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Once you have seen enough reenactments and want to get involved with the exciting hobby here is a list of things you will need to participate in your first event. Depending on which branch of the service you will be joining in the army, which is artillery, infantry or cavalry or if you choose the Navy or marines, will determine how much you spend. Most units have spare unforms that they will lend you for an event or two. It is better to borrow something for a weekend than to spend thousands of dollars on stuff, only to decide that you hate it. Also different units and branches have different requirements. I am part of an artillery unit and our unit already had the cannons but you will need a horse if ya do cavalry (unless you are dismounted) or a rifle if you do infantry. Another thing which determines how much you spend is which side ya do. Union is more expencive than Confederate is. But, if your unit is like mine than you will need a uniform for both sides.
Here is the basic list for Men starting out.
For the women who wish to portray a man use the above list. Buy your pants a little bigger so to hide hips and that is all there is to it. For the women who wish to be a women here is the basic list for you.
There is a list of things you will also need for in camp.
I don't have a list for childrens clothing because there clothing is different depending on there ages. All babies who are not walking wear a long white gown, longer than they are. Part a girls hair in the middle and a boys on the side. Once they can walk the dress is shortened so they dont trip on it. Once the child is pottie trained the dresses can be any color you like as long as it is one piece and has a boat neck and short sleves. It was thought to do a child good if they could get a lot of air. Some men have a problem putting there son in a dress so if you have to, put them in short pants. At about 7 or 8 boys move up to short pants, but the girls dress stays the same. At about 13 boys go to long pants and a coat. They are men now and have to dress like one. Girls dresses shorten to knee length and can be two piece now. From now till she is 16 the dress gets longer and at 16 she will dress like mom. Shoes are the same as for adults. I buy my kids shoes at a discont store because I refuse to spend $100 every year on feet that are still growing.
Now that you have been doing it for a while the sky is the limit on the things you can get. I bought a sewing machine and make all my families clothing now. A fancy dress can cost over $1,000 to buy. I save a lot of money by making stuff and if you look there are lots of sales on material. If you don't sew ask around in your unit, chances are good that someone does and would be happy to help you out. I make myself at least one new dress a year and DeLenn outgrowes one every two years. Neil likes a new shirt every once in a while too!
One note on eye glasses tho. Todays frames are not period. You can get period frames at a sutler and have them fitted with your perscription or get contacts. Sun glasses were not worn except by the rich or by people with syphilis
Another good thing to pick up are old wood amo boxes. If you have a military surplus store in your area you can get them cheep. They are very usefull to keep your stuff organized and they are light enough to carry around. Another good tip on storage space is to sleep on a cot. A cot is a good thing for several reasons, first it keeps you off the ground. (you will be thankfull for this if you have ever had to pitch your tent on an ant colony) I am getting a little old to sleep on the ground anyway. The other benefit is that you have storage space under it for stuff you may not have in a crate or amo box. Just cover the cot with a blanket and that will hide both the legs of the cot and the stuff under it.
Check around in your local thrift shops and garage sales. The paper is also a good place to find stuff since sometimes you can find someone who may be getting out of the hobby. I have found myself some really cool things at thrift shops so look around.
Here is a picture of the dress I am working on now. Simplicity is starting to come out with some good period paterns. Look in to there for some great ideas.
Well I hope this has been helpfull for you.
Here is a list of Sutlers (Civil War venders) to go to and buy anything you might need. I have done a lot of shoping with them and I can tell you that they are fair priced and good qualiy. If there is something that they don't have they would probably be able to tell you who does.
Here is a good site on woman during the war. It is also a good place to find info on women who with to do a mans impression.
An Irishman is never truly drunk as long as there is one blade of grass to hold on to, to keep him from falling of the face of the earth!!!
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