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If anyone has additional suggestions, please let me
know!
REMEMBER: the way we portray battles is closely
scrutinized by the public! We must do our best to provide a fair
and accurate portrayal of what we think happened during civil war
battles, but we must also put on a good show in order to educate.
In addition, we are doing this for ourselves! The more we put into
it individually, the more we keep the experience fresh for our fellow
members. And just maybe...maybe...if we take good hits for the
rebs, they will take good hits for us!
IMPORTANT: do not take a hit with a loaded rifle!
- At the moment of firing, raise your rifles and tilt
back slightly to simulate the "kick"
- Yell on the advances
- Try to fall back in disarray and let the officers
yell to keep the men in line with their fronts to the enemy.
- When told to hold, stand tall and confident like a
soldier, and be aware, but don't slouch
- Pretend bullets are whizzing by striking your
clothing, gear, knocking off your hat
- When you take a hit, strip off your gear and leave it on
the battlefield (but keep an eye on it and stay in the vicinity as
gear is expensive!)
- You can also writhe on the ground in pain when you
take a hit, and fake a gut wound by unbuttoning the sack coat and
looking for the wound. If it is in the gut, you are a goner
for sure!
- When we fire at point blank range at advancing rebs,
a couple of members should FAKE loading and aiming and take a hit
when the rest of the unit is firing at once. This gives a look
of scattered confusion and interspersed hits that would actually
happen in the battle. Remember: do not take a hit with a
loaded rifle!
- Work with the stewards on developing a wounded
scenario for a field hospital
- Wear bedrolls or soft packs if it is not too hot
- Take wounds but recycle when you are out of view of
the public. If you recycle, remember where you were hit and
try to fight while keeping that area immobilized throughout the
battle! NOTE: if your rifle falls on the ground it is out of
action for that battle!
- Vary how you take a hit:
- scream
- roll and crawl on the ground
- take ligament hits and keep fighting
- rip open clothing to simulate a gut shot
- in the words of Tom Starr,"on the count of
three...bloat"
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