at civil war re-enactments, which non-Americans all too often encounter in films, television and series. One example can be seen in the Trailer of the famous movie ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ or the famous Simpsons.
For more examples follow this link, which is a small collection of different representations of civil war re-enactment in modern pop culture: https://www.whentodie.com/blog/2016/8/10/reenactors-in-the-media
The Cambridge Dictionary defines re-enactment as "is “an occasion on which people re-enact an event.” This definition, however, does not cover the existing spectrum of reenactment. Vanessa Agnew points out that “re-enactment is booming” and can be found everywhere. There are weekly meetings of re-enactors, television, movies, series, in museums or on guided tours for tourists. It is a phenomenon that can be found worldwide.
In the United States, the most popular re-enactment is the so-called Civil War Re-enactment. The American Civil War was a conflict between the Northern and the Southern States of America, fought between 1861 and 1865. It was the bloodiest conflict in the United States, where more than 600, 000 soldiers lost their lives.
Underlying the American Civil War are a number of causes, one of which is the question of the prohibition of slavery. When Abraham Lincoln, a supporter of the ban, became President of the United States in 1860, eleven states left the Union and called themselves the Confederate States of America. Lincoln perceived this union as a rebellion, whereupon the Civil War broke out at Fort Sumter (North Carolina) in April 1861. The war ended in 1865 with the reincorporation of the Confederate States and thus the assertion of Union sovereignty. The 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery. At this point, however, it should be added that this was really only a formal abolition, since racial discrimination against African Americans and their legal equality continued for another 100 years, see, for example, Black Codes and the Jim Crow Laws.
When exactly the first Civil War reenactment took place is not clear. Some sources say that the first re-enactors were fighting veterans who performed reenactments during the war to commemorate their fallen comrades. Others assume a later date of origin, although for the same reasons: War veterans donned their old uniforms and staged encampments on anniversaries. For example, on the 50th anniversary of the war, in 1913, the last reenactment where a large number of war veterans participated, in Gettysburg.
In terms of hobbies, the origin of the reenactments can be attributed to the 1950s-1960s, as the centennial approached. In this period of the time, especially the major battles, such as Massanas, Sharpsburg and Gettysburg played an important role.
Since the 1980s at the latest, the interest in re-enactment has become widespread, as it was and is not only considered a joy-bringing activity, but also a lucrative one. (Click here to see a list of reenactments that took place, or at least were planned, in 2020 in the United States: https://www.thehistorylist.com/travel/top-35-historic-battle-reenactments-this-year.) “Each year there are dozens of these events all over the country.”
(Click here to see a list of re-enactments that took place, or at least were planned, in 2020 in the United States: https://www.thehistorylist.com/travel/top-35-historic-battle-re-enactments-this-year.)
Although, it must be noted that the involvement declined in recent years, approximately 30,000 participants, male and female, take part in the events each year.
They spent months of preparing themselves for the event and often describe their participation as addictive. The reenactors need these months of preparation, as each need individual knowledge about the soldier he/she is mimicking. For example, if you are part of a horse drawn battery, you are expected to be able to ride, groom, water and feed the horses.
Despite the proliferation of re-enactments, there is no national re-enacting organization, but loads of different associations. An essential magazine for reenactors in the U.S. is the so-called “The Camp Chase Gazette, a magazine catering to the re-enactment community, [which] has information about each event’s amenities, attractions, and prerequisites.”
The re-enactments are funded by both public and private organizations. Most re-enactments are held according to the same layout, although it must be emphasized that the re-enactments never resemble each other. The events are most often weekend-long. There is a camp area that is divided into the Confederate site and the Union site. There is also a battle area and a spectator area.
If it is a particularly large event, there is also a sutler area, where spectators can buy all sorts of things “that constitute the reality of the Civil War world.” But not only these sutler areas sell belongings from the Civil War era. As a result of the rise in popularity of re-enactments, numerous stores specializing in these events have sprung up. They sell all the essentials and non-essentials of a reenactor - from uniforms to cannons, muskets and other knick knacks. There are even manuals specifically for reenactors. For a reenactor, clothing is of great importance: it should be as authentic as possible! But it is this authenticity that drives up the price of the costume, starting by 1500 dollars. Beyond that, there are no limits. However, the outfit itself counts only as the basic gear. Reenactors also need a tent and cooking gear. In addition, the type of equipment and the price varies significantly depending on the soldier portrayed. For example, some artillery reenactors have their own cannons, which can cost up to 15,000 dollars.
