I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question but here goes.

I'd like to see pictures of reenactors camps, group shots etc...

Are there any sites that I can be directed to?

thanks,

dave

There's a few on our site,www.lovat.org.uk/
tho' most of this years have got to be added
Steve

Click on my unit link below, and go to the "photos" page.  Lots of 'em there!

Steve, Brian-

Thanks for the links to the sites.

dave

Speaking of "encampments and everyday life", there has been occasional criticsism leveled at `45 reenactors (even from within) regarding the type of camps we are setting up at our events.  And - truth be told - these are for the most part "heavy" camps: dining flies, awnings, lots of tentage, cots, ironware, etc., etc....
The criticism basically is:  Highlanders would not have lived this way on campaign!

What are your thoughts on this issue?

For my part, I'm comfortable with the fact that I'm NOT an actual 18th C. highland clansman; not as tough, not as inured to hardship, not as young anymore, for that matter.  Myself and my family require a degree of comfort that those folks of old would have scoffed at.  We keep everything period and avoid and abhor blatant "farbisms", but maintain a grasp on reality as well.
I wouldn't mind seeing, however, a "campaigner" or "hardcore" element within our ranks, as we see in present day Amer. Civil War reenacting:  young commited guys setting up bare-bones camps that accurately reflect how Jacobite fighting men actually existed in the field.  I wouldn't do it myself, but it would add to the events, and be educational for the spectators as well....

Hi Brian,

How many of them would have been billeted though? From the evidence eyewitnesses of Culloden wrote down, they seem to largely have clustered off into cow barns and cottages - billeting is after all the 18th century army 'norm'. Were not some jacobites 'garrisoned' at Ruthven barracks - even after the fire?

Of course we don't have the cow barns and cottages to be billeted in...

Billeting would certainly have been a reality, and indications are that the Jacobite army hauled around the typical 18th c. level of tentage and "impedimenta."  But, there would still have been swarms of clansmen laying about simply rolled up in their plaids, too!  That's something we don't see at our events....

Hi Brian

Once aga into the Frey of tentage huh...lol Your argument is well founded for your case and you know what I agree  but to a certin degree...Example you your self portray a Chief (or a Clan Captain or Cadet I'n sorry im not up on Everyones portrayles another post perhaps we can dig into that) in any case you would have need of tentage that you use...As well as any of the Gent's...But men of the line like my self dont need to huge tentage....im happy with my wedge...and if need be(i have in the past )i rap up in my great Kilt find a tree.. I dont beleive this issue lays in size of tenge but perhaps camps them selves littered with chairs tables ect ect ect ect....this is a big problem in Rev war and a thousand other periods not just this one...So my opinon is just to limmit
such....

Billeting would be interesting for an event like Bedford, what say you??

Ted Yeatman

I'm sure the billeting could work at Old  Bedford Village..During the Road to London, the Duke (Roger) had several of the cabins used by Gov't forces and the Prince used one also. Our ladies were also in a cabin. Muskets of the Crown does a "candlelight Christmas" at OBV, and we use the cabins for cooking, sleeping, daily vignettes, well..everything.  Our unit (www.muskets-of-the-crown.org) uses wedge tents exclusively for soldiers...officers in walls or marquee.  We carry a full kitchen with a dining fly and large wedge for storage.  At OBV, our first event as Jacobites, as commander I had a wall, I used my 10x14 marquee canopy for fly, and all others were in wedges (ladies in cabin 7).  Take a look at our website and there are some shots of our camp that we set up as 77th Reg't of Foote and 42nd RHR.  We stay away from all Rendezvous type furniture, etc.  
Slante'
Malcolm Angus MacWilliam

My lads all utilize smallish wedge tents, and my own is merely a bigger wedge tent (when the family is along!), but we do have a rather substantial "dining" area: a couple of period tables, benches, and an awning.  Our fine ladies, who prepare us veritable feasts, deserve a comfortable area in which to work and hang out, after all...!

