Battle Reenactments

These are the events for which reenactors are most well known. Event organizers often try to plan these events on or near the original battle site, as close to possible to the historic day and month of the action. Reenactments can vary in size from a handful of mounted troopers at small local events to several hundred at the most well known battles. Reenactments are most often combined arms events where Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery are all present on the field, though some of our events are Cavalry only. Small or large, combined-arms or cavalry-only, they put our knowledge of drill and tactics to the test and demand a certain level of horsemanship.

The scenarios are often scripted and the outcome is usually well defined, but the activity itself can be a real blast. We've taken part in events with anywhere from 50 to 20,000 total participants who come from all across the U.S., sometimes from Canada, and for the “really” big ones (Gettysburg 150th for example), sometimes the United Kingdom and Australia. At the larger reenactments, in addition to the battle demonstrations, sutlers often set up mobile shops to sell clothes, equipment and other items with a Civil War theme.  

Living History

Most frequently done in cooperation with the National and State Park Services, we demonstrate mounted drill and tactics common to the cavalry in the 1860’s, and re-create cavalry camp life. These events focus on education rather than battle reenactments but demand the same level of horsemanship and knowledge of drill. We are blessed with a strong relationship with the National Park Service at Gettysburg and Fort Monroe, and with several state park services where we regularly portray Civil War Cavalry as part of their scheduled educational programs.

At a typical Living History, we’ll perform 4 or 5 mounted drill demonstrations over the course of a weekend. Sometimes we engage in lighthearted competition by “Running the Heads”, a test of skill where troopers gallop their horses at targets – in our case, apples or cabbage – trying to hit them with sabers. It’s harder than it looks! We welcome visitors to our camp, and our troopers along with our families and unit members portraying civilians recount what life was like for camp followers and others connected to the military. We’ve also done presentations for schools, bed & breakfasts, and the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Tactical Events/Campaign Rides 

These events can last from a few days to a week, and because we’re living out of the saddle and on the move are not usually open to the public. They are frequently based on an actual event that occurred during the Civil War and can be somewhat scripted, though each side’s leadership often develops strategies and takes unplanned actions aimed at surprising and besting their opponents.

Campaign rides give us an opportunity to experience, if only for a few days, how the cavalry lived. We ride out across country, tackle varying terrain, sleep on the ground, take the weather as it comes, and live largely with what we can carry in the saddle. Afterward we’re dirty and smelly, sore from riding, sore from sleeping on the ground, and in absolute awe of what a cavalry trooper endured every day he served. 

Ceremonies and Parades: 

We also occasionally participate in parades or historic ceremonies, bringing the Cavalry to Main Street America. We’ve participated in parades in Yorktown, VA; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, DC.

Films and Documentaries: 

Finally, we sometimes support films and documentaries with our cavalry impression. Some of our membership helped make the documentary “Averell’s Raiders and the 35th Star” (averellsraiders.com) and "Gift from a Yankee" (2016), and it’s Trooper Amos and Billy in the National Geographic TV picture.