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Missouri Civil War Reenactors Association
Policy Summary
Revised May 15, 2005
SCHEDULING:
1. Presentations for Max Effort events to be made at the August meeting.
(10/01)
2. MCWRA appoint a liaison to coordinate events. (10/01)
3. The MCWRA no longer accepts alcoholic beverages as an inducement to have
an event. (1/87)
4. That standard forms be established for individual registration and
individual release of liability. (11/91)
DEFINITION OF EVENTS:
1. Max Effort: 100% participation urged. If reenacting an actual event, then
those branches that were actually there should be included in the scenario. (i.e.
if there were no Artillery or Guerrillas at the actual battle then there
should be none at the reenactment.) If the reenactment is not of an actual
battle, all branches must be included in the weekend scenario. (10/01)
2. Benefit: Admission is charged for benefit of recognized non-profit
organization. Admission proceeds must be donated in their entirety and cannot
be used to defray costs of putting on the event.
3. Sanctioned: No specific definition. MCWRA approved event other than the
above.
4. Listed: Non-MCWRA event for information only.
UNIT DEFINITION AND STATUS: (10/01)
1. An MCWRA unit is defined as a recognized group of men and/ or women who
have banded together, because they favor the impression of one side or the
other, i.e. Confederate or Union. They also
generally prefer to fit into a category of, infantry, cavalry, artillery,
Guerrilla, Provost Marshal, medical, civilian or etc.
2. A recognized unit is one that has successfully undergone a probationary
period, been accepted by the Executive Committee, and meets the criteria
listed below. Infantry: 10 men
Cavalry: 8 men together with mounts
Dismounted Cavalry 10 men
Artillery: One full size artillery piece
approved for authenticity and safety, by three (3) Artillery Officers
appointed by the board. Plus a minimum crew of five (5) men.
Guerrillas: 5 men with or without mounts.
Provost Marshal: 5 men with or without mounts.
Medical: 3 men and /or women.
Engineers: 5 men
Other Units: 5 men or women performing authentic
functions. (The numerical criteria for a combatant unit is number of male
combatants age 16 or older.)
3. Each new unit will under go a probationary period, of one year.
4. Each new probationary unit must have a sponsor from the same branch who will
recommend to the Executive committee when the probationary unit meets the
criteria for full membership.
5. No artillery unit be accepted for MCWRA membership, nor new piece by an
established unit, if the piece is not full scale, and approved by the three
(3) artillery officers appointed by the board.
6. All units must maintain the minimum number of members to maintain active
voting status and unit status.
MEMBERSHIP DUES:
1. Individual dues are $10.00 per calendar year, no matter what time of year
individual joins.
2. Dues are $10.00 per family membership, no matter what time of year family
joins. Family membership established to include parents and children under
age 16.
3. A lifetime membership fee established of $100 individual, or family.
4. Temporary membership is $ 10.00 per event. A temporary membership fee
makes the person a temporary MCWRA member and covered under the insurance
umbrella for that event only. The sponsoring unit is the Primary responsible
party for ensuring that non-MCWRA members are charged for temporary
membership for that event. The Secondary responsible party is the Provost
Marshal.
MEMBERSHIP VOTING:
1. Ballots to be numbered and registered, mail to MCWRA P.O. Box, to be
sealed until next board meeting when opened and counted. Secretary to
maintain ballots for one year. (11/87)
2. Each member whose dues are paid is entitled to vote.
3. All family memberships to receive one (1) ballot.
4. One member equals one vote; in a family situation, if another vote is
desired (wife, other combatant, etc.) another membership is required.
Membership entities the member (and in a family membership) to one vote,
MCWRA liability insurance and the newsletter.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
1. Regular Board meetings be scheduled on a quarterly basis. (8/85)
2. One Board meeting is set to coincide with the scheduling meeting. (8/85)
3. Date for next meeting to be set at each meeting before adjournment. (8/85)
4. Minutes list all units/representatives attending meeting in addition to
board members. (8/89)
5. Insurance limits set to $2 Million. (5/2005)
6. In order for family members to be covered under MCWRA insurance in a
family membership, all names of family must be turned in to the treasurer.
(10/01). (8/89)
7. There will be no live fire at events.
8. Institute use of a sponsor's questionnaire for anyone applying for a
Sanctioned Event. (8/85)
9. MCWRA Logo is available for use by members if approved by Board. (11/84)
10. Event sponsors to be required to contribute $600/$400 toward MCWRA insurance
expense. (5/05)
Event Schedule Information: (10/99)
1. Presenters for events should come to the planning meeting with their
$600.00/$400.00 for insurance at that time.