another thought

I have gone over this once before in the sword fourm and the jacobite elist...but i will go over once again...Tents flys chairs tables ect ect ect....the public are attacted to...The eat up the whole idea of the camp...Its very inviting to the public to see
everyday things being done in period fashion...How many times have you been asked......Do you really sleep in those...
If you were to do a "progressive camp" I think some thought
should be out into how do we want to present the highlander on campain....personlay i think a progressive camp is a great idea though

Luckily enough,we've got a couple of sites that invite us back every year where we can do the billeting thing(one with a nice large barn...)but where all you have got is a field..You've got to have something for the public to look at & we are  are there to enjoy ourselves ,which for our poor 21stcent. bodies calls for a certain amount of comfort...having said that we manage with soldiers wedges & a slightly larger one as the Officers' tent

The idea of some form of 'tactical' or 'minimalist' camp is a good one and has been discused recently. I agree with Brian that the reality of 21st century is people will travel with conveniences.  That being said, it might be nice to have an advance camp or group in plaids and no accouterment.  As for Old Bedford Village, billeting is possible and can lead to some interesting scenarios.  We had two cabins used by the Jacobites, one by myself and another by an Officer of my Life Guards. In the end his wife played the sister of the lady of the home (a site volunteer) and they had some excellent first person interaction going on. That too is something to consider expanding on.
These are both great ideas to consider incorporating into our 2004 programs
Chris

I also think this would be a good idea...in past years our guy Jake has slept out in his plaid from time to time, so I'm pretty sure that he'd be interested in something like this. I'll forward him a link to this thread and see if he expresses any interest.

Yes, Webmaster, I would indeed be interested in such an outing.  I have strived in the past for a more authentic experience.  For me, it is more of an inner journey.  Rather than having the outward appearance of authenticity, I was looking for a more authentic "feel".  I know the importance of appearance in such events, yet that was not my focus.  As I have always potrayed the average Highlander, such an encampment would right up my alley.  Just one thing to note:  such an encampment would, by event schedule allowances, be strictly for the re-enactors, as we would be risen well before the public arrived.  

Thats a Kicker..Malcolm has a point...Unless there is Group of Said "progressives" that want to shick around half undressed or what have the public would miss out...

Oh, I don't know....I've seen Malcolm sprawled out sound asleep in the middle of the day before...I'm sure that he could be talked into an encore   ;D  (and if not, I have some pictures of him that might help make up his mind...)

BTW, Malcolm...I'm glad you liked the salmon. Come visit sometime and I'll teach you how to make your own....

Another thought

Missy Clark actualy hit me this yesterday...

There is alot of thought being put into dressing down camps
due to they are supossed to be campian camps...With that lodgic we also have to look at...Our events sometimes have to "repersent" a time period a few months and are actuly
a few different local's Not just camps...Some times Camps are used for Edinbrough ..Some times tent flys double for Lady Camerons hall...(if im incorrect in this let me know)
Not all of the places that we have held events have buildings are are suited  for such recreations...So should we do away those?

Couldn't someone just put out some big mounds of hay and you could have
any brave lads so inclined to sleep in that?

dave

Colin is correct when he says that our camps often represent a number of different time periods in the campaign, and different elements of life during 1745 and so there is a need for a wide range of equipage.  That being said, the idea of having a simpler clan camp has its merits.  Yes, the public is attracted to tentage, as I think Malcolm mentioned,  but I think a contrast of the two styles (upper class and common) would have some educational merit and interest as well.
Oh and I do suspect that bedding down on straw alone could be arranged.

Chris

wrote on 10/31/03 at 18:40:36:

Oh and I do suspect that bedding down on straw alone could be arranged. Chris

That actually sounds quite comfy to me.  Five-star accomodations in my opinion.  Count me in for that!!!

All,

At least a couple of us lads doing Arglye Militia at the Culloden event will be campaigning.  We plan on rolling in with nothing more than we can carry on our backs or stuff in our plaids.  And then just find a spot to crash.  Maybe get some straw to bed down on and roll up in our plaids.  We are going to cook with just a tin pot, if we cook at all, we might end up doing field rations and have precooked beef and bread with us.  if any other government troops are interested I'd like to hear from them.  

