The Civil War Reenactors' Encyclopedia

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Summary: An illustrated guide on the needs of the Civil War soldier
Review: From the title of "The Civil War Reenactors' Encyclopedia" I was expecting a slightly different book from William C. Davis. Having attended a couple of Civil War reenactments in Illinois as a spectator as well as having seen what happens when you get together thousands of such people in movies like "Gettysburg," I was certainly expecting to find information on what a reenactor would need to have to enjoy a truly authentic experience. However, I was thinking that all of the photographs would be of contemporary versions of original articles of clothing, weapons, and equipment, but what Davis provides instead are those original artifacts, from the uniforms of all of the major units down to the smallest details such as buttons. If the title of this book indicated that it was just an encyclopedia of what soldiers wore, carried, and used in the Civil War it would work just as well.

This book begins from a premise that is certainly useful to the Civil War reenactor, which is what articles were necessary for every solider to have, "both for his substance as a man, and his efficiency as a fighter." That meant, besides his weapons, the soldier needed a leather belt with a cap box for the percussion caps that fired his weapon, a box for his cartridges, a sling/scabbard for his bayonet, a haversack and/or knapsack to carry his rations and his few personal items. Davis also goes into detail as to what few basic items were usually found in those knapsacks and haversacks, such as a sewing kit ("housewife"), pipe and tobacco, and Bible or New Testament.

One of the key points that Davis makes in his foreword is that despite the impulse of governments both North and South towards standardization, this proved impossible. Consequently, the limitation of this book is that Davis cannot account for all of the variations in uniforms and everything else represented by the Civil War soldiers. There is indeed a bias towards the Eastern Theater where the Federal Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia fought the most famous battles of the war, but that is a bias that is inherent in the study of the Civil War.

This volume is divided into five sections: (1) Reenacting the War Between the States by W. C. Smith, III, looks at "hobby" of reenacting Civil War battles, giving those who have never seen it or only experienced it as a spectator, a sense of its history and scope. It is, an expensive hobby, to be sure, and Smith covers the basic requirements, which includes training. This section is illustrated with photographs taken at reenactments, which give you a sense of the authenticity of those old black & white photographs come to life. However, I have to admit that just the thought of wearing those wool uniforms is enough to keep me from wanting to live the dream. Still, I find the hobby absolutely fascinating.

(2) Uniforms, Weapons and Equipment by Russ A. Pritchard establishes the key principles of standardization, interchangeability and practicality in a concise introduction before getting into the details. (3) Equipment of the Federal Forces covers Officers' Coats and Jackets, Officers' Trousers, Officers' Hats and Caps, Enlisted Men's Coats and Jackets, Enlisted Men's Trousers, Enlisted Men's Shirts and Neck Socks, Enlisted Men's Hats and Caps, Footwear, Branch and Unit Insignia and Decorations of Officers, Branch and Unit Insignia and Decorations of Enlisted Men, Insignia of Rank Officer and Enlisted, Corps Badges, Federal Buttons, Officers' Waist Belts, Enlisted Men's Waist Belts, Muskets, Rifle-Muskets, Rifles and Carbines, Pistols and Revolvers, Cartridge Boxes, Firearms Tools and Accessories, Edged Weapons, Bayonet Frogs and Scabbards, Haversacks and Knapsacks, Canteens and Mess Gear, Miscellaneous Accouterments, Musical Instruments and Accouterments, and National and Unit Flags. So you get an idea of what this can legitimately be called an encyclopedia. (4) Equipment of the Confederate Forces covers pretty much the same categories, but with some additions (e.g., Belt Plates) and subtractions (e.g., Shirts).

(5) The Battles, written by Davis, begins with what is believed to be the first actual photograph of the U.S. Army in combat, of a Federal artillery unit made under enemy fire taken by Mathew Brady at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1863. Davis looks at the major battles of the war in both the Eastern (e.g., First Manassas, Gettysburg, the Wilderness) and Western (e.g., Shiloh, Stones River, Chattanooga). Interestingly, there is nothing after the Battle of Nashville, December 15-16, 1864, when the war was reduced to Grant's siege of Petersburg/Richmond and Sherman's march through Georgia. For each battle Davis identifies the leaders and significant units for each side, along with a battlefield map and usually several full-color illustrations of uniforms (e.g., Sergeant, 79th New York Infantry, "Highlands," 1860-61 and Trooper, 1st Virginia Cavalry Regiment, CSA, 1861-62). The histories of these battles are clearly the least important part of the book for civil war reenactors since they can only sketch out the battles in the most basic terms with regards to strategy and tactics, units, and uniforms, but more detailed accounts on every Civil War battle are certainly out there.

One of the key things to remember when looking through this book is to read the text that goes along with all the contemporary and historical photographs and other illustrations for the information that is there. From the perspective of a reenactor I am curious as to what is readily available out there in the real world from the "Sutlers" that show up at reenactments to sell their supplies, which you would have to make yourself (flags?), but early in the volume there are some web sites where some of these questions can be answered. "The Civil War Reenactors' Encyclopedia" provides a comprehensive if not complete look at what would be needed to make modern reenactments as authentic and historically accurate as possible.

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Davis does it again!
Review: This well-respected historian (read his other works, especially "Jefferson Davis: The Man and the Hour") gives an invaluable overview of weapons, uniforms, etiquette and customs, military regs - you name it, it's there. A must-read for any reenactor as well as students of the period.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource but missing pieces
Review: What reenactor [like myself] could not love this book! It is simply chock full of plates showing actual relics from the troops, details of main CW battles and tips for those who reenact the American Civil War period.
The problem? A few minor ones. I wish Mr. Davis had focused just a little bit on the War west of the Mississippi. Especially Glorieta. There are so many Civil War reenactment units that portray actual period units here out West. Troops in the real WEST provided a great deal of support for both sides. There is also the fact that portraying the garrison troops of the West that protected routes, gold fields and generally kept the peace between settlers and Indians then get no coverage in this book. These duties were even performed in during the War. I guess that combat rates higher than these soldierly chores. There is only more drooling over the well-trod ground of the East. One might surmise [if they know nothing of Civil War history] that the War was only fought in the areas Mr. Davis has covered and not in the rest of the Nation. There were more mundane duties for soldiers of the period than being sent to outright battle at every turn. Perhaps that should have been brought to the fore as well.
As with any book that has the word 'reenactors' in its title, I have to commend Mr. Davis for a great attempt and a very nice book. It is a resource, of sorts, but will likely land more on historical coffee tables than in any serious resource capacity.