tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96820602012-01-23T11:40:22.844-05:00A journal of my reenacting experiences and observation, on the road, on the field, and on the 'net. Also included are commentary on other things militaria that interest me, such as wargaming, reading, museums and collecting. To "see the elephant" was a slang term used by Civil War soldiers to be in a battle or to see the world.mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.comBlogger6831100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-22048731929438587652009-05-26T14:01:00.009-04:002009-05-26T14:43:20.058-04:00

For the past few months, my life has had its ups and downs. That fact usually reflects on this blog, more or less in an unspoken manner.During the time I have been blogging, I've met some pretty great people who have given me support, advice or whatever encouragement they could lend. For that, I'm very grateful. But most aspects of my life happen outside the blog and my hobbies. Those things

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-40813394564874027772009-02-16T10:14:00.007-05:002009-02-16T10:30:25.165-05:00

I loved to play Avalon Hill's Squad Leader in the day. I enjoyed the game and the add-ons. That is, until I couldn't afford to be a Squad Leader addict any longer. But over time Hasbro ruined bought Avalon Hill and did away with most of the good games, including the beloved Squad Leader.Behold Multi-Man Publishing! Squad Leader is back and thriving once again. Although MMP's forte is SL (or

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-596654362611871372009-02-16T10:05:00.005-05:002009-02-16T10:13:33.107-05:00

I decided to add on to the blog with Twitter updates on the side. This will be handy for small on-the-spot wargaming updates as well as in the field reenacting reports. Just keep an eye on the left side of the blog, and scroll to the bottom to read.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-87596938559602459632009-02-06T11:28:00.006-05:002009-02-06T11:34:42.238-05:00

One blog that gets my attention on a weekly basis is the Reenactor Post. The contributors there have an awesome ability to uncover some great offerings on the 'net. Recently, they uncovered some Russian photos that transpose WW2 images with modern day ones. The result is awesomely stunning, and in my humble opinion a required look if you're a reenactor.I won't post an accompanying picture lest I

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-73539850455248906482009-02-06T08:57:00.005-05:002009-02-06T09:04:04.973-05:00

Here's an interesting video - not of reenactors, but someone looking for a group. This could be a novel (or creepy) thing! Sometimes it is hard to find groups that do niche eras, so selling yourself on video may not be such a bad idea. Just don't be a Private Pyle... Gomer or the dude on Full Metal Jacket.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-35814341146679493692009-02-03T10:10:00.001-05:002009-02-03T10:11:40.591-05:00

I might have to chock this week up as a light posting week -- lots happening on all fronts. Will pop a post in when I have a minute or two to spare!

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-85000505634326894692009-02-01T23:15:00.005-05:002009-02-03T10:09:41.848-05:00

I'm on a wargame buying roll. I really enjoy the John Tiller Civil War games, and I succumbed to the temptation again, and bought another title. This time it's Campaign: Peninsula. I wanted another eastern theatre game, but it's very tough to beat Atlanta, which seems to be the most recommended title in the series.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-16839728425639479172009-01-30T15:59:00.005-05:002009-01-30T16:11:29.213-05:00

Here's something not usually found in the States -- a non-SCA medieval group. Weorod is a nifty group - here's a description from their site:Weorod are a small, independent Historical Re-Enactment and Living History group based in Southern Hampshire. Although a new group, we are formed around a nucleus of seasoned re-enactors from other societies with over 6 years experience gained whilst

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-6638697381899854612009-01-29T11:17:00.005-05:002009-01-29T11:32:16.408-05:00

In my previous trapdoor Springfield post, I embedded a MidwayUSA YouTube video with Larry Potterfield, which featured the 1873 rifle. He actually did quite a few of these videos, mainly focusing on the weapons of the old west or gunsmithing techniques. They are all excellently done, and worth the time to watch.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-71763166135245943822009-01-28T16:50:00.007-05:002009-01-29T11:00:23.622-05:00

At a loss where to get some War of 1812 or Napoleonic gear? Look no further than MilitaryHeritage.com. These guys from Canada have it covered, and more. The selection of firearms is very impressive, and at reasonable prices to boot. They have matchlocks to doglocks to flintlocks, and from what I can tell is their strong point.They have some uniform pieces from the Napoleonic eras, which they

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-80182563908386014942009-01-27T10:52:00.012-05:002009-01-27T11:17:01.990-05:00

World War 2: The Russians put on a large reenactment copmmemorating the Siege of Leningrad: Siege of Leningrad Marked 65 Years Later. Nice photo! Here's another article and nice photos: St. Petersburg marks anniversary of 900-day Nazi siege.American Civil War: The aftermath of the inauguration, very interesting observations: Emotions affect war re-enactor.Here's more on some of the bureaucratic

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-67631076572213930862009-01-26T15:49:00.004-05:002009-01-26T15:55:54.896-05:00

Here's an interesting article in Popular Science about soldier's loyalty to each other in the Civil War and how it affected survival.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-65966470995926007752009-01-26T11:35:00.005-05:002009-01-26T13:45:14.424-05:00

