14th OVI / 3rd Arkansas Civil War Reenactors
Improving Our Battle Impression Page
Sutlers

When we are a fresh fish, the battle scenario is an exciting time.  We nervously try to absorb everything that is happening around us while our shaking fingers try to pour powder and fix caps.  As time passes though, most reenactors become somewhat jaded toward the battle scenarios.  It is common for reenactors to bemoan that a battle scenario was nothing more than another “powder burn”- a waste of time that served only to entertain spectators who had no clue what we going on.  A veteran reenactor can quickly point out several reasons why reenactment battles are generally poor.  Scenario busting, nobody taking hits, and firefights from only a few yards rank high here, but there are many different reasons.  While one could quickly give you a long list of battle scenario disasters, even a reenactor with many years of experience will probably have to think to give you more than a hand full of battles they considered first rate.  Part of the problem is that the battles are usually designed to please a crowd of spectators, not the reenactors.  Unfortunately, for the most part this is unavoidable.  While there are non-spectator events, they are few and far between.  If we can’t avoid having to be crowd pleasers, does this mean we can’t do it better and enjoy ourselves while doing it.  I think not!  With that in mind, I submit the following information for you to consider.  Hopefully it can help us make great strides towards improving out battle impressions and having more fun.

The two most important things one needs to have to improve his impression is knowledge of the real thing and the right frame of mind.  Even if you dress perfectly, your impression can still lack critical parts.  The knowledge portion can be divided into two areas.  One is knowing enough history to understand how the real soldiers acted during a battle.  The second part is experience - simply practice at doing it.  Drill stinks, but there is no other way we can become proficient at doing it the right way.  The real soldiers hated drill and did it much more than we ever will.  Being proficient at drill makes the company look good, and can often gain us special positions at an event because the commander knows we will look good. 

A positive attitude is critical.  If you are not willing to put forth the effort to play your part, it is very easy to slip back into the powder burn attitude.  If you slip back, you can also drag others back with you.  First person is almost impossible to do by yourself.  If done as a group, it is much easier to stay in character and ignore small disruptions.  Attitude also means that you, as a private soldier, understand your part.  Every soldier had to sort through many different feelings prior to and during a battle.  In a powder burn there is little danger, and we can bravely take a volley from an enemy only 20 yards away with little or no concern.  The real soldiers were in a deadly situation.  Fear was the norm, but it was countered by sense of duty and loyalty to their friends standing shoulder to shoulder with them.  Each soldier made personal decisions that affected the company as a whole.  In a tense situation, one man breaking for the rear could draw several others with him. 

My favorite example of when the private soldier must make decisions for himself was a tactical event many years ago.  We held the top of a nice hill in skirmish formation.  The rebs charged up in beautiful form and overran us surprisingly fast.  Capt. Echelberger gallantly had us fall back and reform at least three times as he tried to save the flank.  We finally ended up on the crest of the hill and were captured when the Captain of another reb company tapped Randy on the shoulder and showed him another reb company that we never saw and was right behind us.  Afterwards there was a lot of argument that the rebs should never have made it up the hill.  There were valid arguments both ways, but the end result was a total (but fun) cluster at the end.  On my way home I was still thinking about the battle.  I decided that we should have just run instead of falling back and reforming.  I thought to myself “The Captain should have ordered us to rout!”  As soon as I said it I realized what a stupid comment I had made.  It was my decision, as an individual private, to decide if I was going to run.  The Captain and NCO’s job was to keep me from running.  There are times when fear causes the desire for self-preservation to override loyalty, embarrassment, and fear of punishment.  This does not mean that we should make it our goal to make the Officer’s life a living hell.  A private normally obeyed orders out of a combination of fear, respect, or loyalty.  A well-prepared reenactor can make the decision to disobey or twist orders to accurately represent the real soldiers actions. 

Here are some suggestions of how to more accurately portray a soldier in battle.

How to act before the fight: This is a great time to do first person.  Soldiers waiting to go into a battle were rarely like the normal reenactment company.  We are facing no real danger, so it is easy for reenactors to joke and carry on.  If we were waiting for a real battle, our behavior is not likely to be very jovial.  Most period accounts tell us that soldiers were very quiet.  If someone did crack a joke, the laughter was sporadic and short lived.  Each soldier prepared in his own way.  Many would read a bible or tract if they had one, or he might mutter a prayer or memorized verse.  Soldiers might throw away things they wouldn’t want sent home to the family if they were killed, such as cards or dice.  Making sure there was some kind of identification on their body was also common.  Last minute letters home were a way to distract a soldier from his worry.  Officers and NCO’s could give speeches or encouraging words to the rank & file.  Slackers may try to find a last minute excuse to go to the rear. 

