Conflict Of Interest: Blue Vs. Gray

American Demographics, June 1, 2004 by Stephanie Decker

In addition to The WatchDog other publications target this audience. The two largest are the Camp Chase Gazette and the Civil War News. Ironically, the main media outlet for this 19th century hobby is the decidedly 21st century Internet. Enter the words Civil War reenactors on Google and over 25,000 results will appear. Most reenacting units have created their own Web pages to disseminate information on their troop and on upcoming events as well as recommended vendors.

At first glance this is a fragmented market, comprised of small retailers and media outlets. Additionally it is difficult to get accurate economic data on the marketplace. In Gettysburg, the Convention and Visitors Center has not assembled any information on the reenacting community or on other groups of Civil War enthusiasts. Still, they estimate $225 million a year in revenue!

Through their passion for the hobby they are aiding in the preservation of Civil War battlefields. Reenactments serve to raise funds and generate awareness of the precarious state of Civil War battlefields today. As urban sprawl continues and zoning laws are not established, more battlefields are lost each year. The Civil War Preservation Trust estimates that nearly 20 percent of Civil War battlefields have been destroyed and only 15 percent are protected by the federal government.

Recently, a proposed development by the Dogwood Development Company on part of the Chancellorsville battlefield was halted, due in part to the reenacting community who rallied in opposition.

Ted Alexander, chief historian of the Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Md., views reenactors as a valuable asset and credits them with raising awareness of the plight of Civil War battlefields. He says they unselfishly give up their time to help in the preservation endeavor, and inject a good sense of patriotism in our society and he respects that.

This group of impassioned individuals could be viewed as historical preservationists. Through their monetary investment in their hobby, they draw attention to endangered historical sites. They are acolytes of the adage, "those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it."