I have done American Civil War reenacting for about 35 years. My most recent group was the 9th NYVC. I really enjoyed the battles and all that went along with them. I spent some time as an NCO and 7 years as Captian but I decoided that it was time to let someone else handle all the problems and went back to the ranks where I could just have fun and shoot my carbines. I have used several guns during the years starting with a musket, then I got an 1860 Henry, I also have used a Spencer carbine, I had a Frank Wesson for a wile and finally I got an original Sharps & Hankins that I use now. But reenactments in NY have been stopped by our Governor and the NY government. They did two things to us that made us cancel all reenactments in NY. First they reclassified Muskets and other muzzle loading guns as Firearms then they made it illegal to have a firearm in a park and other "sensitive" places. Since many reenactments are in parks and in the many places that they designated "Sensitive locations" all reenactments have been canceled until we can get a trial and have the laws declared unconstitutional.
I went to a reenactment before the Pandemic and they were going to have 4 battles that weekend so I took my Henry and a 69 caliber cartridge box so I could see just how many cartridges I could fire for the weekend. I would count how many cartridges I put in the cartridge box before each battle. I drained the box for each of the battles and at the end of the 4th battle I had the last 10 in the magazine tube and was ready to fire them off and then take a hit under a nearby tree. But they ended the battle early and started sounding Taps, so I could not fire the last 10. But for the weekend I determined that I fired 690 blanks. I could have made it to 700 if the battle had lasted just a little longer.
I only have the Sharps & Hankins left as I am just getting too old to run around with teenagers wile wearing wool, so for the last few years I would only come for one day to partake in the reenactments. You would think that after fighting the American Civil War for 35 years we would have won by now. LOL
The time I spent with my fellow pards in camp and on the battle field were some of the happiest days of my life. I hope we can straighten things out in NY and go back to normal.
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Signed up with an artillery crew and fought the red coats as part of the 1st Virginia Regiment, Continental Line until finally calling it a day after 15 years in 2015