2. If it is necessary for the event sponsors to cancel the event, MCWRA will
return $600.00/$400.00 to the sponsors if the event is canceled 90 or more
days preceding a schedule event.
3. If the schedule event is canceled less then 90 days before the event, the
entire $600.00/$400.00 will be retained by MCWRA as planning, publication,
publicity etc would have already been "in the works".
WESTERN CAMPAIGNER:
1. Western Campaigner cut off delinquent members after the
February issue. (1/91)
2. Western Campaigner will not publish anonymous or name
withheld letters..
3. Editor may issue a six page newsletter when necessary. (11/88)
4. Use First Class postage on the newsletter. (4/87)
5. Inserts to Campaigner on a first-come, first-served basis, not to require
additional postage, to be selected/approved by the Editor, relate to
educational or member information and $10 insertion fee paid. (8/84)
SAFETY:
1. Overall commander of each side is responsible for safety; each unit
commander is responsible for safety of his/her unit.
2. Fire safety is the Provost Marshal responsibility.
3. The rules "no pets in camp" is considered a part of our safety
regulations. (12/85) This shall include the period sutler area (8/207)
4. Flags shall not be captured unless a choreographed Part of the scenario.
(4/89)
5. There will be no live fire at events.
6. If a live projectile is fired or another incident threatens the safety of
the event, the battle will immediately be stopped an all troops will remain
in place until the situation is resolved and instructions are issued by the
senior commanders. The commander who first notes the incident will signal the
halt by blowing a loud blast on a whistle and waving a fluorescent green
flag. (11/91)
AUTHENTICITY AND PARTICIPATION:
1. Roles of male participants are limited to those generally accepted as male
roles, and roles of women to those generally accepted as female roles, by
19th Century perception. (8/85)
See end of this section for the expanded policy approved by the
general membership present at the 8/206 meeting.
2. No household pet (dog, cats, etc.) in camp. (8/85) This shall include the
period sutler area (8/207)
3. Minimum age for participation in battles in any capacity (including
musician, powder monkey, color bearer, etc.) is 16. (11/91) Amended 5/06 to
reduce the age of NON-combatants (non-weapons bearing ) to 12 years of age
subject to the following a) must be able to perform the job assigned, b) must
be under direct adult supervision.
Must still be 16 to carry a weapon or work an artillery piece
GENERAL CONDUCT:
1. Provost Marshal required for each side at all MCWRA events, responsible to
overall commander and responsible for maintaining order, can draw on units
for assistants as needed. (4/91)
2. Parental Responsibility: Parents are responsible for supervising their
children at all times. Unit Commanders/NCO's should enforce this requirement.
(11/90)
3. No illegal drugs will be allowed at MCWRA sponsored events at any time.
(10/01)
4. No alcohol will be consumed at MCWRA sponsored events between 6:00 a.m.
and 6:00 p.m. or anytime the camps are open to the public. (10/01)
WOMEN IN UNIFORM AS
CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS
Recommended Guidelines
By Wendy A. King
With more and more women entering the Civil War re-enactment community as
soldiers: some with very good impressions and some with terrible impressions,
it seems logical to have a set of standards to follow. This would help
both the sponsors of the event(s) and the women who wish to portray soldiers
to have certain common ideas in mind as to authenticity and what should be
expected of any given individual. It is with the idea of common
goals and defining what exactly is desired of those women who portray
soldiers that this is written.
Uniform
A) Basic Uniform: Same as men's, including accouterments and
brogans. The vest, jacket, and trousers should be one size larger than
normal to hide obvious female characteristics.
B) Binder: An absolute must unless you are completely flat
chested. Sports brassieres do not give the kind of support or effect
that is desirable. One can still detect "unmanly" chest
movement and those type brassieres don't really protect you from pain or your
fellow soldiers from possible embarrassment. Imagine that you are in a
tactical and a branch snaps you across the chest. Will a "Sports
Brassiere" protect the tender areas? The answer is no. Now
imagine that you take a "hit" face up and the hospital corps comes
to check for a heart beat. Will that Sports Brassiere keep them from
finding out your true gender and save both the corps soldiers and yourself
from embarrassment? Again, the answer is no.
