They remain in uniform and in character, performing camp chores and military duties, talking about tactics and equipment and trading camp gossip. At any time, the reenactors will pause to answer visitors questions. The mood of the camp grows more lively on Saturday evening in anticipation of a full-fledged ball later that night featuring music and dances of the Civil War period. Although period costumes are optional, many of the women turn out in 1860s finery, the soldiers in dress uniforms. The public is welcome.
Reenactors devote countless hours to re-creating Civil War battles.
Last year s event at Arbor Lodge, for example, included reenactors from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Colorado and Nebraska. Some invested two days travel each way to participate in the two-day event. Their cash outlay for equipment, alone, is considerable. Some reenactors buy dress uniforms as well as field garb, and many have both Yankee and Rebel outfits, changing when one side or the other is short of manpower at an event. Reenactors typically belong to organizations that are reincarnations of Civil War military units.