The American Civil War was one of the most important events in the history of this country. It has made us what we are today. It ushered in the end of romantic warfare and ripped the country in half. It was fought by brave and dedicated men and women on both sides, who valiantly struggled for what they believed was right.
The Silver Spring Mess is a small "Progressive" reenacting group whos members started out in so-called "mainstream" organizations but desired a living history experiences that could provide a more historically accurate representation of the life of a soldier in the ranks.We are constantly striving to learn more and improveing our impressions with our our goal being to accurately portray the common Western Confederate and Union soldier in the War Between the States to the best of our ability.
Creed of the Living Historian We are people to whom the past is forever speaking. We listen to it because we cannot help ourselves, for the past speaks to us with many voices. Far out of that dark nowhere, which is the time before we were born, men who were flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone, went through fire and storm to break a path to the future.
We are part of the future they died for. They are part of the past that brought the future. What they did – the lives they lived, the sacrifices they made, the stories they told and the songs they sung and finally, the deaths they died – make up a part of our own experience. We cannot cut ourselves off from it. It is as real to us as something that happened last week. — Bruce Catton
We do not ask anyone to break any ties or affiliations they may currently have with another unit or mess. Our roster is made up of those that commit to be part of this effort for 1 or 2 campaign/immersion events each year outside of your current units schedule.
Few Basic Guidelines:
- The goal is to form a committed group of quality, progressive minded reenactors
for the events we have voted to attend.- No one is asked to leave their mainstream or umbrella unit or affiliations.
- The Mess will be formed at 1 or 2 events per year.
(Immersion, Campaigner, Progressive, Civilian or living history scenarios)- Men should attempt to loan equipment as needed to do both impressions.
- All members will embrace a NON-negative attitude to all other reenactors.
- Camping and gear will be focused on the campaigning soldier
(unless the event scenario calls for something else - Civilian, Garrison, Winter Quarters etc. ).- Our focus will be western theater.(Basic Western Fed impression, AOT impression, Civilian etc).
- A suggested list of recommended gear will follow later per each scenarios guidelines.
- We will focus on raising money for preservation to preserve our Civil War Battlefields.
Our current members are based in the Middle Tennessee & North Alabama. If we are what you are looking for just write us.
Links to our Friends
Mossy Creek Mess
HARD CASE BOYS - Pushing the Envelope
19th Alabama Infantry
Salt River Rifles
The Columbia Rifles
Old Northwest Volunteers
"Fighting Fifth" - 5th New Hampshire Volunteers Infantry
The Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
S.C.A.R.
Southeast Coalition of Authentic Reenacators
“Sykes’ Regulars”
2nd and 4th U.S. Infantry
Western Independent Grays
W I G
The Kearsarge Afterguard
(Navy & Marines)
Reenacting Sites with Articles of Interest
Soldier Articles
Improving Your Soldier Impression: - Articles by members of the Columbia Rifles
The Lazy Jacks Mess Article Index: - Articles by members of The Lazy Jack Mess
Silas' Library of Links - Silas Tackett 'Links to Articles"
Rowdy Pards Aricle Index - Articles by Members of the Rowdy Pards
1st US Infantry Articles Index
Authenticity Guide by Chris Sullivan
Hints on Campaign Camping by Steve Acker
Civilian Articles
Ragged Soldier Sutlery Vintage Volumes Virginia Mescher - Veranda Archive
Hurrah for the Homespun Dress Articles by Vicki Betts
Godey's Lady's Book Index, 1855-1865 by Vicki Betts
Military Tactics, Customs of Service, Vol. Manuals
Hardee’s Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics - Animated
Civil War Reenacting Discussion Forums
"A Web Site For The Authentic Civil War Living Historian"
Civil War Re-enactors Forum
Hard Case Boys Forum
Living History / Reenacting Yahoo Groups
Doug Hardings Living History Friends
Sutlers - For the progressive Living Historians
Carter & Jasper Mercantile
"Affordable Authenticity"
C.J. Daley
"Historical Reproductions,"
Dell's Leather Works
"Historical Reproductions,"
FarbNoMore Historical Clothiers
Homespun Wares
"Civil War Goods"
Missouri Boot & Shoe Company
"Civil War era footwear and military equipment
"
Civil War Re-enacting Publications
The Watchdog Review
Civil War Historian Magazine
Primary Sources - Sites for Research
The Official Records
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
Regimental Histories
Union Regimental Information from Dyer's Compendium
Directory of Union Regimental Histories
Directory of Confederate Regimental Histories
Mid-19th Century Newspapers
The Historical New York Times Project. Chapter 2: The Civil War Years 1860-1866
Vicki Betts' web site on Mid-19th Century Newspapers
Books, Diaries, Letters, and other Documents
Documenting the American South
Civil War Women: Primary Sources on the Internet
National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections
Other
Library of Congress - Civil War Photographs
