The 33rd North Carolina potrays the men of Company C, 33rd North Carolina at most events. That said, we also turn out as generic Federal infantry troops when the scenario dictates or event co-ordinators require more Federal troops to provide a more realistic battle scenario. We maintain high standards for both impressions but as a new member you should acquire your Confederate kit first before concentrating on collecting the necessary items for a Federal impression.
The Authenticity Triad: Man, Methods, and Material Culture
“Material Culture” refers to all the physical items that are part of the reenactor’s impression: weapons, uniforms, equipment, food, personal items, etc. The importance of high standards in this area is fairly obvious, since its elements can be seen at all times.
“Methods” answer the question, “How were things done?” By showing how the material culture was actually used, reenacting transcends a historical fashion show. Drill is probably the best example, but there are many other methods that deserve consideration: how the soldiers cooked their meals, how they made their camp, how they cleaned their weapons, issued their rations, and passed the time. There are plenty of guys with nearly-perfect kit, but very few who are nearly-perfect in the “methods” category.
Attention to the “Man” element is a hallmark of the highest-quality reenactors. “Man” relates to the person in the uniform: his thought patterns, speech, mannerisms, and physical condition. The recent activity known as “first person impression” is an example of attempts to round out the historical presentation by creating a 19th-century social environment.
It is the 33rd's philosophy that each of the above-mentioned “facets of authenticity” is equally important, and our members and guests should be prepared for a certain level of expectations in each category; the minimum expectations to which members and guests are expected to conform are presented in the following pages.