Source: https://pixabay.com/de/illustrations/b%C3%BCrgerkrieg-flags-s%C3%BCden-nr-zivil-3032313/
The most expensive, however, is cavalry re-enacting, because “the mounted soldiers have to buy period saddles, bridles, carbines, shotguns, pistols and sabres in addition to owning and transporting the horses to the events.”
In addition to the two reasons mentioned above, researchers examine others, such as the expression of patriotism, but also critically investigate the use of re-enactments per se. The opinions differentiate a lot. Stea
However, in the last couple of years it seems like the reasons why changed. Apel writes that “a growing number of political re-enactments in the recent years attempt to reframe the past in provocative ways.” She concludes that part of the re-enactments that take place must therefore be ascribed a patriotic-romanticizing constructive rather than reproductive meaning. Accordingly, a significant question is whether re-enactments really portray and commemorate history or chose to not display certain aspects of the past.
At this point, it is therefore particularly interesting to turn to the re-enactors themselves and their thoughts and beliefs on the subject of re-enactment.
source: Hall, Gregory: Selective Authenticity: Civil War Reenactors and Credible Re-enactments, in: Journal of Historical Sociology 3 (2016), S.421.
How and why do they take place?
How these visually impressive re-enactment events take place depend on several main reasons for reenactors to participate and their mindset towards this topic. Along with a genuine fascination with the specific interest in the era of the civil war from a purely historical point of view, the primary reason to take on the role of a civil war soldier in the camps for a short period of time. It is the intense and real-life experience of re-creating an authentic military camp and living conditions with its camp activities, battle formation drills, trying contemporary cooking and clothing and of course to be part of the battle recreating with the own musket ready to fire. Therefore, the ‘how’ is strongly linked to the particular charm lies in physically and emotionally simulating the soldiers' combat experience and the civilian population. In order to be able to slip into these roles, equipment such as clothing and weapons is used that is as authentic as possible. This closeness to reality together with the sounds and hundreds of soldiers participating often leads to a personal 'period rush' - a deep emotional attachment to the times of the Civil War.
In order to achieve this period rush, an unadulterated re-enactment experience may well include discomforts such as reduced opportunities for personal hygiene, sleeping on hard floors, wearing unfamiliar woollen uniforms as well as a level of danger from explosives, cavalry, artillery and close combat during the battles with swords and bayonets.
The most popular locations for re-enactment events with huge campsites are the original sites of the time, for example, Gettysburg, Plimoth Plantation and Colonial Williamsburg, usually very closely located or even on the historical battlefields to live the nostalgia of the past first hand.
Hand to hand contact with weapons, equipment and clothing
It is safe to say that all reenactors take particular pride and attention towards their gear and to orientate themselves on contemporary maps and photographs as closely as possible, as they serve as primary sources for the exact geographical troop and camp positions of the battle to be re-enacted and for the equipment and uniforms used at the time.
Most of the reenactors receive their gear and uniforms from specialised shops for customised yet reproduced re-enactment objects with close attention to details. Even original artefacts lovingly collected by the reenactors are used, even though most of the contact with original objects is to be found in museums and historical sites.
The question arises as to why the Civil War re-enactment, in particular, is so popular. The historian Shelby Foote commented on the reasons as follows:
"Any understanding of this nation has to be based, and I mean really based, on an understanding of the Civil War. I believe that firmly. It defined us … the Civil War defined us as what we are and it opened us to being what we became, good and bad things. And it is very necessary, if you are going to understand the American character in the twentieth century, to learn about this enormous catastrophe of the nineteenth century. It was the crossroads of our being, and it was a hell of a crossroads…".
Honouring the past and family history
Besides simply fun, entertainment and sharing a common interest with others, many reenactors justify their hobby as educating the public and keeping history alive while honouring the sacrifices and memory of past soldiers. 80% of participants in re-enactment events have ancestors who participated in the Civil War. Their hobby represents a tribute to their former history and sacrifice.
The majority of the reenactors did research on the personal life and history of the ancestors who fought in the war. Recreating the war experiences of one's family member can lead to deep personal emotions and connection.
“My great-great-great uncle was with the Ohio Volunteer Militia. His regiment was mustered into the United States Army and fought at First Bull Run. He saw many important battles, yet he survived the war. My mother still has his diary and let me copy it. I study it, and when I do a re-enactment, I try to feel the things he felt when he was fighting the real battle. There are details in the diary that are not in any history books. In it are the discomforts and boredom of camp life, as well as the terror he felt over the prospect of a cannonball taking off his leg.”
