Reenactor Info

The Gettysburg Civil War Battle  Reenactment is a very special and significant commemorative event for the reenactment community, the visitor, and the Gettysburg community. The eyes of the nation and the world are upon us. In order to promote event integrity and honor, and to respect your fellow reenactors and provide an accurate portrayal to the public, the organizers, and military command request your cooperation by heeding the following authenticity standards:

1. All clothing must accurately represent the fashion and style of 1863, e.g., natural fibers, period cut and color.
2. Modern plastic glasses frames are not permitted.
3. No modern shoes and no sneakers.
4. No specialty impressions without the approval of the event sponsors. This includes portrayals of Lee, Jackson, Lincoln, Grant, Clara Barton, etc. If you have any doubts, please ask.
5. Women portraying soldiers in the ranks should make every reasonable effort to hide their gender. Hundreds, if not thousands, of women passed themselves off as men in order to serve as soldiers during the war—on both sides, and we will never know exactly how many did so because their disguises were so good. Honor them. If any Army or event volunteer (as above) determines the female gender at not less than 15 feet, that individual will be asked to leave the field/ranks.
6. Hair should be worn as appropriate to 1863.
7. As a compromise to modern safety, a minimum number of period MILITARY or Hospital Ice Angels (2-3) will be permitted on the battlefield for each authorized battalion. Each Ice Angel must be at least 16 years of age. Proper uniform will be required. Dresses for the ladies will not be allowed on the field.
8. Do not wear any uniforms or insignia that would not have appeared at Gettysburg.
9. The classic “campaigner” impression is suitable for this event. Shoes shall be worn! Failure to do so will result in removal from the event.
10. A dirty musket is rarely, if ever, appropriate and may, in fact, constitute a safety violation.
11. All anachronisms (cots, coolers, sweat pants, etc.) must be hidden inside tents at all times. Your camp is not only your reenactment home; but is also a significant living history experience for both your fellow reenactors and visitors.
12. Tobacco use shall be confined to period products—pipes, cigars, snuff, chew or, in rare cases, filter-less cigarettes.
13.  The event organizers, and respective military commanders, have final authority regarding authenticity issues.

Be aware that when you sign your registration form, you are agreeing to abide by the Safety Regulations and Rules for this event. Highlights are overviewed here.

Safety

Each Company will appoint a designated Safety Officer to ensure general and weapons safety. The Company Safety Officer will report to the Regimental/Battalion Safety Officer. Each Regiment/Battalion will have an appointed designated Safety Officer to ensure general and weapons safety. The Regimental/Battalion Safety Officer will report to the Brigade Safety Officer.

Each Brigade will have an appointed designated Safety Officer to ensure general and weapons safety. The Brigade Safety Officer will report to the Division Safety Officer. The Army Headquarters’ Officer will file a report with the GAC Medical Command at the daily briefing.

Each Division will have an appointed designated Safety Officer to ensure general and weapons safety. The Division Safety Officer will report to the Army Headquarters’ Officer.

Weapons Safety inspection will be conducted prior to each battle and a written report will be verified and signed off by each Safety Officer at the previously mentioned levels. The Commanding Federal and Confederate General or their designees will make the final signoffs for their respective armies. This document will be retained by the respective General.

Each Company Safety Officer will have their Company snap a cap to insure the weapons are clear prior to taking the Battlefield.

All reenactors must affiliate with a unit to participate. The command staff will attempt to assign individuals registering without a unit affiliation to units but this does not guarantee acceptance by that unit. It is the individual’s responsibility to affiliate and if no recognized unit is found the individual will not be able to participate. Affiliation means that the unit or individual will be under the control of, camp with, be inspected by and fall in for battle with that recognized unit. The event Commanders and organizers will make the final determination if a registration is accepted.

All safety regulations will be strictly enforced through a provost and/or appropriate safety personnel. Any violation of these rules will be grounds for an individual or unit to be removed from the field.

Anyone under the age of 13 will not be permitted on the Battlefield. NO EXCPTIONS!

No one under the age of 16 will be permitted to carry a rifle on the field

NO projectiles, bullets, musket balls, or loading blocks will be carried at any time at the scene of an event.

Opposing troops will not advance within 25 yards of another unit at any time during this event. Exceptions will only occur if they have been carefully planned prior to the event and approved by the Overall Commander.

All firing will be done at an elevated angle. Never aim a weapon directly at another person.

There will be no weapons fired in the bivouac or encampment area or along routes of march without prior approval or direction of the Company Safety Officer. Infractions will result in expulsion of the individual and/or unit. All cartridges must be made up prior to the event. In the case of a prolonged event or unexpected firing activities, cartridges may be made at a designated safety area only, not in camp or near exposed flames or visitor’s cigarettes. No staples will be used in any cartridge. Nails, vent picks, etc. should be kept out of the cartridge box to avoid accidentally dropping any of these objects into a muzzle.

Maximum musket or rifle cartridges will follow the Table of Maximum Loads. Only FFg or FFFg black powder will be used – NO Pyrodex. NO FFFFg (4F) powder will be used except by artillery units for priming. Cartridge paper will not be placed in the barrel and NO wadding or ramming will be permitted except in the use of handguns (Absolutely NO wonder wads, Cream of Wheat recommended). Multiple loading is not permitted.

Cartridges will not be carried anywhere on the person except in a hard cartridge box unless they are securely wrapped in foil in lots of ten and carried in a secure location.

Powder will only be carried in the form of cartridges.

Ramrods can be carried but are not to be drawn and used under any circumstance. Unless otherwise directed by the Company Safety Officer for safety checks.

Unit formations will be held previous to each battle, where weapons, accouterments and cartridges will be inspected. Those failing this inspection will not be allowed to carry the failing firearms onto the field.

