Battle of Waterloo - 200 Years

[Gregoshi]

Has anyone here been to one of those Gettysburg reenactments? They're said to be quite good as well.

I go to the Gettysburg reenactments every couple of years. The reenactments on the "fives" (135, 140, 145...) are usually BIG. I went to the 135th for Pickett's Charge where they had about 15000 reenactors and I personally counted about 100 cannons between both sides. I was at the 150th two years ago but it was rather disappointing as not too many Confederates showed up compared to the masses of Union troops. I think all the big 150th anniversary reenactments was starting to take its toll on the participants (plus the Confederates lost that one...). I've also been to a couple of the big Antietam reenactments before they became private events.

Here's a link to my Facebook album for the 135th Pickett's Charge reenactment which covers it from the cannonade to the skirmishers to the full blown charge: Pickett's Charge album

[I of the Storm]

Great, thanks for the pictures!

Well, they probably ran out of manpower eventually...

[SwordsMaster]

Very good pictures Gregoshi.

Edyz, it's my first time at LeMans, so yeah really looking forward to it!

[edyzmedieval]

Beautiful stuff Gregoshi.

Did you ever participate in one of those re-enactments? (not necessarily Gettysburg)

[Hooahguy]

I will be attending the 200th anniversary and both re-enactments. I will take pictures, dont worry! Got Class A tickets too so I should have a good spot to see it from! Was rather expensive though but I think it will be worth it. I just hope it doesnt rain.

[Gregoshi]

I will be attending the 200th anniversary and both re-enactments. I will take pictures, dont worry! Got Class A tickets too so I should have a good spot to see it from! Was rather expensive though but I think it will be worth it. I just hope it doesnt rain.

I look forward to those pictures. If you can, scout the field ahead of time. Talk to some reenactors or event officials to find out the general direction of the action. You don't want to be on the wrong end of the field. These events are in fields and on farms so not all viewing locations will have the best line of sight. Artillery will probably be easy to figure out as they are typically setup prior to the event. If your ticket allows you to move around, so much the better. For the Pickett's Charge event in the pictures, they had a mile of bleachers along the line of attack and unfortunately, we were sitting closer to the Confederate starting location and were fairly far from The Angle/wall and climax of the battle. So some recon prior to the battle(s) may enhance your enjoyment of them.

[Hooahguy]

The actual re-enactments will be on the 19th and 20th of June, and Im planning on spending literally all day on the battlefield on the 18th and 19th (and them Im going to Bastogne on the 20th with Andres, and hopefully will make it back in time for the 2nd re-enactment, as it doesnt start until 20:000. Unfortunately I wont be able to get into Hougoumont farm or any of the new museums as you need to pay for tickets and they are all sold out but I got lucky with the re-enactments. Will post pictures here and on facebook for those who have me on there!

[edyzmedieval]

I will be attending the 200th anniversary and both re-enactments. I will take pictures, dont worry! Got Class A tickets too so I should have a good spot to see it from! Was rather expensive though but I think it will be worth it. I just hope it doesnt rain.

Huzzah!

Looking forward to see those pictures over here, I'm glad someone from the Org is going to see the re-enactment. Same goes for Andres.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Damn, this is what I get for putting off buying tickets. Guys that are going, have a great time! I'll try to get in... somehow.

[Gregoshi]

Thanks for the comments on the pictures. They are scans of prints as this was 1998 and I was a few years away from the switch to digital.

Did you ever participate in one of those re-enactments? (not necessarily Gettysburg)

I thought about it for several years as my very first one, the 135th Antietam, had a very powerful emotional impact on me. At the time though, cost was a factor. Plus the idea of sweating by the bucket load wearing wool on a 90+ degree F/32+ degree C hot sunny day kind of killed the enthusiasm.

[Kralizec]

I agree with Brenus. I think that if Napoleon managed to win Waterloo (he almost did, AFAIK with my limited knowledge of the battle) it would only have postponed his inevitable downfall. The truly decisive battle of those wars was at Leipzig, which also involved far more soldiers.

[Hooahguy]

I agree with Brenus. I think that if Napoleon managed to win Waterloo (he almost did, AFAIK with my limited knowledge of the battle) it would only have postponed his inevitable downfall. The truly decisive battle of those wars was at Leipzig, which also involved far more soldiers.

I prefer to think of Waterloo as the more decisive battle, as it justifies the relatively large amount of money I am spending for my trip there.