How do you know when you're "out" in a war reenactement?

We used to do reenactments with a club that did 18th century games (French and Indian War, Revolutionary War). We knew what the ultimate outcome would be and members would volunteer to be“casualties” at set times. I would pick an early time to fall “wounded” so my lady could run out (in period costume) to “bandage my wounds”, then we would break out the picnic feast before the ice in the champagne bucket melted.

There is often a drawing beforehand to say who and when the ‘kills’ occur.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land Okay, now that just sounds awesome! Makes me want to do that, too.

@Dr_Dredd It’s great fun! We were part of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment of the Colonial Musketeers. We did reenactments at many historic sites (Ft. Ticonderoga, Ft. William Henry, etc) and also “demonstration musters”. Infantry, Fife and Drum Corps, Pipers, we even have several bronze cannons.
We burned a lot of black powder blanks, a bit of stage blood and a good party afterwards. The tourists love it too!

When you look up and see clouds??;)

One of the other reenacters yells “Bang!! I got you!” And you yell “Nuh uh!!” and they yell “Yuh huh! Tommy saw me get you! Right Tommy?” and Tommy says “Yep. You’re dead.” Then you’re out.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land – That’s awesome, I’ve always wanted to do something like that, I think it would be an amazing homage to those who have fought for us in the past.

@JeanPaulSartre – Sounds exactly like when I played with my friends when I was young.

@Hydrogenbond Yeah, if I can’t be right, I can at least be funny.

@JeanPaulSartre – Both are considered right in my questions, haha.

@lucillelucillelucille – I wouldn’t want to participate in a reenactment that authentic!

@stranger_in_a_strange_land That sounds like a blast. I really would enjoy Civil War reenactment (I have been thinking about it off and on). Do they mind if a guy has very long hair and is not white? Would either of those break the period thing?

I don’t know if this is true, but it made sense to me when I heard it. Someone who should know told me that the winning side gets more ammunition for each soldier. Each soldier dies when he runs out of ammo, until only the ‘winning’ side is left standing.

According to author Tony Horwitz in his book Confederates in the Attic, an honor system determines who is “out” in addition to pre-determined maneuvers and historical accuracy. If someone points their gun at you and fires, you oblige and play dead.

@Arisztid Our Revolutionary-period group didn’t care about such things. We’ve had women in uniform carrying muskets (unfair, since they’d probably freak out if a guy showed up in 18th century drag~). I don’t know about Civil War reenactment group rules.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land Thankyou. :D It really sounds like a blast.

I have read of stories of less endowed women going to war back then dressing as and passing as young men.

@Arisztid Our group has many ladies who dress in 18th century costumes to “assist the wounded” (Meg did that, Gen played in the fife and drum section and wore a uniform- even being rather well-endowed~). It’s a way to get our S/Os into the action and looks cool at the picnic afterward.

@Arisztid, @stranger_in_a_strange_land, I dig a woman in uniform

@Arisztid Many men in the 18th and 19th centuries wore their hair quite long.
@Fiddle_Playing_Creole_Bastard Gen looks good in her 18th century uniform (wears a sports bra) and plays an excellent fife. She also knows the musket drill and has trained as “pointer” on one of the cannon crews. Meghan could load and fire a musket but it was too long and heavy for her to keep up with the loading drill.