Yesterday, I had to do a photo shoot for an upcoming article. The subject of the photo shoot was me! So I dug out a couple of uniforms, used a tent fly for a background, and snapped away.
That got me to thinking about my reenacting/living historian career. I've been at it since attending my first event in November 1982. Not as long as some, but longer than most. I've been to a lot of events - hundreds of events. My first mega event was the 125th Gettysburg in 1988. My favorite event of all time was the Cornfield fight at the 135th Antietam in 1997. I sweated through some of the best, like the 135th Gettysburg, the 135th Chickamauga (Chick-a-dusty), and the 140th Manassas. I've also frozen - like the 125th Murfreesboro (Mud-freeze-boro), and the 130th Nashville/Spring Hill. I've been to the biggest events - like Gettysburg in 1998, and the smallest. One time, at an event in south Florida (Arcadia), I was overall Union commander -I and six other rebs made up the entire Federal army. And I did not even have a Federal uniform. It happened again at Jonesville, VA, about a decade later. I was in charge of a Federal regiment and did not have a Federal uniform.
The list of great events goes on: Olustee, Fl; Andersonville, GA; Lexington, SC; Athens, AL; Arrat, VA; Reseca, GA; Brooksville, FL; Selma, AL; Saylor's Creek, VA; Jonesboro, GA; and many, many more.
My favorite site to do living histories is Fort Clinch, on the Atlantic Ocean in north Florida. Fort Clinch is a great place to do a total immersion style event. Nothing in the Fort is out of place, save spectators. Of course, there is the occasional nuclear powered sub heading out from the base in St. Mary's.
And, I've been lucky to do just about every type of impression: cavalry, medical, artillery, infantry, musician. I've been a first (orderly) sergeant, a company commander (twice), and a colonel of an infantry battalion (1995-2002). So, I've been very blessed in the things that I've done, places that I've gone, and people that I've met in the past 26 years.
For the past couple of years, I've put reenacting/living history on hold to focus on my writing. That's not to mean that I've quit. I still managed to don the gray (and a couple of times the blue) about a dozen times last year. I went to one reenactment, did a couple of living history events, and participated in several memorial services. But I have focused on my writing. I can now say that I've written eight books, and had articles in just about every major Civil War publication in print. Not too bad, considering that I'm only 35 years old - ok, I'll be 36 next month.
This year is looking better. I'm feeling better - I think my blood pressure is under control. I'm already making plans to attend several events. I've even registered for Gettysburg. Not sure what I'll be doing. But I'm going. I'll be there for about a week. I think I'm going to need a couple more shirts!