If you're into playing older wargames and can't find an opponent, then VASSAL is the way to go! Here's a short description of the application:VASSAL is an engine for building and playing Internet-capable versions of turn-based, human-vs-human games. Players move and manipulate game pieces via the mouse while typing accompanying text. Moves can be recorded into a log file and stepped through one

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-77461409875791709192009-01-26T09:27:00.007-05:002009-01-26T10:02:06.054-05:00

One of my favorite wargame designers back in the day was S. Craig Taylor, Jr. On a curious bent, I wondered whether or not he had continued on after his stint with Avalon Hill. He produced a couple of games me and my friends played heavily; Airforce/Dauntless and Wooden Ships & Iron Men. As a matter of fact, one of my friends was a Airforce freak and playtested it when it was being updated and

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-23745970170001817632009-01-25T19:29:00.006-05:002009-01-25T19:52:01.650-05:00

The Portable Abraham LincolnISBN:78-0-14-310564-0I've given this book a spot read, and I like the editing and choice of Lincoln's writings. The Portable Abraham Lincoln is a worthy buy for anyone who has an interst in Lincoln and would like a sampler of some of his best writings.This is the Bicentennial Edition (of Lincoln's birth), as it was previously published in 1993.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-88718446591251009772009-01-23T16:23:00.007-05:002009-01-23T16:41:59.603-05:00

Seems that the late Bosnian War has become somewhat of a reenacting subject in Japan. My suspicion is that they were using the conflict as a backdrop for some Airsoft battle scenarios, rather than accurately recreating any particular battle that happened in the conflict.Molehill, meet mountain!The more entertaining part to this article are comments that some pudding-heads make to explain it.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-8632373740366513522009-01-23T09:46:00.006-05:002009-01-23T09:56:29.275-05:00

The Kapiti Fusiliers website was an unexpected treat that was caught up in my search for Napoleonic reenacting. These guys are miniature wargaming geeks who seem to be pretty active. They also have reenactors in their numbers - there a great article about the reenactment of Waterloo and some nice pictures to boot.A very nice example site for other wargaming groups to emulate.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-1348730078131683492009-01-23T09:12:00.009-05:002009-01-23T09:41:46.612-05:00

To pop me out of the ACW/WW2 groups rut, I've decided to look to Europe and spotlight some groups in other time periods. If I'm correct, the major reenacting period there seems to be the Napoleonic War, and there are a ton of groups to spotlight. The first I'd like to do are the 23rd Foot Royal Welch Fusiliers.I have the impression that Napoleonic reenacting is equivalent to Civil War reenacting

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-38801082745467778852009-01-22T14:39:00.009-05:002009-01-22T15:07:36.675-05:00

Scraped up my remaining Christmas money and bought Winter War from HPS Simulations. This is the first honest to goodness wargame I've purchased in quite awhile, and I'm pretty excited about playing. It was a toss up between this and Spanish Civil War. Since I had an interest in the Russo-Finnish War, I decided to give Winter War a try.I've decided to use the Squad Battles games to play the less

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-78885056182818730922009-01-22T13:52:00.005-05:002009-01-22T14:24:22.276-05:00

This is a well done slide-show type video of what you need to get as a 101st Airborne reenactor. A great idea for any group who wants to draw recruits via the Internet. One thing I'd love to see is someone photogenic enough to talk through and show variations in clothing and how to put on gear.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-19364351690032585622009-01-21T10:28:00.007-05:002009-01-21T10:36:31.902-05:00

Need some wicked-looking ordinance to complete a WW1 or WW2 display?Inert Products is the place to go. Normally their forte is modern-day military training aids, but they have a section that has WW1 and WW2 -era grenades and shells. They have a selection of German stick grenades, US fragmentation grenades, and even a mock-up of a "sticky" bomb.Site is worth a peek or two.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-51528256430759764972009-01-20T19:34:00.006-05:002009-01-21T10:12:23.211-05:00

It's a SNOW DAY for Mntineer. These days bring back the most pleasant of memories. Back when I was teen living the mountains of NC, we were blessed with the occasional snow day - a sweet day off from school.During that time we would do some sledding and snowball fights, but the main attraction as going to my friend's house to do some extensive wargaming. Me and couple others would meet there and

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-5074835790467056302009-01-20T10:05:00.011-05:002009-01-21T12:34:59.621-05:00

American Civil War: Might as well start off with the painful parts first. Looks like the fellow who shot a bro has been caught and indicted: Re-enactor Is Indicted in Shooting of a Yankee. The crux of it is that the man wasn't even a reenactor, just someone who turned up on set in a Confederate uniform and had a period pistol. Rant to follow - thankfully Mr. Lord is doing OK. Here's another

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-73916768412314094762009-01-19T20:06:00.004-05:002009-01-19T20:26:01.209-05:00

The more I dig around, the more I find. Here's another board wargame company that has a novel way of giving gamers what they want. GMT Games has a great site and a huge selection of games.The novelty is called P500, and the way I understand, the printing and pre-ordering of games is done by votes from the GMT gamer community.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-15276204054504097282009-01-19T10:04:00.012-05:002009-01-19T19:55:05.293-05:00

