Civil war re-enactments are a popular pastime for historians and families alike. Re-enactments are held all over the country and might re-enact an actual battle or just provide a glimpse into what soldiers of the 1860s experienced when at war. Uniforms are exact replicas of the ones worn by Union and Confederate troops, and even the cooking is done in a historically accurate manner.
Water Containers
Water containers were made of heavy earthenware with a cork stopper. Buy one that has an opening large enough for ice cubes because you can get extremely hot at re-enactments if you are wearing a full wool uniform. Other acceptable water containers are metal buckets, which were used to hold washing or cooking water.
Pots and Pans
Cooking equipment used by soldiers is similar to today's camping equipment. A cast-iron pan is essential and can be found at any discount or kitchen-supply store. Today's cast-iron skillets are generally the same as the ones used back then, so there is no need to buy one from a period dealer. Most pots made during the Civil War were made of tin, which is not readily available. If you plan to use pots, it is better to use a cast-iron dutch oven because this is more historically accurate.
Serving Utensils
Tin plates were used by rank-and-file soldiers and looked like pie plates that are used today. Officers typically used china in period patterns. Both styles can be found online at TexasSutler.com.
Bowls were made from crockery or were wooden. EBay has a variety of kitchenware available for sale and has a special section called Collectibles: Militaria: Civil War: Re-enactment-Reproduction, where all types of goods related to the Civil War can be purchased.
Forks and knives were mostly silver-plated and can also be acquired from eBay or Texas Sutler. The one main difference is forks did not have four tines. Instead, they had only two or three. If you try to pass of modern-day forks, it will definitely be noticed, so make sure you invest in period pieces.
Cooking Utensils
The most iconic item you can purchase is an iron fire pit grate. The grate sits on top of wood or coals and your cast-iron pots and pans rest directly on the grate. You can also purchase a three-legged cook pot for soups, stews and beans. To make your cooking chores easier, keep the fire stoked at all times or your cooking tasks may take all night.
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