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We are a new Civil War & Old West
living history organization known as the 'American Civil War & Western
Reenactor's Association'. We authentically portray 19th century American
soldiers & civilians, and are actively recruiting for Native American Indians
for the 25 year period of 1859 to 1884. Our various military units portray the
infantry, mounted cavalry, and artillery of both sides of the War Between the
States and the Old West periods of the 19th century. Our civilians work to
admirably portray many specialist aspects of these times as well. They currently
have teamsters, musicians, and immigrant families. A few of their offerings
include ladies social events such as Victorian teas, a dance, and sewing bees.
The ACW&WRA is looking to expand it's civilian presentations to cover sutlery,
mining, and ranching practices of the 19th century as well. We do whatever is
needed to help in making a public living history event a success. Each member of
our northern Nevada based group is dedicated to presenting living history of the
American Civil War and Western Expansion time periods better, more fairly and
accurately through the use of living historical personas than any other
organization in Nevada. We also travel out of state to engage in supporting
other American Civil War groups with their battle reenactments.
The members of the Association work together to manage what it takes to enjoy
this experience. The ACW&WRA is often asked to participate at rodeos, trail
drives, parades, school presentations, Civil War battle reenactments, and other
living history events like period encampments and wagon trains. We try to
educate and raise the awareness of the public of the impact and contribution of
these soldiers and civilians in the opening of the West, maintenance of our
nation’s union, and the importance of State’s rights. We also are working
towards presenting the importance of the indigenous peoples of northern Nevada
and it's surrounding areas and the contributions of their culture to today's
Nevadans. We're always searching for new ways to show just how folks lived
during this fascinating period of our nation's history. Our presentations cover
many angles of the important issues of those wild and heady 19th century days
gone by. Hopefully this knowledge will not be lost.
I’ve participated as a living historian with the State of California at Fort
Tejon and as a member of other living history organizations in many states as a
member of both artillery and infantry units for more than 25 years. Our members
have done movies such as 'Gods and Generals' and the 'Gray Knights'. This is my
second year riding with the cavalry, and I find it continues to be a rewarding
and pleasurable learning experience. There are few things to compare with the
faces of children, who have been bored numb with school issued history books,
when their eyes light up as history comes alive in front of them. Historical
reenacting's a rewarding hobby, not to mention a lot of fun!
The pictures
displayed here are from our September, 2002 Old West living history event. We
were asked by the coordinator’s of the Nevada Annual Immigrant Wagon Train, which
was traveling from Lovelock, Nevada to Carson City, Nevada to ride as an escort
for a long desert portion of their journey as a company of the 1st U.S. Cavalry
which had been stationed at Fort McDermott/McDermit in northern Nevada from 1866
through 1881. It only rarely gets better than this for a living historian.
The American Civil War & Western Reenactor's
Association has since disbanded.
Greg Rumbles
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