Living History

Living History

Reenacting history involves the arts and historical research. We re-create the clothes and objects from the past. I have participated in Roman to WWII events in North America and Europe. The most fun is meeting the many interesting and talented people. Below are photos and information showing my reenactment groups and uniforms.
Home

English Civil War 1645 - Pike & Shot Era


Wheel lock	Pikeman	Musketeer

French & Indian War 1760 - 63

	77th Montgomerie's Highlanders - 1762 During the French and Indian War in America, the Highlanders served with the colonists and as part of the British army to fight the French. These soldiers wore blue bonnets with a bear hackle and the Black Watch tartan kilt. They were armed with the Brown Bess .75 caliber smoothbore musket. After the war many highlanders were awarded land in America and stayed.	2006 Monterey Games 2006 Campbell Games 2006 Woodland Games 2005 Woodland Games 2005 Monterey Games

Napoleonic Era 1896 - 1812

French Napoleon Soldier - 1800
Early uniform with long turn backs and bicorn. I made this uniform to wear in Italy at the Battle of Marengo reenactment 2000. This is the style of French Line uniform about 1800. It has long pinned back tails and high v-cut in the front. A bicorn is the proper chapeau and over the knee gaiters the norm.

After 1800 the turn back tails became smaller and fake. The v- front came together into a coatee. The tall peaked shako with chin scales replaced the bicorn

Some of the British forces at a Southern CA Anza event

Young Napoleon (in his favorite green chasseur uniform)

Imperial Guard in bearskin, Dragoon, Captain of Chasseur de Cheval (note the gold bullion!)

Battle of Leipzig
Napoleon's 1st defeat & exile.
I participated to this huge reenactment on the battlefield near Leipzig, Germany 1999
Leipzig is in former East Germany. It was an important medieval trading city with a large square and trades house. Nearby, the battle of Lutzen was fought where King Gustof of Sweden was killed in the 30 Years War.
The defeat of Napoleon was called the Battle of Nations. There is a huge dark Teutonic monument to the battle in Leipzig. We participated in a memorial service for the fallen at the monument.

Civil War Era 18 61 - 65

Russ as Sharpshooter

1st U.S.SharpShooters (The Berdans) - 1863
The dark green color of the Sharpshooter uniform is based on the traditional European green sharpshooter light troops. Hiram Berdan promoted the creation of the Union army sharpshooter regiments and armed them with the latest breech loading .52 cal. Sharps rifle. Shooters from the northern states completed to be eligible to join. Each applicant had to put 10 shots in a 10 inch circle at a rest at 200 yards or 10 shots off hand at a 10 inch circle, 100 yards with NO misses. The regiments were used as skirmishers and snipers.

"Al" Ballard - sharpshooter

The U.S. Civil War was the first US war documented by the camera.
This is our 1st US Sharpshooter tintype photo taken with an antique camera at Fresno 2006.

I am working the cannons at Roaring Camp

Antietam or Sharpsburg battle reenactment in Virginia. There were over 17,000 reenactors in 1997

Cowboy Action Shooting - Cowboy Era 1870 - 1900

Live fire with cowboy firearms!
Cowboy Action is speed target shooting contests using a variety of firearms; 1897 Winchester style pump shotgun, two 6 shooter - single action revolvers and a 1894 style lever action rifle.