Civilian Impression Guidelines for

Struggles of Secession – Westville, GA 1863

 Vickie Rumble & Jim Butler

 

ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST READ AND AGREE TO THESE GUIDELINES

 

Unless invited, each participant must submit a proposal for a civilian impression with a photograph of their kit.  No one may participate without having received prior approval for their impression and paid the registration fee.  Each person will be expected to do all the research and pre-event planning to make sure they have all the correct items needed and to secure help from other re-enactors, if needed, for interaction during the event.  

 

For example:  the postmaster will be required to have enough letters and packages to work with for the duration of the event, and to gain the cooperation of others in coming to mail letters and pick up their mail.  He will have stamps to sell, an ink stamp for cancelling the postage, glue for affixing the stamps, and perhaps paper and proper sized envelopes to sell.  All participants will be required to do likewise in order to present an active working town to the public.

 

Roles will be limited in number, so submit for approval and register asap to lock in your role. Registration does not open until Dec 1^st, 2009.

 

Men may be asked to take a shift as Reserve or Homeguard duty.  Make sure to come with whatever clothing and weaponry you will require for these duties (these should reflective of local Reserve, Militia or Homeguard impressions).  Disabled veterans will be asked to take shifts in the hospital. Some civilian roles will be easier to walk away from than others.  Visitors and re-enactors alike may gain a new respect for the importance of certain professions or skilled artisans.   

 

The roster will be updated periodically as new participants are approved.  Below the roster we have added a list of crafts and trades that would have been typical for a mid-Victorian town.  Participants may choose one of these, provided they are willing to obtain the correct gear suitable to the impression, or submit ideas of their own.  Feel free to be creative rather than being coerced into choosing a typical role.  If you can provide adequate documentation and the necessary items to pull it together your ideas will be considered carefully.

 

Please submit packages to:  Women: Victoria Rumble, 111 Josh Court, Florence, AL  35633 / [email protected]   Men: Jim Butler [email protected]

 

We will provide assistance as much as practical in order to create the environment of a rural Southern town.  Each person would have known their neighbors and especially any business owners. Please review all the research pages on this site so you will be able to flesh out your persona.

 

This is a four day event. Wed is a Workday and event goes live Wed night. There are windows for entrance into the event up to Friday at 7pm!!!

First person is enforced in the Village during the event!

If you must break first person, please use this code phrase, “Auntie made some pies, lets go eat.”. This is the cue for you and the other person to move to a private area to discuss something out of first person.

The Reenactor Refuge is a non-LH area and a non-first person, rest area.

 

Goals & ‘Goodwill’:

At sign-in, each reenactor will be given a card with their personal information (from the 1860 Stewart Cty census).  You will also be given a card with a goal listed on it. This goal is important to the event as it will be tied to a series of other goals with other reactors. Please feel free to use your knowledge of your role to play it out throughout the event. Don’t overact or feel the need to be overdramatic. Goals may bring you a monetary reward (“Notes”) or  “Goodwill” chits. “Notes” can be used to buy additional goods throughout the weekend. “Goodwill” chits will be used to get rewards at the end of the event. Those with the most “Goodwill” chits will win these rewards.  Thus, you may be faced with ethical choices over the weekend. Theft and counterfeiting will not be allowed unless a pre-set vignette calls for it (which could happen).

 

Clothing and Backgrounds:

Applicants should be well read on the hardships of rural Southerners during the war and willing to tailor their impressions around those struggles.  By 1863, makeshifts were the order of the day and few people were not affected by the depressed economy and hardships of war.  Everyday items that had previously been taken for granted were suddenly of prime importance when one had to go to great lengths to obtain them.  This included clothing, shoes, foodstuffs, household items, medicines, etc.

 

Attendees should be prepared and willing to dress the part in everyday work dresses, and accessories should also reflect a working role.  For instance, a slat bonnet is working attire, while a fashion bonnet might have been reserved for special occasions and would have offered very little protection from the sun and elements for a woman working outdoors anyway.  If you have any questions at all, please discuss with me early while there is time to make any changes that might be necessary. 

 

Children must be authentically and accurately dressed.  Patterns are available from Kay Gnagey and Kay-Fig patterns and from Elizabeth Stewart-Clark and either of these ladies will be happy to assist you in assembling the garments should you need it.  Saundra Altman at Past Patterns is also an excellent resource.   Marta Vincent is an excellent resource for period correct eating utensils, glasses, etc.  If I can assist you in determining what is needed for your child please feel free to contact me. 

 

Specific Dress guidelines and suggestions are listed as a separate page on this site. They are broken down as Men and Women. Additionally, these pages also spell out how to build a basic civilian impression, costs and where to purchase these items or get patterns.