A full safety inspection should be held by each unit commander prior to its arrival at this event. Likewise at the end of each Battle all weapons will be discharged then the Company Commander will snap a cap to insure all weapons are clear prior to departing the Battlefield.

Each unit commander is responsible for the conduct of his men (this includes women and children). The commander is responsible to make sure that his personnel and those assigned to him are aware of the safety rules and that they understand and abide by them.

Infantry Weapons

3 band muskets preferred; correct 2 banders allowed only by prior written approval from the commanding General of the appropriate army subject to supporting historical documentation.

NO non-period weapons. NO civilian weapons.

Side arms carried ONLY by officers.

Ramrods are not to be drawn on the field with the exception of Safety personnel clearing a weapon behind the firing line

Bayonets are not to be fixed on the field. Scabbards must have appropriate tips.

NO sheath knives will be carried on the field.

POWDER CHARGES limited to a maximum of 70 grains for .54-.58 caliber and 90 grains for .69 caliber, 60 grains for carbines; 14 and 30 grains for .36 and .44 caliber pistols respectively.

No weapons are to be discharged within 25 yards of the “enemy”; remember to always elevate when firing.

No weapons are to be discharged within camp boundaries with the exception of weapons inspection under supervision of the unit safety officer or commanding officer.

No live ammunition is allowed on the reenactment site. LEAVE IT AT HOME!

No tompions may be taken to the field.

No “Wonder wads” are to be used in any weapon.

Horses

ALL equestrian issues will fall under the purview of the appropriate Federal or Confederate Army Commanders and their Cavalry commander to include Cavalry, Staff, Mounted Artillery and Civilian.

All horses brought to the site are required to have a current Coggins certificate. Coggins checks will be completed at GAC Registration. Horses should be trained to gunfire and battle BEFORE THE EVENT. Do not bring untrained horses to the event.

Under no circumstances will horses be billeted or camped in any area other than the appropriate and assigned Reenactor camps where amenities, shade, water and hay are supplied.  Horse camping in the parking lots or any unauthorized areas is strictly forbidden and will result in the expulsion from the event.

Horses WILL NOT be ridden or led through the infantry camps, artillery camps, and sutler areas or in spectator areas.

All horses will be dismounted prior to entering any authorized camp area and led to the designated picket area. With the exception of designated combat areas, absolutely no mounted individual will allow a horse to enter a camp area above the gait of a controlled walk.

No person under the age of 16 will mount a horse as a combatant or serve in a mounted capacity with the exception of qualified riders serving as functional musicians. Determination of a qualified rider will be made by the respective Cavalry Commander.

Horses will be ridden on event grounds only by troopers or staff. Spectators, children, and visitors will absolutely not be allowed to mount any horse. Horses will NOT be permitted on the Battlefield during any other on-field event (Live Mortar Fire as an example).

Period civilians wishing to portray a mounted impression will apply to the appropriate Cavalry Commander who will then determine the qualifications of the rider(s) and will also determine when and where they may ride. Mounted cavalry escort may be required at the discretion of the Cavalry Commander. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Violators will be expelled from the event.

Stallions will not be permitted on the event site.

Hay will be supplied and distributed for each horse, for the entire event, at the cavalry registration area when the horse is registered at the rate of one bale per day per horse plus one additional bale for the event.

Artillery
Artillery units will adhere to Standing Operating Procedures and will be under the command & direction of the appropriate Artillery Commander.

Additional Guidelines

All event participants will carry a FULL CANTEEN at all times. Any (Generals to Privates) Participant without a canteen may be ordered from the field by any Medical or Safety Officer. Participant will comply without argument or be subject to being expelled for the event.

NO PETS will be allowed at this event under any circumstances. With unaffiliated organizations no person shall carry the non-commissioned rank of Sgt/Major or the commissioned rank of Lt. Colonial or above without approval of army command (Federal or C.S.A.) No General Officers will be allowed on the field without prior approval.

All reenactors must meet accepted standards for authenticity. In case of dispute all decisions will be made by the respective commanders

Note to new reenactors and people wanting to become reenactors: Unfortunately, we cannot be a clearinghouse for new reenactors and are not able to refer you to specific groups. We can refer you to periodicals such as The Civil War News, Camp Chase Gazette and Civil War Courier for notices from units seeking new members. Going to numerous civil war web sites and chat rooms would be another good source for reenactor information. The best option may be to go to some smaller reenactments or living history demonstrations and talk to unit members. Reenactors are normally very gracious in sharing their knowledge and experience. We strongly recommend that if you have not previously been a reenactor an event of this scope should probably not be your first event. Get involved with a group and cut your teeth on some smaller events.

Camp Safety

Company streets must be kept clear of all obstructions, camp gear, and furniture. The company streets will be used for formations, troop movements, and provide emergency access to the camps. Fire pits must be at the top and bottom of the tent rows with enough room to allow passage even if a crowd is around the fire pit.

Fire pits may be dug if the event rules allow, with the sod reserved for replacement when the fire pit is filled. All dug fire pits will be filled prior to the breaking of camp at the end of the event. No trash is to be burned in the fire pit. This includes empty or full cans or bottles. Straw and hay and other flammable substances are to be stored well away from any fire pit.

Mounted personnel are not authorized to travel through infantry camps. If, for some reason, this cannot be avoided, the mounted soldier should dismount and lead his mount until clear of the camp.

Vehicles are to be removed from the camp area after they are unloaded and moved to the designated parking area. Vehicles are not allowed in camp except when specifically authorized during emergency situation. Vehicles are allowed in camps after the reenactment based upon the posted rules of the event.

At the conclusion of each event, trash and unburned firewood shall be gathered and deposited in designated areas. All  unburned firewood shall be returned to the wood pile.