Period: World War 1 - 1916 to 1918 -Lafayette EscadrilleSynopsis: Flyboys is centered around the later months of the Lafayette Escadrille, from 1916 to 1918. The story revolves around Blaine Rawlings, a Texas rancher who was foreclosed on and has decided to involve himself in bigger things, namely WW1. Other characters are added to the mix to become Rawlings' companions in the escadrille.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-28767003664245635872009-01-18T18:05:00.056-05:002009-01-20T10:09:45.120-05:00

I usually try to avoid political commentary on StE(r), mainly because there are other blogs that do an excellent job of covering such things as the main topic. As an informed person, I tend to read such blogs on a daily basis, taking in a steady diet of the good, bad, and the ugly. But, I'll kick in MHO just this one time.To set things straight right off the bat, this isn't a rant... more like an

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-11135337388390857952009-01-18T15:13:00.013-05:002009-01-18T18:01:22.738-05:00

Sometimes I poke around with my GoStats link to see how people are finding StE(r). The two most common searches are , in this order, invariably for: 1) WW2 German Elephant Tank or 2) the phrase "Seeing the Elephant".So to everyone who does a search and wanders into StE(r), I say - thanks for coming by! :-) I hope you find something unexpected and fascinating. This is one of the reasons this blog

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-54506999930993528082009-01-16T15:21:00.020-05:002009-01-21T11:23:10.924-05:00

The "trapdoor" Springfield was the principle long arm of the US Army from late 1865 to about 1890. Even with the Spanish-American War in 1898, some US troops were armed with this slow-to-load, but reliable weapon.In reenacting circles, there are several models that could potentially be used for Indian Wars era impressions, including the M1866 Springfield trapdoor conversion. The good and bad of

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-66655484287121167182009-01-16T08:55:00.009-05:002009-01-16T10:59:22.063-05:00

Found a couple more inter-related reenacting blogs that are updated relatively often and carry interest for 18th century reenactors. They are Reenactors Weekly and A Reenactor's Journal. Reenactors Weekly seems to get the most updated information and covers some reenacting and preservation news.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-16962490394533380072009-01-16T07:44:00.006-05:002009-01-16T07:53:50.412-05:00

Not often do you hear about the Pacific theatre when it comes to WW2 reenacting. The China Marines are a group that is active in telling the story of the Marines that served in the Pacific.A short descriptions from their web site:While others may choose to depict one of the elite "glamor units" of the ETO, we prefer to honor the common Grunts and Old Salts that spearheaded the allied campaigns

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-73958685123392403342009-01-15T10:27:00.004-05:002009-01-15T10:35:26.817-05:00

Here's some footage and narrative of a Roman-era reenactment and skirimish with the Gauls. This particular event is in Hungary, in case you didn't recognize the language.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-4850714743497410302009-01-14T14:52:00.007-05:002009-01-14T15:00:29.799-05:00

Here's an interesting site detailing a trek in progress. A reenacted version of the Mormon Battalion is in route from Nebraska to California. Here's a small write-up from the site:As the Mexican-American War began in 1846, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were preparing to leave the United States for their journey to the Salt Lake valley.To aid General Kearny’s campaign

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-6019225801193718882009-01-14T11:52:00.012-05:002009-01-14T14:13:17.075-05:00

Here's a very cool site for the hungry WW2 US reenactor - World War Two Ration Technologies. To be clear, this company doesn't sell the food, but rather the packaging and how-tos on how to make your own rations. It also offers WW1 era rations too.The site itself is a plain no-frills design, but what it offers is great for any WW2 reenactor who doesn't mind putting a little bit of elbow grease

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-55440329119047206712009-01-13T14:24:00.039-05:002009-01-16T11:15:04.830-05:00

This is a prime example of stupid gun-banning legislation that takes away a right, but doesn't even address a problem. It's a wolf in sheep's clothing.First off, the news headline is misleading. The proposed bill is a flat ban on modern .50 caliber weapons, with the exception of any antique firearm over .60 caliber. Would this include .69 and .75 caliber weapons? The article seems to think so,

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-80535350793241262472009-01-13T10:05:00.014-05:002009-01-13T14:23:55.027-05:00

Vietnam: A review of Small Wars, a documentary featuring Vietnam era reenacting: The Vietnam of the Mind.World War 2: Some nice photos from a Battle of the Bulge reenactment at Fort Harrison State Park: Battle of the Bulge Reenactment .A nice piece that outlines civic concerns about a reenactment coming to a town: WWII re-enactment could come to Romeo.American Civil War: A slow news week, but

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-69912849783300867702009-01-12T21:59:00.011-05:002009-01-13T10:07:01.726-05:00

Gary's Military Modeling Page is a great place to do some nice photographic research. There are links galore here, and he covers reenacting, modeling, you name it.The most interesting thing on his site, though, is the 1/6th scale military models he builds. These figures are much like the GI Joes of old, but the uniforms and the models themselves are much more detailed. I think the Bayonet Duel

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-26415240313855475352009-01-12T08:55:00.009-05:002009-01-12T10:14:51.491-05:00