Try to remember any time you were waiting in a line for something unpredictable.  The first day of school, tryouts for a team or play, or the waiting room of the doctor or dentist can give you at least some kind of reference.   Some of us can relate to the uncertainty of boot camp.  While not life threatening, it was unpredictable; perhaps it had some very unpleasant consequences, and was anything but fun.  I have the advantage of having been on the tactical team for our police dept.  Raids were planned out ahead of time, but always had an element of uncertainty and a chance of getting hurt.  The closer we got to the step off time, the quieter and more business like we got.  The final minutes were spent checking our gear and each other’s gear, reviewing our plan and pointing out any last minute items that came up.  In short, we became very serious.  If time permitted I would mutter a short prayer for our safety right before we stepped off.


During the Fight:  The actual battle was sometimes considered a relief from the waiting since it gave the soldier something to occupy himself.  The more complicated the battle became, the more uneasy a soldier would become.  This uneasiness would lead to morale problems quickly if the soldier found himself in a bad situation.  Even in a “normal” assault, things would tend to break down.  Some soldiers may not want to fire at another human.  He might simply fake it, or simply load his rifle to pass off for another soldier to shoot.  Veteran soldiers in a firing line would tend to spread out a bit and would use any cover that might be available.  They could step back into line quickly if there was a movement.  Advancing soldiers moved with a grim resolve.  Accounts of them pulling their hats down low and leaning forward as if advancing into a stiff wind show a good effect.  

Going to Ground: If an advancing line passed some type of cover, it is a natural reaction of a soldier to want to put it to use.  Even a dip in the ground was tempting cover.  A fence, stone wall or gully was much better.  Once a soldier took cover close to the enemy, he would be reluctant to leave it.  The more experienced a soldier got, the more likely he was to go to ground.  By the time of the Atlanta campaign, many soldiers considered an assault to mean advancing fairly close then going to ground and firing off all your ammunition before retreating.  Going to ground was not something that was ordered.  Individuals would take cover.  If others followed, the company would stop.  Good NCO’s could hopefully keep the men moving forward.  If the line stalled behind cover, the assault had a great chance of not going any farther forward.  It’s your choice to decide if it’s time for you to go to ground.  Keep in mind though, if you choose to go to ground, expect an NCO to kick, prod or grab you to try and keep you moving. 

Morale: The officers and NCO’s are not responsible for your morale, you are!  If the battle gets ugly, it is your job to act the part.  A panic usually doesn’t happen suddenly.  Troops begin to show signs of uneasiness first.  A soldier may start yelling out predictions of doom or question the orders of the Captain.  He is likely to think about running before he does it.  Looking back over your shoulder or stepping back farther and farther from the line are clues the NCO’s should be watching for.  If you do run, shedding gear is an appropriate and quite impressive action.  If you do shuck gear, make sure someone is staying behind to watch after it.  (Ask Tyler about this!)

Taking a hit: The typical powder burn leaves large numbers of dead and wounded lying on the field.  The casualties are few at first, but grow steadily towards the end of the battle.  In reality, the large majority of soldiers were wounded, not killed.  A steady stream of wounded walking to the rear was a normal part of the battle.  This is a great way to get a head start back to camp or to you car after Sundays fight.  Even the more seriously wounded would try to crawl or hobble to the rear if they could.  Unless the soldier was killed instantly, he probably would not just fall immediately.  Think about where you’re hit and how the wound would affect you.

Obviously, the hit was unexpected and quite painful.  (If you have played paintball, this has to be as close as you can get to the real thing.)  Most of us should be able to relate to some painful blow in their past.  After he is hit, a soldier may panic or he may calmly accept it.  If he took a minor hit, a soldier could drop behind the line and examine it.  He might dress it himself and fall back into line, or he may ask the Captain for permission to go to the rear.  A more serious wound would slowly incapacitate the soldier.  After the initial shock of being hit, loss of blood will lead to shock.  The soldier would begin to feel dizzy and need to lie down.  As loss of blood increases, the soldier would fade into unconsciousness.  Blood loss also leads to extreme thirst.  Confusion was also a common result, especially if grazed on the head.  One of the most feared wounds was a hit in the abdomen.  A gut shot was painful, and the soldier knew that death was inevitable and would be slow to come.  If a wounded soldier could not get off the field his actions would vary depending on the wound and that particular soldier.  One may scream or cry while another may calmly accept his fate and try to write a final message to loved ones. 

The casualty rate in a serious fight was between 10% and 25%.  That is anywhere from one in ten to one in four.  The reenactor suicide charge might be a crowd pleaser, but it is also very unrealistic.  Close in fights were unusual.  Anything under 100 yards was considered a close range fight by most soldiers.  Once within that range, normally the defender would either start to retreat or the attack would falter.

We cannot change the whole hobby.  Our goal must be to change ourselves.  With some effort on our part, we can improve the powder burn into something we enjoy again.  It won’t be easy, but the end result would be impressive.  If our company can do this, hopefully it will spread to other units in our battalion.  If not, at least we will have fun.


Presented to the
64th Ohio, Company A
by
2nd Lt. Tim Peaslee
&
1st Sgt. Tyler Underwood