The possibility of having such a deep spiritual experience by forming a bond with the ancestor is probably one of the greatest motivations for reenactors and it is unlikely that this could be achieved in this intensity in any other way.
Interestingly, a relatively large number of women are also attracted by the passion of re-enactment, who live it out in battle by wearing men's clothing.
“I have researched one of my Civil War ancestors. It all started when I fell heir to my great-greatgrandfather’s diary. I read of his camping in the winter in Virginia and of all the false starts. I don’t think historians today appreciate the difficulties of moving an army. I didn’t until I read about it in the diary. So now I’m out here, honouring his memory.”
Some black reenactors also know that their ancestors fought on the Confederation side and are therefore welcome members because they increase the authenticity of the community.
Hobby historians – Living history – living historians
The reenactor community sees itself as 'living historians' by re-enacting past battles and daily life at the time. Particular emphasis is placed on authenticity – even the physical exhaustion after a re-enacting march establishes a connection with the Civil War soldiers at that time. By focusing on specific battles, individual personalities and equipment, they can contribute to historical research as well as educating and passing on knowledge. Some reenactors are dedicated specialists in the field of uniforms, weapons gear and know buttons and stitch patterns in detail. Naturally, reenactors cannot hope to engage the past in as substantive a manner as professional historians in an academic context. However, that does not mean that reenactors are uninterested in history as an intellectual exercise. Beyond participating in their version of historiographic debates, reenactors also do their own original research. Further, like professional historians, they want their research to be of value to their colleagues.
Participants
The communities of reenactors usually consist of small units of 10 to 30 participants. These groups are modelled on regiments, batteries or companies that existed in the past. The community is bound together by common interests, family-feeling and friendship. Each group elects its leaders, usually sergeants or lieutenants, who then also take up these positions during reenacted battles. On average, there are meetings or military exercises once a month. The vast majority of reenactors are white, politically conservative, middle-class men between 30 and 40. However, the hobby is also shared by African-Americans and women, who join the groups both as civilians and as combatants.
American Studies scholar Jenny Thompson participated in re-enactment events for seven years. She discovered that reenactors are not a homogeneous group. In terms of education, professions and income, there are no significant peculiarities. The age of the participants ranges from teenagers to pensioners and averages 38 years. They consist of an equal majority of Republicans and Democrats with only a few more liberal thinking people.
During the 1970s, the percentage of women increased. Today, women account for 10-20% of the participants.
source from: Union Volunteers (04.01.2021) http://www.unionvolunteers.com/
The lost cause:
Interestingly, the majority of reenactors prefer to take on the role of Southerners. What makes the Confederacy so attractive? Obviously, heroic concepts such as honour, glory and courage are associated with it and represent the epitome of the so-called 'Lost Cause'. The racist viewpoints of the time usually play no role in these considerations.
However, the 'Lost Cause' also contains the idea of reconciliation after the Civil War and the new beginning of America's now common morality.
Critical aspects: nationalism-racism-masculine white supremacy – stereotypes
Remarkably, the reenactor groups' members have no great interest in linking their backwards-looking hobby with current political issues, according to interviews and the literature. However, this apolitical attitude also explains the unproblematic participation of thousands of foreign reenactors. Without doubt, the participants are also well aware that they cannot fully detach themselves from the current reality, especially through their depiction of martial violence and southern symbols like the confederate flag as the most powerful one as well as for exaggerated nationalism and patriotism.
Nevertheless, it is precisely the refusal of most re-enactment groups to contextualise and interpret history that sometimes leads to severe criticism of Civil War re-enactment by scholars. This critique may also be because, especially in the early days of the re-enactment movement, many Confederate groups tended to be politically right-wing; an image that is no longer true today, but is challenging to get rid of. On the one hand, this issue becomes more difficult because white supremacists today use the Confederate flag, making it an icon of racism still present in America.
On the other hand, in fact, none of the black reenactors ever had to suffer open racial insults – a proof that such resentment plays no role at all among hobby reenactors today.
Nevertheless, re-enactment events in which the Confederate flag is simultaneously associated with heroism are often perceived by outsiders as tendentially negative, as they are perceived as embodying the racist ‘redneck’ stereotype of the Southern states, which largely ignores the issue of racial inequality.
source: Hall, Gregory: Selective Authenticity: Civil War Reenactors and Credible Re-enactments, in: Journal of Historical Sociology 3 (2016), S.439.