Here's a company I'd would dearly love to start ordering titles from. Avalanche Press has a ton of good stuff. Some inexpensive, some a little pricey, but seemingly thorough treatments of the events they represent.I'm very interested in the WW1 naval titles in their selection. The good thing about Avalanche Press is that they specialize in a period and have a representative game system they

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-28104330459472815812009-01-11T20:50:00.006-05:002009-01-11T20:58:20.667-05:00

Here is a great article on the Kevin Boone site introducing beginners and the interested to the concepts of primitive/traditional archery. He goes over many great points and explains the types of bow and arrows, as well as where to shoot and some basic shooting tips.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-64964988885662515162009-01-11T11:30:00.011-05:002009-01-11T21:18:45.850-05:00

I'm going to try my hand at being a diplomat today by playing an old Avalon Hill game called... Diplomacy. I played this game about 26 years ago and it was great fun. Since then, life got into the way, as well as another hobby. I'll update the outcome later today!UPDATE: The game went well. We had enough players for 6 of the 7 available countries; Russia, Germany, Great Britain, France, Turkey,

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-55643322252149504422009-01-09T12:10:00.005-05:002009-01-09T12:28:36.307-05:00

Here's a new one on me that makes perfect sense - a reenactment program at Ellis Island. Here's a small portion of the write-up:The reenactment of The Board of Special Inquiry on Ellis Island is held in the actual boardroom of old, which has been restored to its early 1900s condition. The modern incarnation of the board, which draws it's members from the audience in attendance, proves to be a

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-39866697144590500812009-01-09T10:38:00.009-05:002009-01-11T21:19:06.930-05:00

Found another reenactor's blog! The Re-enactors Blog is a slow posting site, but it has a lot to offer in the way of narrative and photos.The blog's author, Eryk Rawicz-Lipiński, covers the WW2 and Viking reenacting scene in Ireland, which judging by the pictures he posted, has a great grasp on authenticity.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-47204057216548767522009-01-09T09:01:00.009-05:002009-01-09T09:17:23.502-05:00

What a nice site to visit, not many frills, but the design is solid and navigation is easy. The 90th Infantry Division Preservation Group site has a lot for a casual and serious reenacting surfer to see. It has a lot of insider references, but that only adds to the homeyness of the site.The important part is that the 90th IDPG seems to do a ton of research, and they post it regularly on the site

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-58895634106730651132009-01-08T09:21:00.005-05:002009-01-08T09:24:05.869-05:00

Here's a nicely done video of some War of 1812 reenacting. Sharp uniforms and an interesting period.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-39921260531782282862009-01-07T10:09:00.037-05:002009-01-09T12:53:16.749-05:00

It's back! Now to continue the series. Way back when, the series looked at the major players in a Civil War reenactment, the infantry, cavalry and artillery. Now is time to look at the bit players; surgeons, signal corps, civilians and anyone else I can think of.Surgeons I think CW surgeon reenactors are the mad scientists of the hobby. In my observations over the years, they seem like the type

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-72341929225806915262009-01-07T09:22:00.010-05:002009-01-07T09:49:45.660-05:00

Anyone who sells blackpowder is a friend of mine, so The Maine Powder House has made it to the list this week. Black powder is a rare find anymore, so any qualified seller is someone to support as much as possible. Blackpowder is the blood that flows through many reenacted eras, and although the hobby can go on without it, it certainly wouldn't be as attractive or interesting to participants and

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-11987861648583244232009-01-06T10:47:00.009-05:002009-01-06T15:07:47.613-05:00

Early in my reenacting career, I used to help with a newsletter, and one of our advertisers was the Ordinance Depot. One of their projects at the time was to reproduce a Hall breechloading carbine. I don't know if the project ever got off the ground but the thought of owning a Hall has never left my mind.The closest you can come to owning one, is to put one together with parts from The Rifle

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-27354378866068759382009-01-06T08:37:00.017-05:002009-01-06T11:05:22.911-05:00

World War 2: Sad news any way you cut it: Student Dressed As WWII-Era German Soldier Shot, Killed By Seattle ...American Civil War: A subject near and dear to my heart, the restoration of some of the battlefield at New Bern, NC. My ancestors fought on and fled from this battle: Battlefield project reaches milestone.Update on the preservation efforts at Laurel Hill Battlefield: Laurel Hill

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-81444218032090997602009-01-05T15:12:00.003-05:002009-01-05T15:19:31.105-05:00

Here's a great blog on that very subject. Matthew Kirschenbaum runs the Zone of Influence blog, which has a ton of wonderful information ranging from the theoretical to the trivial, but all interesting. His focus is mainly tabletop gaming, but he covers other related topics along the way.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-73525279020089015432009-01-05T08:52:00.012-05:002009-01-07T21:53:39.373-05:00

Jeux Grenier Games is a refreshing site to visit. Not quite a polished game company yet, they have some promising offerings that wargamers should take note of.Their game selection is small, but covers an interesting array of periods. The games are:Operation Weserübung (WW2)The Pursuit of von Spee (WW1)Distant Foreign Fields (WW1)Quelques Arpents de Neige (F&I War)For a cottage biz, this is a

