Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a Civil War soldier?

Well, come to the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum on Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and find out at this free event. A reenactment group called the Palmetto Riflemen & New York Zouaves are setting up a Camp of Instruction to show you the process of becoming a soldier in the 1860s.

And at least to some extent, you will be invited to participate yourself. There will be things to see, but the event is being billed as “more semi-immersive than display.” It will feature such things as initial enlistment: the issuing of uniforms, weapons and equipment; and more, followed by a scheduled public drill for adults and children with wooden rifles or broom sticks.

The purpose of the event would be to teach the public about the lives, experiences and service of the average soldier during our nation’s bloodiest war, with specific emphasis being placed on units and individuals from South Carolina. As usual with such special programs, admission to the rest of the museum will be free on that Saturday.

During the “Camp,” semi-immersive static displays will walk visitors through enlistment, and also feature illustrations of daily lives of the civilians of South Carolina during the period.

Attendees, both adults and children will be invited to drill with the company and learn the School of the Soldier, Bayonet Drill and Sword Exercises. (But not with real weapons, mind you.)

Those who regularly attend events featuring living historians (more commonly called re-enactors) at the museum will see some familiar faces, such as that of Captain Kenneth H. Robison, who frequently wears his Zoave uniform to the Relic Room.

“This event is going to be more than ‘junk on a bunk’,” Robison says, referring to the purely “look but don’t touch” kind of event. Attendees will participate, and in more than just the marching. If they stay to the end, the paymaster will also give them their pay as soldiers – and not only in play Confederate money. There will be some play Yankee dollars as well.

But this event will be as much about doing as seeing. By the way, speaking of enlistment, if you really get interested, this invitation is including on the website of the Palmetto Riflemen & New York Zouaves:

“The Palmetto Riflemen & New York Zoaves is open to any person(s) with an interest in the American Civil War, either as a military or civilian reenact/living historians; provided that they have never been convicted of any infamous or heinous crime. And for any person under the age of 18 looking to join, they will require the consent of parents or guardians.”

But that’s only if you want more after participating on the 25th. You won’t actually have to enlist to have some fun. We hope to see you there!