UpdatedExpectations

There will be an inspection prior to going down the hillside. Hank will inspect the gents and Linda will inspect the ladies. There will also be a gun inspection by the respective officers. All non-approved items will be confiscated until the end of the event.

All participants must be appropriately clothed at all times. It would be wise to bring a second dress, or trousers should you have need of a change from your wet clothes. There is to be NO running around in underpinnings, keeping in mind the Victorian sense of modesty.

No female civilians will enter military camp unescorted.

There has been some discussion on Szabo’s forum regarding first person and what it means. This is pure first person interaction. Some have already begun to develop their characters for SFS. It is never too early to start, though I do ask that everyone keeps me in the loop.

SFS will require each individual (civilian and military) to develop a character, real or composite, based upon research. For example, Hank’s character at TAG was a day laborer who had traveled in the IN, NJ, TN triangle, and had spent time in the Ohio State Pen (5 years) etc. and he was able to talk a bit about everything, and had stories about things that had happened to him, based on a mixture of research and real life. No, he didn’t really serve time:-) Even though he had been a prisoner at I-600 it never occurred to him that he could use that experience with the Ohio Penitentiary, simply because the mind set of the prisoners was different.

Everyone who has agreed to come has agreed to develop a strict 24/7 first person impression, and has agreed to these standards. If someone from your group breaks character, it then becomes your duty to

1. Try to bring them back around, by using first person. Something as simple as "What are you talking about?" is usually enough, but if it is not...

2. Try taking the person aside by asking, "May I speak to you in private?" And remind the individual of the rules that he/she agreed to. With the individuals we have coming to SFS, I would be totally surprised if we go past #1, and totally shocked if we get to #3, which is get Hank or Linda.

Finally, often times reenactors tend to do “telegraph” first person, which is trying to talk about their modern life by using ‘old timey’ phrases, such as "I'll telegraph you when I get home." or "I got this at Mr. Walton's merchantile." Please use the parking lots as modern chit chat areas before and after the event, the more one lets go of their modern life at events, the more I believe one brings out of it.

Although your homes may be nothing more than a shebang, cave, or cabin, there's no wandering in the wilderness at this event, at least none that I'm anticipating. You're free to go visit other households, friends who have been put in the same position as yourself, but when it's all said and done you go back to your "home," be it ever so humble, to cook, eat, sleep, etc.

There are no planned evacuations from your hide-outs in the hollers, but I cannot make any guarantees what the military may do, but again, I repeat, there are no planned evacuations. I will also say that it is possible, though unlikely, that the event may begin and end without some of the civilians ever even seeing the military. I do encourage the civilians to be out and about as much as possible, but you all have to have a reason for being out. For example, the cabin people are going to be chinking their home and the pig will be slaughtered and butchered. Anyone with an interest is more than welcome to go assist. Perhaps you're out with the wagon collecting firewood, or...

Also, on a different note that just occured to me, be forewarned that there will be no planned scenarios with respect to food, etc. If the military takes it and you need it you have to be convincing as to *why* you need it, and you'll have to hope they have a kind heart. They will NOT be required to return any food items taken.

To the best of my recollection the only thing modern down there that we have to deal with is the modern barbed wire at the edges of the property, but of course everyone has to have the 21st century come in somewhere :-) So, if

you come across barbed wire, you're at the edge of the property. The entire site is fenced in, so please if anyone has frantic 21st century moments because a horse or a cow got loose, rest assured it's at home and going no where in the great scheme of things :-)

One concern that I have is the use of letters, etc. that spring surprises on unsuspecting citizens and/or soldiers, which attempt to get them to rewrite their background. For example, at Recon II, it was imperative that everyone believe that Hank's character, Willie, didn't have much money, since that was his motivation for most of his interaction with everyone during the event. In the midst of the event, a letter arrived that claimed that he was a horse thief and that was how he got his extra money. Hank had to work hard to deny the thievery charges, which was fine--people do get falsely accused in real life--but the real problem was that he *also* had to fight against being forced to rewrite his character as someone who had no money problems, which was a complete contradiction of everything he'd said, done and planned.

At McDowell, I was to portray a Union sympathizer, who was keeping her feelings to herself. In exchange for the hospitality of my character's hostess I was going to obtain favors for her from the Yankee army. Instead, an individual sabatoged the whole weekend by stating that I was a Unionist and that I had been stealing things from the Hull home. The letter supposedly was written by some Yankee (provost) who was giving me a pass in exchange for the stolen goods. I had no way to back up my story since I was a traveler and didn't know anyone, and I wound up becoming a prisoner and stayed most of the remainder of the event in virtual solitary confinement. My character was a strong willed lady who would not deny her sentiments, and would NEVER admit to stealing -- I was a very well bred lady with a husband (a nail manufacturer) who was worth over $100,000. Why would I steal?

And then there was Shaker Village where Kathryn Coombs was struck apparently out of the blue with being a runaway slave. Huh? A big show down occured on the village street.

I know it's fun to write letters, but I implore each of you to take into consideration the amount of time and effort that everyone, including the military, will be putting into their character development, and their specific backgrounds. I encourage you to contact the military and find out a bit about them so as not to blow them out of the water with a letter from the wife Mary, when their wife's name is Anna; or telling about the accomplishments of 3 year old son Johnny, when the soldier isn't even married, etc.

Remember that although their are no REAL consequences, there ARE assumed consequences. For example, if a civilian, or soldier for that matter, does something where he/she would be arrested, you are arrested until such time as your family, friends, comrades, etc. can negotiate a release. If you do something that would get you shot, but not killed, then you are wounded for the remainder of the event. If you are killed, you are dead for the remainder of the event (and please don't let that happen, or you'll have to leave the event, and I don't think that would be very fun). Use common sense, when doing things around the military and other civilians.

Questions? Just ask :-)

Illnesses and Injuries.

The following is a formula that will help to keep the event on target as a 100% immersion event. All illnesses and injuries should be considered part of the game unless you hear the words “9-1-1” otherwise, all medical talk should be kept in the period.

There are three kinds of illnesses and injuries at an immersion event.

An illness or injury that is feigned from the get-go, that if anything the reenactor is seeking period advice or an imitation period remedy, i.e. calomel, quinine, laudanum, etc. (see below for recipes)

A real illness or injury (such as a mild headache) that the reenactor believes is not life threatening and wishes to have it treated in a period manner.

3.A true emergency. This should be quickly recognized by the use of the phrase “9-1-1.”

Please do not use “We need an ambulance.” “This man’s been injured.” or other similar phrases to note the need of modern medicine. The only term to bring modern medicine should be “9-1-1”

There is to be NO dispensing of modern medicine. The only modern medicine to be brought to the event is that listed in the guidelines, and is strictly for use by the person bringing it. (see http://struggleforstatehood.homestead.com/civilianguidelines.html ) If there’s a real emergency EMTs will be called.

All period medicines should be harmless. For example:

Blue mass (calomel) can be made of blue food coloring, flour and water, and baked into little pills.

Laudanum could be iced tea.

Quinine could be sugar… All medicines are liable to be seized by the armies.

Please remember this is pre-germ theory, and pre-antibiotics.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to give me a call 740-256-1699 or drop me a line lindatrent@zoomnet.net