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-5518083210396359512009-01-04T20:23:00.007-05:002009-01-04T20:33:27.701-05:00

Here's an awesome AP article on an event in Japan - Samurai archery. Part of the article reads:Each year, archers in feudal shooting gear climb atop their decorated mounts for a lively competition on the beach of Zushi, a town just south of Tokyo, galloping in the sand as thousands of onlookers cheer and shout. The first competition was held here in 1199.Here's a BBC video of the same event and

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-49879016122782755742009-01-02T14:58:00.008-05:002009-01-02T15:18:20.531-05:00

Stumbled on a site, Geek2Live, that has a good many black and white pictures of the Soviet army in WW2. I'm not sure if these are staged or actual action shots. I get the feeling they may be staged propoganda pictures. Decide for yourself, but they are nice uniform studies regardless.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-29584725846245047392009-01-02T14:38:00.006-05:002009-01-02T14:50:12.504-05:00

The Netherlands 1940-1945 is an impressive Netherlands-based WW2 group. Equally impressive is the website.While other WW2 groups are militarily-oriented with civilian elements attached as a side item, The Netherlands group is the opposite. Its mission is primarily civilian with some military accents thrown as needed. This is a refreshing twist to the usual reenacting group formula. In their

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-33078692811408781522009-01-02T09:20:00.004-05:002009-01-02T09:28:44.528-05:00

OK, I just got my tail whipped.I just got overrun and totally beaten by a very worthy opponent. The scenario is based off a firefight at Song Lau. I would link it, but apparently there is no information about it on the web.If you haven't tried it, I recommend every military history buff try their hand at wargaming. It's a great way of looking at the vital battle of history and seeing why the

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-57372742831611710832009-01-01T21:57:00.006-05:002009-01-01T22:29:03.862-05:00

Ok, I have to admit that this video is a little on the fun side and historically way out, but it does show that reenactors research and recreate many eras - this time it's the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-33521360260457451442009-01-01T13:47:00.003-05:002009-01-01T22:08:06.357-05:00

Out with the old, in with the new! My wishes for a wonderful 2009.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-73039183051842872912008-12-31T10:55:00.007-05:002008-12-31T13:26:05.830-05:00

One of these days, when I have a reliable place to shoot, I'm going to pick primitive archery up as a hobby. I've thumbed through Primitive Archer Magazine, and it feeds my interest.Back in my youth, I was an archery freak of sorts, and had a couple bows. Over the years, these became lost or broken and my interest faded. I was never a fan of the compound bow, which I never could respect. I was a

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-65478978428986010422008-12-31T00:42:00.024-05:002008-12-31T13:34:19.126-05:00

Period: Early Medieval period - 1172 to 1207 - Life of Genghis KhanSynopsis: Mongol is the first movie in a projected trilogy about the life of Genghis Khan. The movie first picks up when the then Temüjin was enslaved and imprisoned by a Chinese garrison captain. He receives a then cryptic message from a young monk that sets the stage for the rest of the story. The movie then goes back 20 years

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-37415202479450544292008-12-30T16:05:00.005-05:002008-12-30T16:14:39.673-05:00

I've decided to revive my old series for Civil War reenacting spectators, The Irreverent Guide to Civil War Reenacting. I've written Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3, now it's time to finish what I started!

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-37321867134073711802008-12-30T09:57:00.019-05:002008-12-30T13:54:05.404-05:00

I've decided to redo the Reenacting Links of the Week. Instead of searching and listing all links I can find, I'm going to list and comment on the more interesting ones. I'll still break them out by period. So without further adieu...American Civil War: Looks like Lincoln and Douglas are duking it out again in Illinois: Lincoln, Douglas square off in reenactment of famous debates.Although I can't

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-4733305034794580142008-12-29T16:32:00.003-05:002008-12-29T16:43:35.985-05:00

I'm well impressed with this effort. It does my heart good to see an interest by the younger generation to carry on the history and the hobby we so enjoy currently. The Young Campaigner appears to be a noble effort in progress.The posting seems to have subsided in October, so I suggest laying on the comments to show support for this site. Give these young campaigners some encouragement and

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-1672892214644987712008-12-29T16:12:00.007-05:002008-12-29T16:22:31.590-05:00

I was doing a search on reenacting documentary films and came across a very interesting blog post on War of 1812 reenacting. This is from a 2006 post in One Old GreenBus. Some of the issues he points out are exactly the same as Civil War reenacting in the States. Whew! And I thought this was uniquely a U.S. thing.Great narrative and photos, worthy of a look.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-58598542553371142192008-12-29T15:17:00.008-05:002008-12-29T15:47:11.251-05:00

Ever wish you could play one of the old SPI games like Sniper! or Terrible Swift Sword? Or bought one of those old Avalon Hill games when the local hobby store was dumping them at cut rate prices? Or are tired of bidding on EBay offerings that seem to get snatched from you because someone has more money thean they seem to know what to do with?Enter Noble Knight Games, an online shop devoted to

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-76861078887595950412008-12-28T23:18:00.014-05:002008-12-29T09:20:02.261-05:00

