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Post by Crowfan on May 24, 2010 12:45:16 GMT -5
I have always had a love of history. In the mid 1990's, there was an explosion of interest in the Civil War, thanks to the Ken Burns documentary and movies like "Glory". So i started going to events in my area and really enjoyed it. I met a couple who portrayed Abraham and Mary Lincoln, and they encouraged me and helped me get started in the hobby. I have been and continue to be their military escort. But I also joined a military unit, the 10th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Infantry is the easiest to buy the equipment for, unless you have access to a horse, for a cavalry impression, or access to a cannon, to do an artillery impression. My unit, the 10th Illinois, does both living history events and battle reenactments. At living history events, we drill, fire the weapons, and try to educate the public on what life was like back then. Here is a picture of us getting ready to fire at a living history event.
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Post by Crowfan on May 24, 2010 12:51:27 GMT -5
I give up...can't post the pictures. I frigging hate computers.
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Post by Truck Farmer on May 24, 2010 12:53:27 GMT -5
I have always had a love of history. In the mid 1990's, there was an explosion of interest in the Civil War, thanks to the Ken Burns documentary and movies like "Glory". So i started going to events in my area and really enjoyed it. I met a couple who portrayed Abraham and Mary Lincoln, and they encouraged me and helped me get started in the hobby. I have been and continue to be their military escort. But I also joined a military unit, the 10th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Infantry is the easiest to buy the equipment for, unless you have access to a horse, for a cavalry impression, or access to a cannon, to do an artillery impression. My unit, the 10th Illinois, does both living history events and battle reenactments. At living history events, we drill, fire the weapons, and try to educate the public on what life was like back then. Here is a picture of us getting ready to fire at a living history event.
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Post by Crowfan on May 24, 2010 13:15:51 GMT -5
How did you do that?
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Post by Truck Farmer on May 24, 2010 13:46:24 GMT -5
IMG]http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o121/Crowfan_photos/IMG_2129.jpg [/IMG][/quote] You were missing a bracket at the beginning for your IMG.
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Post by Crowfan on May 24, 2010 13:56:02 GMT -5
Thank you...all fixed. Now I need to go lie down. Now, if I did this right, this should be me, by one of the tents.
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Post by Birdgirl90 on May 24, 2010 15:54:24 GMT -5
This is awesome! I used to go see the reinactments in Kimswick, MO. Very cool stuff.
I love the uniforms. Are they uncomfortable?
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Post by Crowfan on May 24, 2010 16:31:47 GMT -5
They do get hot in the summer, but if you wear long underwear underneath, when you sweat, the underwear acts like air conditioning. Plus, we drink lots of water, at my event on Saturday, I drank one whole canteen and about half of a refill of said canteen, and we watch out for each other as well.
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Post by afriendlychicken on May 24, 2010 17:29:56 GMT -5
I give up...can't post the pictures. I frigging hate computers. Glad to see I'm not the only one who struggles with this stuff. It only took me around a month, and Spackle's help, to figure out how to embed a video. I still have no idea how others make their words and letters larger. Great stuff, Crowfan. I always appreciate the people who will go out of their way to help others on having a better appreciation and understanding of this countries history. I wish we had re-enactments here. There's none that I know of. So, thank you for volunteering. I wish I could see you do this in person.
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Post by caucasoididiot on May 24, 2010 19:18:35 GMT -5
My buddy in Japan used to re-enact 31st Illinois, which I gathered was downstate from you. From him I learned the terms "FARB" and "thread-counter." Another friend of mine just finshed work on a black powder pistol kit I passed on to him, knowing that I'd never get around to it. Years back my dad and I used to fire small black powder mortars and guns he made on his lathe. Isn't that a great sound and odor?
I'm looking forward to this blog.
Edit: What do you pack? '61 Springfield?
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Post by Crowfan on May 26, 2010 9:56:06 GMT -5
Yes, it's an 1861 US Springfield. Some of the guys have Enfields too.
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Post by solgroupie on May 26, 2010 10:16:07 GMT -5
glad to see you got this up and running crowfan. when is the next reinactment? and why CAN'T you get access to a horse or cannon? just take one!!
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Post by Crowfan on May 26, 2010 10:19:06 GMT -5
We have a Memorial Day Ceremony this Sunday down in Joliet, and Monday we have a parade in Itasca. June has a couple of reenactments, in Hesston IN and Franklin Grove, IL. We are pretty busy during the summer months, as you can well imagine.
As for the horse, while I could take one, you still have to feed it, and shelter it I don't think PETA would like it if I put a horse in the garage ;D
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Post by solgroupie on May 26, 2010 10:38:37 GMT -5
I don't think PETA would like it if I put a horse in the garage ;D homer did it.
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Post by Crowfan on Jul 2, 2010 8:39:27 GMT -5
Our next event is a July 4th parade. It was originally supposed to be on Saturday, but they changed it to Monday and I'll miss it because I have to work....ugh.
We do several parades a year, Memorial Day and 4th Of July. When I first joined up, we would also do St. Patrick's Day parades but we haven't done that in many years. If you get a chance go to see a parade.
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