- Q) How do I get involved in Civil War Reenacting?
- A) That is a very good question! Getting involved in reenacting is easier than most people think. The only thing that you really need to begin is the drive to do it. Contact a reenactment unit (Such as the one whose site you are on :) ) and ask them what it takes to get involved. Typically, every reenactment unit has "Starter Equipment." Show an interest and they will let you borrow what you need to get you out on the field the first time. Depending on the unit, they may charge yearly dues any where from $10 - 30 for a family. That's it! That is all it takes!
- Q) How much does reenacting cost?
- A) Reenacting costs as much as you are willing to put into it. You can get by for a few hundred dollars starting out (See "Deals and Specials" on the Equipment page), or upwards to thousands of dollars. Money should never be a reason not to reenact if you love it. Find someone in the hobby and just ask. They will tell you the quirks.
- Q) Why Reenact? What's the point?
- A) All that I can say on this is try it out and you will see it. I think that everyone who has seen "Gone with the Wind" has thought about the ball gowns and chivilry of the time. This is a chance to see it first hand. You are surrounded by very good people and it is exciting holding a rifle, firing a cannon, etc and getting a glimpse of what it was like over 140 years ago. Besides, any time you can sit by the fire with friends, tell stories and look at the stars, take it!
- Q) I am always hearing the word "Farbie", what is that?
- A) While we do our best to show the public what it was like to live as a soldier in the Civil War and try to live as our predecessors did during that time, there are items that some reencactors like to have. Any items that were not of the Civil War period are considered "Farbie". These include, but are not limited to: coolers, wrist watches, soda cans, tennis shoes, modern-day chairs, cell phones, etc. While you may have these items at reenactments, do your best to keep them out of site (In a tent or pocket).
- Q) Is the 12th Texas concerned with "Farbieness"?
- The 12th Texas Artillery recognizes the need for certain modern day items and welcomes these items into camp. However, we ask that anything that is non-period stay out of site as best as possible.
Have Questions? We have answers!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are questions that commonly crop up when people ask about reenacting. If an FAQ does not appear in the list and you want to know the answer, just send an email to us and we will do our best to answer it.