Perhaps if there are guys, Gov't and Rebels, that are interested in '45 campainging we can get together and talk about interest in that .  Cheers!

I Remain, &c.
Matthew Keagle

Hi Matt!

Good to hear that you're upping the accuracy element. I'm helping a friend put together the 76th MacDonald Highlanders for the late American Rev War period (we're crossing over here, but in a good way), and we're trying to keep accuracy high as well. We already have scared people off with a no beards rule, and we've been in contact with Peter Macdonald in Scotland about having highly authentic kilt and hose wool woven. We're even working on a more authentic bonnet too. Anyway, that sounds really cool that you guys'll be joining us. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Alex

Matt,
I read a period item someplace (in Burt's "Letters" perhaps) that described clansmen in the field carrying little flat sheet-iron plates or griddles to cook oatcakes on....

It's great to see the progressive/campaigner movement appearing in 18th C. reenacting.  I've done CW infantry campaign-style for years, and it's very rewarding and instructive.  However, with age 49 fast approaching, I think my "hardcore" days are about over!

To quote Rob Roy in the movie: "I'm getting too old for this, lying wet-arsed on the heather."

I agree with you Brian....I've done some hard core also, but not in the past 5 years or so...approaching 51, I don't mind the comfort of a wee tent with something a bit softer than just straw on the ground, although a few times a year, I can still do that.  I believe our camp is usually quite pristine, although we still enjoy a stool for the arse and a piece of canvas o'er our heads.  I'm looking forward to Crown Point, and so are the lads.  Slante'...God Save the true King and his Royal son, the Prince.  M. MacWilliam

Hi
before jumping up on my soap box I can only comment on things over here in GB. It may be very different in other parts of the world.
Not every one in the Jacobite army was a Highlander so not every one can wrap up in their plaids. Going on from that we don't have public around the site at night, so activities should be day based.
Our guys tend to just sit around the camp, but then we are blessed with having lots of visitors - unless it’s heaving it down with rain! The interaction with the public is never in 1st person. In my experience if you go down the first person route you'll loose your crowd in a matter of seconds as they'll have no idea what you are talking about.
Our camp set up is made up of a selection of different types of wedge tent, most of which have awnings. The latter are used because of our damp summers! Being C/O my own tent is a bit bigger and I have a very worn weathered made by me trestle table, a campaign chair (got that this winter and it is at least 150 years old), a leather covered chest, the Regt. Colour and nothing else. On the table I have maps, writing instruments, my log book, sealing wax, pipe etc. Essentially the basics. The guys round the camp have little in the way of furniture because they'd have no way of carrying it.
The cook area again is really basic, a couple of old trestle tables, iron cook ware, fire boxes (we have to have them). There is a canvas cover, again due to the weather. The camp is pretty sparse and IMO looks pretty good. I've visited other periods LH camps and they look like modern camps with canvas tents (not all I would add). The thing is, we don't have villages, farms and towns, so we create a look that the public can relate to whilst maintaining a high level of authenticity.
Perhaps my biggest bugbear is that people forget rank. One of my guys (who is ex real army) always takes his bonnet or hat off when he approaches me and keeps pointing out to the others that they should do the same. I don't play a Highland Chief but in general am the highest rank in the camp. We need to improve the "class" thing.
Last week end we had our first event of the year, the camp but really good. The women spent all their time cooking –authentic food. The guys were busy with the public, some asking history related questions, some asking about re-enactment in general.
We are not perfect and I have things we need to improve on:
Not smoking when families are in a confined space with us (awnings), one of our guys does this (clay pipe of course) and you can see the people back off.
Having camp guards all the time.
Not having people playing pipes near where some one is trying to talk to the public, its off putting and no one can hear what you’re saying.


Our problem of a few years ago was that when we did displays the Jaco’s didn’t want to wear jackets when it was hot, as I said then you don’t see the Redcoats in half kit. That problem is now resolved.