Decided to give set of fun games a turn. Not quite historical military games, The Battle for Middle Earth Anthology plays to my love of the Lord of the Rings books and movies. If you like the Warcraft (not the MMORPG)or Starcraft style strategy games, then you'll like Battle for ME. As a matter of fact, this game plays much like Starcraft, which I find more enjoyable than Warcraft.Why blog

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-29063681170719026452008-12-26T16:47:00.010-05:002009-01-06T23:23:46.253-05:00

Ever had the out of the blue realization that you messed up before the reality of it hit you like a locomotive? With my Vietnam game, it came to me this morning. Shopping with my daughter. The ANV troops are about the flood over my small garrison of US troops.The realization is that I could have shot those guys up when they were crossing some rice paddies. Hindsight doesn't count in these games,

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-26717527205131530232008-12-25T23:10:00.002-05:002008-12-25T23:13:10.291-05:00

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-11374142447096789522008-12-24T14:46:00.002-05:002008-12-24T14:48:51.062-05:00

Safety? Who needs stinkin' safety when you can ride on a tank?

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-3316524302868033612008-12-23T10:36:00.010-05:002008-12-23T11:24:37.330-05:00

One thing that has struck me is the dearth of reenacting blogs. Of any hobby you can be involved in, reenacting has the most bloggable material you can think of. But yet, there aren't many devoted to mostly reenacting subjects.Recently, I did find a very nice blog authored by a reenactor who also happens to be a gifted photographer. The Past Reflected in the Present is a very link-worthy effort,

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-6781902259455972922008-12-23T09:47:00.005-05:002008-12-23T10:07:50.391-05:00

I've just jumped into a couple of games, and boy does it feel good! I'm doing a couple games of Combat Mission 3: Afrika Corps (CMAK) and a scenario from Squad Battles: Vietnam.I haven't gamed CMAK against a live opponent before, and these two games aren't big ones, just enough to get my feet wet so I can play on a more competative scale. I like CMAK for what I've played of it.I have played

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-45710997100864581662008-12-22T09:25:00.027-05:002009-01-13T10:11:07.281-05:00

One of my pleasures when I go to a military-oriented museum are the models. That's right, the models. Especially the aircraft carriers. They're always a sight to behold.It just blows my mind pondering the skill and amount of time it takes to build some of these beautiful behemoths. An impressive model was at the Virginia Air and Space museum. It was a close to 1/48th scale model of the USS

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-90280036392066999102008-12-21T20:26:00.006-05:002008-12-22T14:26:28.260-05:00

If you wargame via computer, The Blitzkrieg Wargaming Club (or the Blitz) is the bomb. Here you can find a load of opponents, resources and forums. If you play the John Tiller games from HPS or Combat Mission, you can find a load of opponents.Most of my best wargames have been with Blitz opponents. The reason for this is that the club is very well moderated, and the site tends not to collect

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-31864434255592465752008-12-21T17:00:00.023-05:002008-12-22T14:54:08.684-05:00

This year was one of change for me, and because of these changes, I haven't had the time or the emotional investment to write much on StE(r). I rallied a short time in October, but by the end of the month I decided that needed to finish out my year, get it out of my system before really getting into blogging again.My walkabout affected my reenacting, wargaming and my interests as a whole. I

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-39319865619024911572008-10-29T10:37:00.003-04:002008-10-29T10:46:52.957-04:00

It's been awhile since I looked at the WWII Guns site, but they have many improvements and expanded their selection of items. This is a site that is worthy of consideration and a bookmark.It's also an option to consider for the future too. As some vintage weapons become more and more expensive, cap-firing models may become the wave of the future.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-23945762996285473902008-10-28T22:50:00.006-04:002008-10-28T23:08:57.726-04:00

Here are some reenacting links for this week:Early 20th Century: Remembering the struggle: Reenactment marks 100th anniversary of ... Actress brings suffragists' struggle to life in VisaliaCivil War:Civil War reenactors tout importance of historyWar reenactment turns all too real for Virginia manCity prepares battlefield for Civil War ReenactmentOlof Krans' birthday party to feature Civil War

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-6583036854765285022008-10-26T21:17:00.007-04:002008-10-26T21:29:09.308-04:00

Here's an interesting reenacting video from China -- Chinese Nationalists squaring off against the Japanese. You don't see much from this part of WW2 in documentaries, books and the such, but I have to admit that the Chinese uniforms are pretty interesting.I'm now convinced it is universal that reenactors aren't Oscar-grade thespians. ;-)

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-29544442302514700322008-10-23T15:12:00.012-04:002008-10-24T09:02:51.500-04:00

OK, these guys are not a reenacting vendor of any sort, but they have a unique collection of publications for the reenactor, wargamer or militaria freak in general. Lulu was mentioned in a seminar at my work, and it turned out to be quite a resource for history geeks like me.What makes it cool is the fact that Lulu caters to people who self-publish. So what you see is the stuff that normally

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-64936188031972938832008-10-22T14:36:00.012-04:002008-10-22T15:44:51.337-04:00

