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Reenactment soldiers are friends with a common interest and often flip a coin to determine the winner of the battle.
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As a computer programmer Monday through Friday, and a Civil War buff on weekends, Roy Wells experiences the convergence of time within his own life. Wells loves his hobby, Civil War reenactment, because it takes him away from the modern world. Reenacting battles takes thorough research and meticulous planning. Battles are planned according to the number of people who will be attending and the space available (most battles are reenacted near Wells's home). Wells's wife makes sure that his uniform is authentic down to the last detail. If an item didn't exist in 1863, she doesn't use it; in fact, she even uses a hand-powered 1860s-era sewing machine to make all repairs. Uniform buttons are cast from dyes or are originals. The uniforms are made of wool, and Wells's boots are made of muleskin leather. Civil War reenactors are advocates not of war but rather of education: they hope to intrigue students and change their attitudes about history. When in costume, each hobbyist has a "persona" that he adopts for battle, and camps, cooking and entertainment are authentic reflections of what was available during the bloodiest time in our nation's history. Resources Association:
National Civil War Association
P.O. Box 70084
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Phone: (408) 927-7651
Web site: www.NCWA.org Center:
United States Civil War Center
Louisiana State University
Raphael Semmes Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone: (225) 578-3151
Fax: (225) 578-4876
Web site: www.cwc.lsu.edu
GUESTS :
Roy Wells
2021 Stratford Dr.
Milpitas, CA 95035
Office Phone: 408-495-1265
E-mail: rwells@baynetworks.com
| ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: | | Battle Buffs |
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