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Chickamauga: Living history actors seek realistic clothing and equipment

By: Mike O'Neal
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Jim Ogden

CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. — Many Civil War re-enactors, like the thousands expected next month for the anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga, find what began as a casual hobby has become a passion that consumes their available time — and financial resources.

The goal is to dress in authentic attire, which is where Bill and Ann Shackleford, owners of Mountain City Mercantile, fit into the scheme of re-enacting. They sell an “entire Civil War wardrobe from uniforms for Confederate and Union Soldiers, as well as dresses and gentlemen’s clothing of the time,” according to their online catalog.

Increased numbers of re-enactors have resulted in increased demands for uniforms — the more authentic, the better.

“There is a drive toward more accurate reproduction of authentic dress,” said Jim Ogden, historian with the National Park Service’s Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. “A lot is due to better research driven by people in the re-enactment and living history community themselves.

“Some have entire closets of uniforms,” he said. “Some that re-enact regularly will open the trunk of their car and pull out a midwar jacket, but only after throwing aside the early war Eastern jacket.”

Re-enactors from as far away as England are expected to take part in some of the events surrounding the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga, to be marked Sept. 19-21.

The Shacklefords were re-enactors for about 20 years.

From that passion, they started selling period costumes out of a former pharmacy building in downtown Chickamauga. They describe their business as a “combination general store and museum.”

“It grew from a hobby to a part-time job and then to a full-time occupation after I retired,” Mr. Shackleford said. “Some of the stuff we make ourselves. I make shirts, mostly hand stitching. My wife engineers stuff from original patterns, and there are several ladies that like to do sewing for us.”

Finding authentic material can be a challenge. Dedicated re-enactors refuse to wear just anything colored blue or gray.

“Different groups try to portray as accurately as possible,” said Chickamauga City Manager John Culpepper, a veteran re-enactor. “I’m not a stitch counter (someone who counts threads-per-inch to assure uniform cloth is like that of the past), but nobody can just order boots and dungarees from Sears Roebuck.

“A lot of guys still make their own stuff, but this sutler business grew as the number of re-enactors grew,” Mr. Culpepper said. “Re-enactors are living historians, and this gets you closer to the truth of the time.”

Mr. Culpepper and Mr. Shackleford say their childhood interest in the Civil War resulted in a lifelong interest in history.

“I was always interested in the war and in genealogy,” Mr. Shackleford said. “I’m a past commander of both the Sons of Confederate Veterans and of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.”

Mountain City Mercantile’s customers include people from all social, ethnic and educational backgrounds, according to Mrs. Shackleford.

“Re-enactors honor their ancestors, Union or Southern,” she said. “They are not trying to rewrite history, they are trying to re-create history.”

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