Here are some reenacting links for this week:WW2:Learning by rememberingB-17 Bomber Patrols Jackson's Friendly SkiesOld West:Shooters, soldiers, singers at Mesa fest-oh my!American Civil War:Women saddle up for riding demonstration at Cedar Creek reenactmentFictious Civil War battle lures spectators to Dollinger Family FarmCity prepares battlefield for Civil War ReenactmentCivil War reenactors

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-10379040803843012002008-10-20T22:44:00.009-04:002009-01-02T15:10:02.114-05:00

I've been on a few floating battlewagons in my time, from the USS Alabama, the USS North Carolina, USS Wisconsin and most recently, the USS Texas. I have to admit, for sheer explorability and uniqueness, the Texas was the big winner with me.Not that the North Carolina and the Wisconsin were not interesting, but it seemed to me that more of the Texas was open for viewing by the public. The design

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-8775221475372616002008-10-17T16:19:00.006-04:002008-10-17T16:36:31.183-04:00

I was panning around the 'net, refining my search 'skillz, I happened on an interesting wargaming company, Lock N Load Publishing.I was raised in the time of Avalon Hill and SPI, so it seems that traditional board wargaming is making a come back of sorts. Several companies are publishing games on a cottage industry level - some very heartening to see. Lock N Load captured my interest because the

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-69512921259034101732008-10-17T10:56:00.007-04:002008-10-17T15:45:39.815-04:00

Here's an interesting European video recreating the battle for Berlin, 1945. This reenactment was held at Modlin, Poland. I have to admit the soundtrack is rather... interesting.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-86326025294138569892008-10-16T15:01:00.009-04:002008-10-16T15:11:50.361-04:00

I've noticed that good WW2 vendors seem to be hiding everywhere. At The Front has passed my searches... until now. According to the Web site:"ATF has been in existence in one form or another since 1992. We provide exact reproduction WWII uniforms and gear for re-enactors, collectors, museums and films."So these guys have been knocking about for quite awhile. The site itself is very interesting,

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-44229283856691157782008-10-15T22:50:00.006-04:002008-10-15T23:19:22.989-04:00

Some great things reenacting come out of Europe, and this photo gallery is one of them. These are fantastic pictures of a WW1 event in what I guess is Russia or the Ukraine. The uniforms are not often seen in US circles, being eastern front impressions, but they are sharp.This site's gallery is a great study for someone wanting to do a out-of-the-ordinary impression and needs some outstanding

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-87990325449475057882008-10-15T21:29:00.005-04:002008-10-15T21:55:20.876-04:00

Sometimes life takes unexpected turns, some painful, some no so painful, and most always interesting if not scary. It's been awhile since February, but I'm back on StE(r) and hopefully will hang in there for a while. I'll see what I find and get reacquainted with my old friend - this blog.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-54817129535823306312008-10-14T10:36:00.017-04:002008-10-15T22:03:54.345-04:00

Here are some reenacting links for this week:World War 2:Dogfights help show air history in reenactmentsAntebellum & Civil War:Lincoln visits for weekendCivil War reenactment participant shot in Isle of Wight CountyLOCAL CAMP MEMBERS REENACTING BATTLE THIS WEEKENDCivil War reenactors open the window to another place, time‘RD Players’ recreating historyMuster with 13th Texas Cavalry at the

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-1806633793498625172008-02-18T23:27:00.019-05:002008-12-11T06:50:29.715-05:00

Another shot from the King's Mountain event from almost a year ago. This event featured groups who specialized in US army impressions throughout the centuries, starting with the Overmountain Men who fought at King's Mountain.The final impression period was Vietnam. The private on the left is wearing what would be the uniform of US forces in the mid- to later stages of the conflict. He looks to be

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-75447009833751292262008-02-18T16:00:00.009-05:002009-01-13T10:11:54.492-05:00

Paper Terrain.com is an interesting concept for miniatures wargaming. Rather than spend lots of time modeling buildings, the more gaming-oriented miniatures wargamers can put up some great looking buildings in a fraction of the time and money than it would take with conventional models.The offerings from this site are many, and come in the major wargaming scales - 6mm, 12/15mm, 20mm and 25/28mm.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-15042798851889518532008-02-17T22:06:00.008-05:002008-12-11T06:50:30.032-05:00

I don't cover too much in the way of French and Indian War groups, but once I seen the Snowshoemen site, I decided to give it a group spotlight.One thing I notice about some groups is their character, and the Snowshoemen definitely have a site that expresses character. The groups is primarily the French and Indian War, but it also has a couple of splinter groups, Church's Company, that covers

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-86694262421442769592008-02-15T13:43:00.001-05:002008-02-15T13:45:06.941-05:00

This Saturday Vid is early - going out of town for the weekend, but I wanted to share a very creative video done by Roman reenactors. It has a strange old timey feel to it, but the effect seems to go.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-41288594642336429642008-02-15T11:12:00.004-05:002008-12-11T06:50:30.219-05:00

It looks like Let's Play History is well on it's way to becoming an essential site for anyone looking to step into reenacting for the first time. LPH is more gearing to the civilian side of things, but has potential for the military too. Check it out, and support the effort going into it - we'll all benefit.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-87348285019003747142008-02-15T08:51:00.011-05:002008-12-11T06:50:30.363-05:00