Examples of re-enactment clubs and units from: Milsupia: Civil War Re-enactment Groups, in: Military History Museums (n. d.), URL: https://www.milsurpia.com/civil-war-reenactors (22.12.2020).
U.S. Civil War Re-enactment Groups:
8th Confederate "Skeleton" Cavalry
35th Alabama Infantry & 13th Kentucky Infantry Regiment
8th Alabama Company I "The Emerald Guard"
69th New York Volunteers, Company B
43rd Virginia Cavalry
20th Maine Company G: Second Connecticut Regiment of Volunteers "The Old 19th CVI''
14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Pawnee Guard
24th Iowa Volunteer Regiment Civil War Reenactors Battery G, Second Illinois Light Artillery
5TH Kentucky / 10th KY Turner Brigade
11th Mississippi Company G: The Second NJ Brigade
Nevada Civil War Organization
140th New York Volunteer Infantry
12th U.S. Infantry Company A Mess No. 1
14th OVI 3rd Arkansas
Hampton's Battery F Pennsylvania Independent Light Artillery
3rd Pennsylvania Light Artillery, Battery B
142nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Company F
116th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers
Ferguson SC Artillery Civil War Reenactors
15th Texas Living History Organization
First Virginia Cavalry
30th Battalion Virginia Sharpshooters
21st Virginia Volunteer Infantry, F Company
19th Virginia Infantry Company B ‐ The Albemarle Rifles
33d Regiment ‐ Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
Company E, 3rd Regiment, Confederate Engineers
source: Florida Reenactors Online News Magazine (10.12.2020), URL: https://sites.google.com/site/floridareenactorsonline/ (04.01.2021).
more websites of re-enactment clubs and units:
black and white reenactors: https://www.kqed.org/arts/13875290/meet-the-civil-war-reenactor-upholding-harriet-tubmans-legacy
Research blog by Shelby Foote, who wrote a three-volume-history of the Civil War and doing interviews with reenactors: https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/civil-war-re-enacting.html
“Is there anything about the War that you don’t know?” Foote’s response was immediate: “I still don’t know how they did it. How does a starving man march 20 miles then go into a three-hour battle?”
website serving as a Forum for re-enactment enthusiasts: https://www.authentic-campaigner.com/ find groups and gear!
a cooperation website of local re-enactment groups and museums: https://www.milsurpia.com/civil-war-reenactors
“The Virginia Museum of the Civil War has the distinction of holding the longest, continual re-enactment in the United States, still held on original battlefield property.”
https://www.vmi.edu/museums-and-archives/virginia-museum-of-the-civil-war/the-re-enactment/
Videos:
1. Civil War re-enactment- A Union cavalry officer. Examination of a riders equipment with attention to authentic detail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA-et-mUfYs&feature=emb_logo
2. Different opinions and points of view: Joe Goes To A Civil War Re-enactment: “It was never about slavery, it was about states’ rights.”
3. An interview with a Civil War Reenactor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl-Nn2Z-n5U “For me, I am always feeling like I’m honoring my ancestors.”
4. Civil War Re-enactments in California - American Civil War Association Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxIkD7fcQQw “We are trying to portrait what life was like for the common soldier of the 1863 campaign.”
5. Civil War Re-enactment Gettysburg 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db41PbRDkUY “We are here to teach and initiate history to folks here at the event about that battle that took place here 150 years ago.” - “I'm here to honor the Confederate soldiers, the officers who fought so valiantly and bravely here at Gettysburg, most of all I'm here to honor the great stand of North Carolina. One out of four Confederate casualties was from North Carolina. I just hope everyone takes a moment in time to think about the Southern States, their Confederate cause, and the war itself and how tragic and bad it was and the percentage of young, brave men,on both sides, who lost their lives in these four years.”
6. Epic Civil War Re-enactment [10,000+ Reenactors] -- Gettysburg 2013 Pickett's Charge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naNmDUFu5TM
7. Walk through a Civil War re-enactment camp
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIcSnfOs19w
8. The costume of a regular soldier
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBVL9I1ylLw
(example: two different kinds of hats, 4:59-8:00)
9. Food of a soldier
Readers of this article might also be interested in US Gun Culture and Patriotism in Sports.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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