Beginner's guide
How to Become a Civil War Reenactor
People usually assume you need a uniform, a musket, and a few thousand dollars before anyone will talk to you. It's the opposite. This is how it really works, written by a unit that has been outfitting new recruits in Wisconsin since 1990.
- 1
Go watch one first
Before you spend a dollar, walk a reenactment as a visitor. Talk to the soldiers in camp and tell them you're thinking about joining — that's a normal, welcome conversation, not an imposition. Our Wisconsin event list has 2026 dates, addresses, and hours.
- 2
Pick a unit near you
Reenacting is a local hobby — you want a unit whose events and drills you can actually drive to. The 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Association covers the state through four infantry companies and an artillery unit; Company E is based in the Fox Valley and Northeast Wisconsin. Tell us the city you live in and we'll point you at the closest one, even if that isn't us.
- 3
Decide what you want to portray
Most newcomers start as infantry. But reenacting is much wider than the firing line: civilians, families, musicians, medical staff, and camp life interpreters are all part of a full living history event. Families of military members are welcome to participate at events. Contact us and we would be happy to answer any questions about civilian reenacting and how to get started.
- 4
Contact the unit before buying anything
This is the step new people skip, and it's the expensive mistake. Reproduction gear varies enormously in quality and period accuracy, and the wrong purchase is money gone. A new member should contact us so we can help them get started — we can loan equipment and give guidance on the right items to purchase.
- 5
Borrow gear for your first events
New members are assisted with equipment to help them get started, and are directed on which purchases to make first.
- 6
Come to a drill, then take the field
Safety and basic drill come first — how to handle a musket, the commands, and what happens during a battle scenario. After that you fall in with the company at events. Events are free for members to attend.
What it costs with Company E
- Dues
- $30 per person · $40 per family
- First year
- Free
- Events
- Free for members
Full details are on the membership page.
Questions people actually ask us
- How much does Civil War reenacting cost?
- Annual association dues are $30 per person or $40 per family. Dues are free your first year. Events are free for members to attend. Beyond dues, your cost is your own uniform and equipment, built up over time — which is exactly why we loan gear and advise you on the order to buy things in.
- Do I need my own uniform and musket to start?
- No. New members are assisted with equipment to help them get started, and are directed on which purchases to make first. Nobody expects a new recruit to arrive fully outfitted.
- How old do you have to be to be a reenactor?
- Military members must be at least 12 years old. Members under 18 must also complete a hunter safety class.
- Can women and children take part?
- Yes. Families of military members are welcome to participate at events. Contact us and we would be happy to answer any questions about civilian reenacting and how to get started. Civilian portrayals — families, domestic life, period trades — are a central part of living history, not a sideline.
- Do Civil War reenactors get paid?
- No. Reenacting is a volunteer hobby and a form of public history education. Members pay their own dues and buy their own equipment. Occasionally a film production hires reenactors — members of Company E appeared as reenactors in the 1993 film Gettysburg — but that is the rare exception, not how the hobby works.
- Do reenactors use real weapons?
- Reenactors use functional reproduction muskets and artillery firing blank charges — black powder and no projectile. Every reenactor is trained in safety procedures before taking the field, and members under 18 must also complete a hunter safety class.
- What's the time commitment?
- Most events are weekends between April and October, and you attend the ones you can. Some members do nearly all of them; others do two or three a year. The 2026 schedule shows the full range.
- Can you visit my classroom or museum instead?
- To schedule a presentation in your classroom or museum, please contact us one month in advance. If you're looking to participate in an all-day school day, please contact us at least 6 months in advance for dates and associated costs.
Take the first step
Send us a message with the city where you live. We'll connect you with a member nearby who can answer your questions and get you outfitted for your first event — no commitment, no gear required.