Oooops! Got busy yesterday, so I didn't have the time to write the Sutler of the Week. Valentine's Day does that you know. :-) Anyway, here's the SotW in all its glory...AEF Supply is a cool site, hands down. It was one of the first sites that I encountered when I started doing surfing outside the American Civil War realm to look for single-era vendors to cover in the blog. Then I opened up the

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-30933008698890666162008-02-13T19:18:00.012-05:002008-12-11T06:50:30.501-05:00

The HPS game Vietnam is beginning to grow on me.I've already got someone to play me in a dry run so I can learn the rules. This game is set up much like a traditional wargame, and each unit represents a squad, or squad weapon. In this skirmish, the "P" stands for Pinned, and as the NVA, I've been able to Pin one of my American opponent's squads. But, he's got two of mine.The larger battle has

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-7857249388291926622008-02-12T16:00:00.003-05:002009-01-13T11:18:51.165-05:00

Here's a nicely done news report from New Zealand covering many aspects of miniatures wargaming. Interesting clips and opinions, with a little humor sprinkled in to keep it light-hearted.

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-1386902182505314972008-02-12T10:20:00.000-05:002008-02-12T10:35:20.547-05:00

Here are some reenacting links for this week:World War 2:Bicentennial: Horton's efforts saved Newark Air Force BaseCivil War:Lincoln celebration kicks off todayLincoln flatboat will launch Sept. 9The Battle of Valverde and Rafael ChacónMuseum to honor Civil War doctorCivil War history comes alive in ECRevolutionary War & Late Colonial:A patriots' preserveColonial living comes to life at Aspen

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-54033479873937673812008-02-11T10:25:00.002-05:002009-01-13T11:16:42.353-05:00

OK, now for a shameless plug for the hometown miniatures company.This plug has a whole-hearted recommedation to it, I'm happy to say. Sash & Sabre Castings covers a small handful of eras in 25mm, including the Seven Years, Napoleonic, and American Civil wars. Where Sash & Sabre really shines is with their 40mm line, which covers many major periods from Rome to the Zulu Wars.From personal

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-61941684987627972752008-02-10T20:42:00.001-05:002008-12-11T06:50:31.398-05:00

Not exactly a military history group, the Civil War Texas Civilian Living History could be considered an auxillary of the Civil War aspect of militray reenacting. This group has honed down theire image not only to do a civilian, but of civilians of Texas who have their own look and personality.A worthy visit for anyone interested in being a civilian and needing some insights into the subtleties

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-36009484920480125182008-02-09T15:56:00.001-05:002008-02-15T11:01:48.893-05:00

Starting up another semi-regular serial. I travel enough, so I'll blog about the interesting places along the way. Many times, these are places that I've enjoyed as a reenactor and want to share some of my experiences, and maybe what you can find to help you enjoy some preserved history. To kick things off, I'm starting with one of my favorite towns, Wilmington, NC, and one of my favorite sites,

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-47397863998535993982008-02-09T14:00:00.001-05:002008-02-09T15:30:57.120-05:00

Obviously a PR piece for Hoghton's Companye of Foote, this is still a great look into English Civil War reenacting. It's interesting - one part musket, one part pikes and one part rugby. :-)

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-21195738120922467602008-02-08T14:18:00.000-05:002008-02-09T15:29:49.634-05:00

The one great thing about computer based wargames is the volume of games you can initiate and play at once. I've picked fights with three players so far, with another one lining up to send in moves. All you need to have is a sense of organization.I already have a roaring battle going on in one game with the Poles vs the Wehrmacht. I've got the Poles, and while my opponent was able to knock out

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-61402901225828347972008-02-07T23:34:00.001-05:002008-12-11T06:50:31.584-05:00

Well, what I'm kinda looking through it for the moment. If you reenact a North Carolina regiment, State Troops and Volunteers is almost a requirement to have as a reference. If you research North Carolina regiments, this is one of the most indespensible books to have in your library.State Troops contains a wealth of photos and bits of information about the men in the uniforms. You can almost

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-53125836719499671902008-02-07T10:13:00.001-05:002008-12-11T06:50:31.726-05:00

CR Henderson & Sons has a nice selection of Civil War ammo and hardtack boxes, all properly built and stenciled. Although he doesn't have a large selection of everything, what he does have is correct in dimensions, color, and stencil lettering. He also seems to have the spirit of improving the accuracy of his products. I like that.Apparently, for more complex boxes and desks, he'll work with the

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9682060.post-81668737088421918192008-02-06T15:21:00.000-05:002008-12-11T06:50:31.915-05:00

Looks like a "public history" blogger wants to stop reenactors... or farbs. I'm not sure how wide his paintbrush is with this post, but judging from his other writings, it's pretty broad. One part of me kinda sees his point, the other part of me says "what a snob - history is for everybody." Then I really thought about it. Although he doesn't come across well to me as a reenactor, it's

mntineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802806932281029501noreply@blogger.com2