Authentic Campaigner - Owned by Mess No. 1's Eric Tipton. We highly recommend this forum for discussions about correct gear, period photos, drill, & tactics. The Classified Sales are an excellent source. If you need help with gear, just check with Ken Cornett by clicking here.
Common Ground Forum - Created by Eric Tipton and now owned by Ken Cornett, this forum has discussions about a wide range of topics and is entirely reenactor-related. Ken has made the Common Ground an even-keeled well balanced forum for anyone in the hobby.
LIVING HISTORY LINKS
Mess No. 1 on Facebook - Follow Mess No. 1 on a daily basis on Facebook. We provide constant updates about authentic events, related groups, and other goings on of the authentic civil war hobby.
FORUMS & SOCIAL MEDIA
Lookout Mountain, 2003 - One of Mess No. 1's first events. Photo on Point Lookout.
LIVING HISTORY ORGANIZATIONS
Sixth Ohio - Our Original Unit and home base. The Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry is based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. The 6th mostly does local events in Ohio and Kentucky, as well as regional events events and national once per year.
The Potomac Legion - Based mainly out east in Pennsylvania, this is an umbrella group for several smaller organizations. Dave Towsen of the PL works as a Mod with Ken on the Common Ground Forum.
24th Missouri - Our good friends Mike Phineas and Michael Comer hail from the 24th Missouri and we have fallen in with them a couple of times, including the 150th Franklin and the 150th Bentonville. An excellent crew out west. Definitely check them out.
S.C.A.R. - We first fell in with with Jim Butler and SCAR at the Lookout Mountain Event in 2003 and we attended several Living Histories at Shiloh as well. Jim was a Commander of a Company at Rich Mountain and the Leader of a Foraging Party at Bummers.
Old Northwest Volunteers - The ONV is an affiliation of authentic American Civil War living historians in and around the old northwest territory. The Old Northwest is dedicated to to the preservation of history as authentically and accurately as possible.
The Liberty Rifles - Founded in 1999, the Liberty Rifles (LR) is a group of living historians who strive to accurately portray the common fighting men and homefront civilians of the American Civil War, while excelling in terms of authenticity and organization. Paul Boccadoro fell in with us at Home Sweet Home.
VISIT OUR LINKS
If you are involved with Civil War Living History, here are some sites that are well-worth visiting. We will continue to add new sites going forward until we have a good, comprehensive list. If you would like to have your organization listed on this page, please send Eric Tipton an e-mail by clicking here.
1st Maine Cavalry - The 1st Maine Cavalry reenacting organization evolved out of the 2nd Maine Cavalry which was formed in Florida by Stevens Bunker in 1959 for the Centennial of the Civil War.
23rd VA Inf. Co.'s A-K - Dedicated to accurate portrayal of the citizen-soldiers and civilians of the period of 1858 to 1865. Our members come mostly from Central, Tidewater, & Northern Virginia.
33rd Wisconsin - Our primary military impression is that of Company E, "The Rock County Plough Boys" of the 33rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment which served in the 'Western Theatre' of the war.
36th Illinois Regiment , Co. B - Primarily from the greater Chicago and Joliet, Illinois area. We set up different camps, drill, and participate with other Civil War units in the area and at national level events.
52nd Tennessee Infantry - From in and around Shelby County. Our principal reason for existence is to promote an authentic portrayal of Civil War history to the best of our ability and to have fun doing it.
Breckinridge Greys - A group of living historians based in Kentucky & portraying the common Confederate infantry soldier in the western theater of The War (for Southern Independence).
Citizens Guard - An accuracy driven living history group, re-vamped by current Hard Head Mess members and associates who have an interest in the original company that founded in Fox Lake, Wisconsin, 2/22/60.
German Mess - Based in Germany, we are a community of like-minded people who try, a certain period of history to be as authentic as possible. Follow the link to find information about us, our goals and our hobby.
Hairy Nation Boys - An authentic living history group based mainly out of Iowa. The Hairy Nation Boys are led by Nathan "Holler" Hellwig. Click on the Link to visit Holler's profile on the Authentic Campaigner.
Hard Head Mess - The Hard Head Mess is a collection of good friends who desire a little more than what typical Civil War living histories have to offer. Started in 1999 by Tom Klas, Matt Smith, & Andy Voss,
Independent Rifles - The Independent Rifles are a campaigner focused organization with members coming from Tenn, Miss, LA, Alabama, Georgia and Texas. The IVR was first organized in November 1995.
Independent Volunteer Rifles (IVR) - A campaigner, battalion -level living history organization made up of the 3rd Virginia, 10th Virginia, 23rd Virginia and the Princess Anne Grays. Educate, preserve and portray.
Iron Scouts - The "Scouts" recruit outside of geographic boundaries and the unit boasts members from North and South Carolina as well as affiliations with individuals and units from Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee.
North State Rifles - Based in the State of North Carolina, the North State Rifles were founded in 1999 with the mission to study & recreate the experience of North Carolina's soldiers during the Civil War.
Palmetto Guards - The Palmetto Guards is a campaigner based unit in South Carolina. We strive to achieve the highest level of authenticity possible, focusing on uniforms, drill, and the life of soldier's on the campaign.
Rat Tails!!!! - Part of S.C.A.R. The Southeast Coalition of Authentic Re-enactor’s was created to join a, cohesive group of like-minded representatives from the southeast authentic Civil War reenacting community
Stonewall Brigade - Created in 1981, a campaigner - style organization, dedicated to authenticity, and active in local Civil War reenacting battles, living histories, and historical interpretation.
Yocona Rip Raps - The Rip Raps seek to portray the lot of the private soldier in the Western Theatre during the War Between the States. We focus on the overall impression as well as the small details.
Western Independent Grays (WIG) - We have worked with the WIG for over eleven years on various events. We have attended the WIG annual meeting several times. Now led by our good friend, Herb Coats, the WIG continues to organize and attend events.
Armory Guards - For Bummers in 2009, we teamed up with the Armory Guards. Mess No. 1 wrote the script for the event and marketed and the Armory Guards handled the site work and logistics. We look forward to working with them again in the future.
