I got to carry a typical union soldiers kit (Sans Uniform) and march and maneuver while sporting it. Some brilliant reenactor organized classes that let tourists participate in basic maneuvers and a simulated attack (no ammo no bayonets) so people could understand the logistics involved in getting a typical civil war soldier from point a to point b.
All of the equipment used was cheap replicas but fairly accurate in weight and size. The class was popular and sold out quickly.
After being involved in the class I had a greatly increased respect for soldiers who were in attacks like the Union Soldiers at Fredericksburg and the Southern Troops in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. No book could have conveyed the info I learned in that class better.
Further seeing a full scale reenactment with artillery and all the noise and smoke is startling AND shows how hard it was for commanders to see the battle and adjust strategies once the engagement was underway.
The author of this piece knows two things about reenactments. "Jack" and "Shit"...
I’ve been to a few re-enactments and they’re pretty amazing. Even though the guys are typically older and fatter than a typical soldier of the time, watching them walk across an open field with cannons and guns firing really gives you a feeling about the battle, rather than simply reading “Lee did this and then Meade did that...”