When folks hear that you are a “Civil War Re-enactor”, they often ask, “Do you go and do those big battles?” “Yes” is the answer, “we do”. However, reenacting today reaches far beyond those “big battles”.
The 6th NHVI is first of all, a historical association, chartered under the laws of the state of New Hampshire and compliant with the Internal Revenue Service of the Federal government, as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. We have taken on the identity of an actual Civil War Regiment, the 6th Regiment of volunteers, who were recruited from the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. They trained at the Fair Grounds in Keene, New Hampshire, and then fought extensively throughout the war. (Click-on history of the 6th)
The Association’s mission is to study, teach, preserve and reenact the life and times of the War Between the States.
To accomplish that mission, we adhere to one underlying theme…”authenticity”. We carefully avoid any portrayal that creates a “Theme park” image of history. In keeping with that spirit, and after demonstrating the military skills and an accurate portrayal of a Civil War Regiment during a yearlong probation period, we were admitted as members of the National Regiment in 1995. This organization is a coalition of regiments from all over the northern United States and sets the standards for accuracy and authenticity for historical reenacting. Member regiments are often called upon by movie and documentary producers to provide re-enactors for their films.
We accomplish the first part of the mission, to study the War and its times, through reading, discussion groups, photo searches, document searches, battlefield visits, lectures, and by attendance at courses.
We then want to teach others. Lectures, programs in schools, and “Living History” encampments for the public are held throughout the year.
Preservation efforts include financial donations to preservation groups for fund raising activities. Preservation also includes working with historical societies, town archivists and individuals to help identify historically valuable material and to promote the proper use of such artifacts for the future.
Finally, of course, we do reenact, sometimes in smaller events such as ceremonies and parades, and other times, in major events involving more than 15,000 re-enactors! These “mega-events” are carefully researched battle scenes, which are then scripted, choreographed, and presented before thousands of spectators. Such events take more than a year to produce.
In addition to infantrymen, our unit has room for more musicians, young and older. We have some instruments and a music director very knowledgeable in music of the period. For those who want to portray civilians of the era (do an “impression”), there are many possibilities. Through our auxiliary, there is also the opportunity for girls and women to “become” citizens of another time in history.
A final word, in our present culture of “virtual experiences” and “hyped history”, there is increasing desire for authentic experience. Time and again, re-enactors give voice to this feeling. In addition to the regimental mission, these re-enactors have a personal mission. They want to experience history, in so far as that is possible, by bringing alive the daily life of someone who lived in times passed. Using diaries, first-hand accounts and other primary sources, they seek to “create an impression” as faithful to the “real” as they can, thereby gaining insight into history in a new way.
So, “click-on” the recruitment section and come visit with us. We are growing every year…be a part of this effort to understand those years in American History when there was a “new birth of freedom” that would change the lives “for a vast future.”
