I should start off by cautioning you that this is not one of those reenactor blogs for those who believe that there should be only one form of belief or practice in the civil war reenacting community.
The above mentioned cautionary goes for those who hold this belief both in regards to religion, and to those with vested interest in the progressive/mainstream reenacting debate. But I suppose I should stop getting so far ahead of my self. I should introduce my self, and offer a bit of explanation as to just who exactly I am. My name is John Knecht. I'm a thirty four (as of Wednesday so I mine as well start saying that now) year old Pagan, who is an ordained priest threw the Universal Life Church Monastery. My personal belief system uses the parables of the ancient Olympian Gods and Goddesses to offer some insight to the ways of human nature. My belief in nature is two fold because the existence of both can be quantified. The imagery of the ancient Gods and Goddesses are simply what I use to identify with the nature of human society. So while they exist to me, they do so more as representations of what we as humans all have in us, rather then stand alone entities that invisibly dictate our every day actions. That's me as a pagan. As a reenactor, I am the Bugler in training (B.I.T.) for the Michigan Cavalry Brigade Association. We have members all over the lower state of Michigan. Mostly from the Detroit and Grand Rapids area, but there are people like my self in the Lansing area, whom at least on paper are still members of the brigade.
I have been a Reenactor my entire life. My late father was a person in the hobby even before I was born, and the dye was cast, that as soon as I could be taken to events, I was. I loved the hobby since before I understood the very basics of what it was I was doing, and have always strived my best to improve my persona. I started out life in the Second Michigan Company B out of Flint Michigan. At the time one of the largest Reenactor organizations in the mitten, it had one of the most formidable assortment of things a person in the hobby could do. We offered a communications unit that dealt with both a Semaphore flag communication tower and actual field post based telegraph system. We had a sprawling first person hospital unit that did medical demonstrations, and carried ice onto the field for the soldiers. Many of our members were trained EMT's We also had a strong first person persona group with such people as Doc Mary Walker, and Sarah Emma Edmonds (AKA Pvt. Franklyn Thompson) On top of these three rather massive undertakings the unit hosted an infantry unit, that at one time had as many as 50 active roster members and we never fielded under 20 when we were at that strength. In the mid 90's when numbers dwindled the Unit went on a short hiatus and focused on refurbishing a cannon barrel that our unit president at the time Jim had found at the Flint County Road Commission land fill. My father and I had gone out to confirm for him that it was in fact what he thought it was. While the Second Michigan was on hiatus from the field, my father and I enjoyed a very brief presence in the 22nd Michigan/8th Arkansas regiment. We enjoyed being part of that unit, but as they hardly ever portrayed Union, and my father and I enjoyed being Union soldiers. coupled with some of the ladies taking issue with me personally and instead of addressing it like adults, they chose to kick my father out of the unit to rid them selves of me. For the next couple of years my father and I were freelancers at events, falling in where ever they'd take a set of extra warm bodies. Then After my fathers passing I found out my former unit that I had just rejoined not too long ago the second Michigan was still going to events, but no longer as infantry, as Artillery. I joined the gun crew and was Part of "Hudson's/MacGregor's Battery" for 8 years until in 2008 the proverbial straw broke the camels back at the scout camp that my father took me to growing up. It was then that I knew I could no longer belong to that unit. As heart breaking as it was. I dragged it out for as long as I could but by 2009 I was back to being a freelance reenactor, participating as a hospital steward and falling in at a brigade level position dragging guys off the field as necessity dictated. The last reenactment of that season intervened with my current posting. A long time friend Dan Norfleet asked me while I was visiting cavalry camp if I know how to play a bugle. I informed him I could mostly do the Kentucky Derby thing and he smiled ear to ear and said I already knew first call. I joined the brigade officially for the 2010 season. I have been with a reenacting family I love and cherish ever since.
So that's my reenacting experience. 31 years actively in the hobby, 20 of that actively on the field, and accumulatively 15 of those 20 years was spent dedicated to being a hospital steward to various trusted surgeons who really know their stuff.
Now what I should tell you about what you can expect from my blog. I will write reviews from my prospective of the various reenactments that I do each season in the hobby. On top of this I will post project idea's that are relevant to either my practice as a pagan or a reenactor. It maybe a sewing formula for new pants, complete with measurements, or it maybe a cooking receipt for a yummy period correct dish. It may also be about the camper that I intend to build for my pick up truck. It will also offer up the occasional offering of advice for people who are in the hobby that are either like my self a Pagan, or even an Atheist that is surrounded by a sea of conservative Christians.
Thanks for reading my blog
Have a wonderful day
and Blessed Be.
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