 

Kits (bedding, plates and eating utensils, chairs, and any items or materials needed for your impression) should reflect these hardships and be appropriate to the era.  I am more than willing to advise or assist you in tailoring your kit to fit into event parameters with as little cash outlay as possible. 

 

I want to see hardships demonstrated for the public, and doing so will increase the interaction between attendees making for a more realistic portrayal village-wide.  By 1863, rural Southern women were far more concerned with clothing and feeding their families than with fancy sewing and crafts.  Such demonstrations might be accepted on a very limited basis providing your impression is based on selling the items for cash, however, other Southerners were in equally decreased circumstances and getting items through the blockades was very difficult.  Selling would, therefore, be difficult and limited.

 

Even if you are not actively making one of the ersatz items for the event, please read enough from the recommended reading list that you are fully conversant with regard to them.

 

Those willing to produce some of the ersatz items are welcome to contact me to inquire as to sources or instructions as I have made and demonstrated a great many of them over the years.

 

This website also offers some very good background on life in the Lower Chattahoochee Valley of Georgia during this time period.

 

Accommodations: 

There will be some buildings that can be utilized, some that can’t.  There are plenty of porches which can be used for sleeping for those who are used to campaigning.  Most empty buildings may have to be assigned to individuals for use in their portrayals rather than for simply sleeping quarters.  We’ll know more nearer the event and assign quarters accordingly. We will assign each person to a sleeping area, that will also serve as your communal eating/cooking area as well.

 

No one is allowed to sleep in the beds or use the other furnishings inside the houses.  Any exceptions are extremely limited and must be coordinated with Jim Butler or Vickie Rumble for prior approval; otherwise you are to bring your own chairs, tables, etc. 

 

For those who want private quarters there will be an area where tents may be set up at the Reenactor Refuge at the back corner of the village.  This area will not be interpreted to the public since there would have been no reason for a tent village there at the time being portrayed.  Spectators are known to go wherever they please, however, so your camp set-up will be expected to be period correct even though not actively open to interpretation.   Feel free to make yourself reasonably comfortable there so long as the gear you use is period correct. This may be a good option for those with small children who may need breaks throughout the weekend or special foods, etc. It is also an area for a break from first person as well.

 

Participants who bring children to the event will be responsible for their behavior given that there are rare artifacts on display throughout the village.  We appreciate your understanding.  Children are welcome to participate as students in Mr. Bouler’s school, and I’m sure will find it quite enjoyable. We ask that all children take part in the Thurs, Fri and Sat school vignettes (3-5 hours during the day and prizes will be issued to students for contests). Older children are also allowed to take on roles as factory workers.

 

Food:

DO NOT BRING OUTSIDE FOODS TO THE EVENT!

You will not get the best experience if you bring outside food. The site will feed us a last modern meal Wed night after the Work Day, and then we go live with no outside food. Some condiments will be allowed and approved per the ‘Food & Cooking’ sheet on this site. Special foods will be allowed on a case-by-case basis and only in the Reenactor Refuge.

Part of your registration pays for food for the weekend.  Ration tickets are issued to you at sign-in. You take these to the General Store and you will be issued basic, period foodstuffs. You should bring these to your communal cook (assigned to your area) so he/she will be able to prepare meals. You should Not go hungry. Your communal group will likely wish to pool all your rations and also trade for other goods with other groups.  You can also purchase additional foodstuffs or possibly blockaded foods with “Notes” (these will be double the normal cost). You will refunded some of your registration money back in “Notes” at sign-in. You can purchase additional “Notes” when you sign-in.  There may also be ways to earn additional “Notes” thru goals. There will be various ways to feed yourself:

-       Everyone will be issued rations tickets to be used at the store to receive basic

food stuffs correct for the period. Meals will be prepared communal and a pre-set

cook and cooking area will be assigned to your area of the Village.

-       Purchase food items from the General Store or Butcher (prices will be double in 1863 from 1861).

-       Site will provide modern meal on Wed night at the end of WorkDay.

-       Additional foodstuffs can be gained thru guile, speculators, etc.

 

All participants will be assigned to a “family” unit with which you will take your meals.  The location where the meals are taken may well be different from your “home base” and we encourage interaction and connection between you to solidify a working relationship for the event.  Prior to event time the list will be posted on the website for each unit so that you will know who you’ll be taking meals with. 

 

I have appointed one person with the experience to oversee meal preparation, cleanup, and safety standards for each unit.  This person will coordinate with others in the unit as to what duties each is best suited to do.  This will be left up to your imagination in large part, but that person will be ultimately responsible for that area and that unit.

 

Supplies will be issued to each group which will be more than adequate for you to create tasty, but authentic dishes.  We ask that you not bring food from home to be used in group meals.  If you do bring food due to food allergies or other reasons we must ask that you partake of that only in the re-enactor refuge area so that the others in your unit will have the benefit of the full experience.

