Taking photos while participating in reenactments is officially frowned upon. After all, there is nothing so off-putting to spectators than seeing an American Civil War soldier pulling out an Instamatic and clicking a picture in the midst of a battle.

However, like many reenactors, I carried a small camera in my haversack, and took a few pictures whenever I could do so in a discreet manner.

The result, I think you will agree, is a gallery of photos that could easily have been taken 135 years ago (apart from the colour, of course).

Here is a selection of some of my favourite photos of my Gettysburg experience.

Masses of Confederate infantry, led by officers on horseback, form up prior to one of the battle scenarios. The number of reenactors involved in this group seems big enough, but this formation was only a tiny part of the huge armies involved in the reenactment.

This picture, I have to admit, is not one of mine, but was taken by Jill Russell, who is the scribe of the 47th Virginia. It depicts Pickett's Charge, taken from behind the Union lines. You can see the long lines of Confederate infantry advancing across the open ground towards the Union positions.

Here we see a column of Rebel cavalry galloping across the battlefield, yee-haaing and waving their hats madly, the Confederate battle flag waving proudly at their head!

Not all the officers rode horses. In this picture you can see that one of the Confederate officers is mounted on what appears to be a donkey or mule.

A view of Sutlers' Row, a kind of massive tent-city shopping mall where you could buy all sorts of Civil War era goods. Many civilians dressed in period correct clothes too - the only thing giving away that this is not a nineteenth century photo are the two pairs of unclad legs!

Dances were held on two evenings of the event. The sight of women in glamorous crinolines and men in gorgeous uniforms twirling round the floor was reminiscent of the movie Gone with the Wind. The authentic 1860's music and dances made these events into evocative trips back into time. I haven't been able to identify the couples in this photograph.

A behind-the-lines shot of the Battle of the Wheatfield. The 'dead' soldier in the foreground will have to wait till another regiment comes up over and hides him before he can 'return to life', as it is not the done thing to just get up in the view of the spectators.

Don't forget to look at the links on the article page, which will lead you to some sites containing many more photos of Gettysburg taken by various people!

	Tell me what you think of my site on my Message Board
	Check out some pictures of my miniature Civil War soldiers.

return to top

Home Page | Article | Photographs | Miniatures | Message Board