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Men in blue and gray woolen frock coats and trousers, carrying rifles and bayonets, charge each other on the battlefield. Women in Garibaldi blouses and camp skirts cook stew and corn pone in cast iron cookware over a campfire. At night, soldiers and civilians bunk in canvas tents or sleep in the open. Such images of the Civil War are vividly evoked by historical reenactors.
Reenactments of Civil War and Revolutionary War battles, World War II-era USO dances, Renaissance fairs, and other historic happenings take place across the United States and throughout the world. These events are valuable learning tools for observers, who witness the past brought to life, and for the participants themselves, who walk for a short while in the steps of those who lived in a different age.
Beyond trying to accurately re-create historical events, some reenactors go a step further by making period costumes and accessories. Many see the lighter side of their hobby when spectators on the sidelines ask questions such as "How do you know when you're dead (in a battle)?" or "Is that a real fire?"
The Twenty-sixth Regiment North Carolina Troops is one of the state's better-known Civil War reenactment groups. It is part of the Carolina Legion, which includes three other infantry regiments, as well as artillery, cavalry, and band units. You can find event schedules for the legion's units at http://www.26nc.org/index.htm (click on the link Carolina Legion).
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