The importance of a good binder
a. Protects you and your comrades from embarrassment.
b. Keeps your gender a secret.
c. Protects other soldiers from embarrassment
d. It is authentic. Original women soldiers wore binders.
Binder pattern
Read instructions carefully!
Materials: Plain Cotton, Muslin, *Linen or sheeting material ,
(amount described in instructions) Shoulder strap material, (any material
that is either strong enough on its own not to break under stress, or that
can be doubled without too much bulk and will hold up under stress - amount
described in instructions) Hooks and Eyes, Bra extenders preferably
with a double set of eyes, (3-4, depending on how wide they are, the wider
and more hooks and eyes they have, the less fuss when changing the garment)
Two brassiere guides or belt slides, (like on the backs of vests) Thread.
Measuring for amount of material:
1.) One piece 21" wide x chest at breast attachment + 1"
See Instructions 2 - 3.
2.) Measure chest at base of breast attachment
3.) Add 2" to total, this gives you the total length of material you
will need.
4.) Fold material in half width-wise so that you have 10-1/2" x
breast attachment.
5.) Using 1/2' seam, sew material together at two raw edges, turn inside
out, fold remaining raw edge inside itself and topstitch a seam.
6.) Using bra extenders as a guide, mark eye locations on edge of what you
want to be the left side. Insert the hub of the eyes into the seam area and
hand stitch using heavy thread.
7.) On right side, measure in 3-1/2" from edge and mark a line from
top to bottom. This line is your marker for the hooks. Fold about
1/2' of material from the main body of the binder over and back on itself
(both thicknesses) so that your line falls just where the bases of the hooks
attach.
8.) Using bra extenders as a guide, mark hook locations. Insert the
hub of the hooks into the hook line and hand stitch using heavy thread.
Keeping the area folded as above, sew a seam down and through each of the
hook hubs.
*** The 3-1/2' flap protects the back from hook gouging!
9.) Measure shoulder strap from regular brassiere. Use this
measurement for binder shoulder straps, adding 2' to each strap. Cut the 2'
extra from each strap and use to loop guides or belt slides to front (X ) on
diagram. Fasten remaining lengths at back (Y)
Leave a one-inch space between the hooks seam and the right back.
Leave an eight-inch gap between all back and front straps. Leave a five
inch gap from the left (eyes) edge and the left back strap.
10.) Hook bra extenders to one side (obviously, it doesn't matter which
side!). When you are ready to put the garment on, you just have to hook
one side.
** OPTIONAL 11.) You may want to cut out a semi-circle from the
binder just below the underarm to reduce pinching. Just cut the necessary
area, turn the raw edges to the inside, and top stitch.
C) Hair: Cut short, or in such a way that the
short back underlengths of hair [preferably emulating the bottom parts of a
man's hair cut] may be let down while longer upper lengths are pulled well
up. Longer hair should be kept hidden during hours when camp is open to
the public and during battle.
Any other circumstances should be discussed with your unit commander.
(I.e. dances, that is if you are permitted to change gender for such
occasions)
This does not apply in emergency situations such as heat related problems
when you need to get as cool as possible.
D) Headgear: Forage and Bummer caps are greatly preferred over
"slouch" hats and Kepis. "Slouch" hats have wide brims
and tend to
"frame" the face, causing female traits to be
emphasized. Kepis should be avoided, especially if one decides to
wear longer hair, pulled up. Kepis just aren't long enough in the back
to hide the pulled up appearance.
E) Vest: One size larger than normal. Should be worn anytime
that a jacket is not being worn. Not only for authenticity sake,
(technically the men should also be wearing them) but to help hide any female
features. The only time a vest or jacket should not be worn is in
case of heat emergency or in the privacy of your own tent.
F) Dresses: Permitted at the discretion of your unit commander and
depending on circumstance. (Dances, Dinners, Special Occasions) Unless
specific instructions are given by the host of that event that being in
uniform at all times is an absolute requirement.
G) Conduct:
1) Guard duty,
Picket duty, Drill, Camp chores, Parades: NEVER REFUSE to do your duty or
detail as a soldier without very good reason AND permission from your
commanding officer. Being a female DOES NOT excuse you from any of the
tasks performed by your fellow soldiers. By performing the same work,
duty,and drills as your male counterparts, you gain their respect.
Failure to do your part can result in being pointed out as a poor example of
a female soldier and can make it harder for the next woman who wants to
portray a soldier.
