American Civil War reenactments have a large following among those with an interest in the Civil War, and age appears to be no barrier. Children and adults of all ages take part in the many reenctments that are organized, mainly throughout, but not confined to, the Southern states.

  Reenctments come in many forms, though the most popular are those whereby specific battles are choreographed to the exact details of how they were originally fought. There are others that allow strategies to be redrawn and the battles re-fought, when either side could win based on the new strategies uses. These, however, are usually fought in private without the presence of spectators.

  The more popular is the true reenactment, which can consist of anything from 100 to 1,000 participants, and can replicate any of the battles fought during the war. Some are even true to the exact style of clothing used, and are frequently called ‘stitch counters’ due the stitching on the Civil War uniforms being counted to be exact to the original. Most, however, do not go this far and while they try to be as authentic as possible, they are not so concerned about looking exactly right.

  Tuition is given to volunteers on the type of fighting carried out, the correct way to ‘die’ in the battle, and even in the social events that took place before and after battles. The food and cooking methods are authentic, and the weapons used are as authentic as possible. The Civil War sword of choice was generally the saber, and although there were two main sword makers that were used by the Union army, their weapons were often captured and used by Confederate forces.

  Local Confederate manufacturers frequently copied Northern designs, though most added their own distinctive alterations. Generally the sabers had brass handles and wooden grips wound with wire or leather, and these can still be purchased in the traditional designs for reenactments. The same is also true of Civil War revolvers and other weaponry.

  Anybody interested in taking part in Civil War reenactments should first find a unit to join. Do this before you purchase any clothing or equipment since what you purchase might not be relevant to the unit you are joining. Civil War reenactment units are very specific to the clothing they wear and the equipment they use, which is chosen to exactly replicate that of the unit at the time.

  Even if your unit does not go as far as ‘stitch counting’, it will still want to retain a fairly high degree of authenticity, if only for its own pride when taking part with other units from other parts of the country. Civil War reenactors are not restricted to the south of the country, and many come from as far away as Canada and even Britain.

  There are several American Civil War reenactment groups in the United Kingdom, some quite large, and other countries also become involved. The American Civil War was unique in history in the distinctive uniforms worn by the opposing armies, and also in the number of fellow countrymen who killed and were killed in such a short period of time.

  When you join a unit you will be provided a list of equipment, and possibly advice on where to get it. Authenticity is of extreme importance to many reenactments, and it is important that your equipment is not only an authentic reproduction of what was used at the time, but also of the exact area and exact unit. Even individual members of each unit could be dressed and equipped differently according to their function within the unit.

  Reenactments go further than just acting out the various battles. Many are full social events with fashion shows, exhibitions of period cookery and dances in the genuine manner of the time. Some last only a few hours while others are weekend affairs with a full list of social events over the weekend. It is common for participants to travel all over the country to attend events, and while some specialize in certain battles, others are not so particular and simply enjoy the comradeship and fun of mock battles.

  Civil War reenactments are a way of life for many Americans, to whom their interest not only provides them with a hobby and a number of enjoyable social events, but also an excellent practical way of teaching others about this important period in American history.