SAW reenacting event pictures.

[smoke]

One of the reasons I like the SAW period is that the services at that time had a lot of old officers and senior enlisted.  Gray haired captains and sergeants were not that unusual.

BTW, that was done in Ft Mott, New Jersy!  The guy doing Vara del Ray looked damn good.

True.  The recent time line event we went to had a lone guy doing SAW.  He was probably 60-70 but took care of himself and seemed younger.  He did an excellent job of it.  A shame more people weren't talking to him.

[smoke]

Well, I seem to have taken this well off track.  I am sorry!

[Pitspitr]

Well, I seem to have taken this well off track.  I am sorry!

Not to worry. It's good to have a conversation sometimes! 

[Doc Jackson]

I'm a fit younger guy, but going off of the descriptions of recruits in Rickey's and Utley's books, I dont I would be typical of the average IW recruit, Im in too good of shape, I've had medical care and regular meals most of my life.

In reality unless you go to Afghanistan and get actively campaigning soldiers, it wont be right. Even most fit guys in they're 20's and 30's are too well built. They aren't lean enough and they lack the prerequisite stress fractures in their feet.

All that aside I really enjoyed those pictures and I think those guys did a nice job. The young man portraying the officer was particularly convincing.

[pony express]

I guess that's one reason I never considered doing a cavalry impression-my size would have disqualified me from cavalry, even in my "younger, fitter" days I was probably 50lb too heavy. Well, that and the fact that almost all of my milsurps are full length rifles.

[Doc Jackson]

Well, that and the fact that almost all of my milsurps are full length rifles.

Not always though, the 2nd Cavalry reported to Fort Phil Kearny in 1866 armed with a mixture of M1861 Springfields and Starr Carbines. I though that was neat.

[Pitspitr]

I guess that's one reason I never considered doing a cavalry impression-my size would have disqualified me from cavalry, even in my "younger, fitter" days I was probably 50lb too heavy. Well, that and the fact that almost all of my milsurps are full length rifles.

For me you could add to the list "Doesn't like horses" 

[1961MJS]

For me you could add to the list "Doesn't like horses" 

Hi

I have NO DESIRE to be in the cavalry, but "a large one" I ended up with a Sharps Carbine and a Krag Carbine, therefore I wear yaller stuff. 

On the subject of old fat guys reenacting, scrawny 18 year olds ain't got $2000 minimum disposable income to buy our toys.  It's only 50 year old fat guys who's scrawny 20 year olds finally left the house that have disposable income. 

Back in the 1980's I was in a Rebel group in Wichita, John Beck said that there were some Rebels back East that actually went to the trouble of starving themselves from say January until the summer campaigns.  They also didn't wash for a week or so before the events so they'd smell authentic.

Not volunteering....

Later

[Major 2]

Back in the day, there were FARBS, Mainstreamers & hardcore ....  may still be called that  

I was very good mainstreamer... Kit wise ....    Horse & rider .... course both the horse & rider were... um.... not famished as it were !  

Of course, if we had weeded out all the plus size combatants,  you had maybe doz. show up !

The 125th, 130, and 150th national events had many thousands !  near 10,000 @ the 150th Gettysburg !

[Niederlander]

For me you could add to the list "Doesn't like horses" 

In my case, I realized early on the Cavalry didn't have a lot of Clydesdales to carry me...........Infantry it is!