Remember! You are setting the standard. Poor examples are
more easily discovered than good ones!
2) Discretion:
While in the field or in camp, you may face situations that require mature
handling. PLEASE use your head and think before you say or do anything
that may embarrass your comrades or yourself If you find yourself, for
example, in lines of men who need to give in to "the call of
nature", Don't make a big deal about it! Either turn your
head, close your eyes, or ask someone from your own unit to let you know when
it is "safe". Most of those soldiers out there don't know
that you are a woman and are only thinking of one thing.
RELIEF!! Respect their privacy and you will be respected.
Another situation that may arise may be that, while
you are wearing your proper binder and decide to take a "hit",
someone may come to check you for a heart beat. They also do not
know your true gender. If you are "dead" - stay dead.
Don't make a fuss about checking your chest unless some surgeon
unknowingly chooses you for an un-scripted chest wound scenario. In
that case, quietly let him know why he can't use you!
For
The Men
Should you ever feel the need to "heed the call of nature",
especially out on the lines; please don't feel embarrassed if you find out
that a female is or was present. We are not there to be an
embarrassment. We are there, just as you are, to re-enact a segment of
history that we too are a part of. There were indeed women who fielded
as soldiers during the American Civil War, and they have earned the same
right to be represented as any other soldier does. (In the proper manner,
which includes maturity in any given circumstance)
Another important matter is: Please don't be so
quick to remove the cap from your neighbors head when "taps" is
being played, you may end up with a shock when that guy you've just been
wrestling with in hand - to - hand combat turns out to be - - a gal!! (You
could remind the soldier that "taps" is being played - most women
soldiers can come up with some type of period excuse - head wound, cold, etc.
- a man will usually take the hint and remove his cap)
DISGUISE HINTS
1) Fake mustaches, beards, and wigs: Any of these are acceptable if
they are not too "fakey". Keep in mind though that it can get
very hot and most of the heat in a human body collects at the
head. Wigs are not recommended (especially for infantry)
since you will be wearing headgear (Kepi's or bummer caps) and it will make
you twice as hot and twice as likely to go down from heat. Finding a
good adhesive for mustaches and beards can be difficult since you need one
that is both waterproof and sweat proof. The closest thing available is
the liquid eyelash adhesive (for individual lashes). Even Spirit Gum
(used by professional actors) is not waterproof. (They get to yell
"cut" and have things replaced in the middle of a shot, we don't!!)
2) Camouflage Paint: Don't rely on regular make-up to darken your
skin, you'll sweat it right off. Camouflage paint is oil based, readily
available in most stores with sporting goods, and is inexpensive.
3) Voice: One of the most difficult things to disguise.
Try to keep your voice tone low and deep. If that is impossible, try
not to speak too often when you do find it necessary to speak. ( NCO's
: Yelling orders in battle doesn't count because everyone else is yelling and
their voices are cracking too!)
4) EXERCISE !!: Strange as this may seem, you will be
marching, (for cavalry: riding) sometimes for miles, over various terrain and
weather conditions; and that you will be carrying a 10 - 12 pound rifle,
accouterments, food, water, and wearing a wool uniform and brogans.
Lifting weights,walking, hiking, doing upper and lower body exercises and
doing back strengthening exercises can help you endure the parades, marches,
drills, tacticals, and battles without "wimping out".
5) Study, study, study: Study your history, study the way that men walk,
stand, sit and move and try to copy them. Learn about the women who did
fight as soldiers so that you can talk with assurance about the fact that
they did fight. Find a name and a background for yourself as a soldier
(real or otherwise) and encourage your fellow soldiers to use it whenever you
are in uniform.
Other Important Notes
Some of the anachronisms most often brought to my attention when women are
on the battlefield, and often noticed by my fellow soldiers, are things that
common sense should say DON'T belong there. Yet, as often as these mistakes
occur, it seems that common sense doesn't apply.
ABSOLUTE NO NO's
for female soldiers:
No "normal" female make-up including:
eye shadow
blush
rouge
eye liner
lip stick
No recognizable female jewelry including:
earrings
bracelets
wrist watches
modern rings
necklaces
modern eyeglasses
NO LONG NAILS
NO PAINTED NAILS
Let's face it. If you want to get out and "play" with
"the boys", you should look and act like one of "the
boys". Save the "female stuff" for when it
appropriate --- and the battlefield is definitely NOT appropriate.
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