First Manassas Reenactment, 1961

YouTube videos from original 8mm home movies shot at the 1961 reenactment (silent, about 30 minutes each)

Following this event, the Park Service decided to concentrate on using living history rather than reenactments for interpretive programs. Employees or volunteers dressed in period uniforms could demonstrate and explain the various tactics and maneuvers to visitors. Thus, a visitor could learn from living historians and gain a better understanding of what it was like to be a Civil War soldier.

Modern Reenactors should get a kick out of the inaccuracies of many of the uniforms seen in these photographs. Most of the images were shot on July 22, 1961,

On June 20, 2013 I received the following note from a reenactor who participated in the event. (Posted with permission)

I was a participant in the reenactment at Manassas Virginia 1961 attending with the 67th Volunteer infantry, Long Island, New York. Our group was more a musket rifle team that shot competition against other rifle teams all over the country. We competed in full regalia as Confederate and Union forces and keeping true with the primitive methods of load and fire. With few reproduction firearms available at that time we used original Civil War era muskets. My rifle was an 1861 Springfield and all my leather goods were original federal issue, including original lambs wool and nipple pick in an original cap box. We had wool uniforms belted in and did we ever sweat that July.

A comment, not on your site but elsewhere was made that attempts at realism was pathetic in 1961 compared to present day dress of more enlightened reenactors of today, is unfair reportage. Media reportage on the 1961 event was not favorable either but who cares what reporters think anyhow. On Henry Hill we lined up and volley fired muskets and the roar and smoke from black powder rifle and cannon surely sounded and smelled no different to our fore-fathers a century before. I wanted to experience as much as I could of what they experienced. The few moments I had before contemplating my next move before the Confederates charge across the field, I wiped my face across my mouth on my sleeve. I could feel and taste the grime about my cheeks and mouth from residue black powder left behind after tearing open paper cartridges. And, my finger tips on my left hand holding the rifle stock and touching the barrel at the same time, was singed brown.

Bob Risch