 

Fires will be allowed only in designated areas and will be the responsibility of the person in charge for each unit.  The buildings are very old, extremely dry, and many of the chimneys are not safe to use.  Except for the farm house and the summer kitchen at the McDonald house the fireplaces are not suitable for cooking and doing so would pose great risk. 

 

Preparation: As stated above, meals will be prepared communally. Food preparation ideas will be posted on another page on this site.  Some items from the General Store or tavern may already be cooked/ready to eat (again these will be double the cost)  Other than that, you must prepare your own meals.

This can be done only at pre-approved cook sites! Each group will also have a pre-assigned cook for their group. Others in the group will still need to assist in procuring additional food items, preparation, water, wood and  clean-up.

 

“Notes”:

Part of your registration money will be issued out at check-in in the form of repro “Notes”.  Think of these like real money for the weekend. These will be specially marked. You may purchase additional “Notes” at check-in in $5 increments. Unused “Notes” and half the funds used towards purchasing additional food or blockaded goods will be donated to Historic Westville. . These “Notes” will be used to as “currency” throughout the weekend.  There are no refunds for unused “Notes” (except for pre-approved, sutlers/suppliers).  “Notes” can be used to purchase various items. Here are some examples:

-       Food items at the General Store, Butcher, tavern, etc (but are double the price).

-        Personal items from the General Store.

-       “Tavern” drinks.

-       Blackmarket food and goods (prices may be double).

-       Items from any other tradesman/shopkeep.

-       Clothier, blacksmith, leatherworker, seamstress, laundress, cook, etc.

-       Tickets for period entertainment.

-       Purchase items from others.

 

 

 Roster: click on “Roster/Role” from the Main page for listing

 

Possible Trades/Roles: Roles are limited in number.

(roles are not locked in until  approved and we receive your paid registration…see Registration Page)

* these roles will require all men aged 18-60 to take a shift as a Reserve or Homeguard duty.

** men must have an exemption or be over 40.

 

Preacher/circuit rider

Farmer **

Gardener (different than a farmer) **

Tailor *

Undertaker *

Storekeeper **

Disabled Veteran (disabled vets will also be asked to take shifts as convalescing patients in the hospital)

Deserters (there are special rules for Deserters)

Patent medicine maker **

Gunsmith *

CSA Impressment Agent

GA State Impressment Agent

Recruiting Officer

Munitions Factory Worker *

Conscription Officer

Boot/Shoe Factory Worker *

Munitions Factory Officer

Teamster **

Relief Agent

Soap Factory worker/owner *

Child factory worker

Hospital Matron

Yankee Smuggler

False Impressment Agent

Reserve Officer/HomeGuard Officer

Speculator/Trader **

Cotton Insurance salesman **

Cotton Broker/Smuggler **

CSA Government Contractor (w/labor or seeking labor)

Hospital Steward *

Nurse (women over 50)

Doctor

Druggist **

Watch/clock repair **

Harness maker *

Election Official (for the 1863 CSA Congressional and local election)

Mechanic *

Cook **

Cooper *

Teamster **

Cheese maker **

Livery **

Judge *

Court Clerk *

Tax Collector / Tax in Kind Collector *

Woods Rider **

Butcher **

Tinner *

Basket weaver *

Weaver **

Dyer **

Spinner **

Newspaper editor *

Reporter **

Distiller ** (note: distilling spirits from most grains and produce was illegal in the Confederacy unless

     contracted for the military).

Banker *

Lawyer **

Physician *

Merchant **

Chair caner **

Artist/Illustrater **

Ambrotypist **

House slave

Field slave

Free black

Mechanic *

Teacher **

Music Teacher **

Seamstress **

Milliner **

Wood worker *

Shingle Maker **

Brick Mason **

Soap maker **

Journalist **

Printer **

Lace maker **

Musician / music teacher **

Barber **

Tanner *

Candle maker **

Sheriff / marshall

Toy maker **

Pawn broker **

Confectioner **
Slave Hunter *

Shepherd / shepherdess **

Tavern keeper **

Chambermaid

Broom maker **

Seed merchant **

Baker **

Blacksmith *

Cotton bailer *

Cotton broker **

Cotton seed broker **

Herbalist **

Store Keeper **

Post Master *

Mayor

Craftsman/factory worker *

 

CONTACTS:

We can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 256-766-7070 or cell at 256-710-8605 for women or for men contact [email protected] or by cell at 678-428-3700.  Before registering for the event,  please contact me and discuss your impression, kit, etc.  If you were not a participant at Sparks of Secession and are unknown to me, you will be asked to submit a photo of yourself and your kit before registering.  

 

Thank you.

Vickie Rumble & Jim Butler