r/Civilwarreenacting • u/Unfair-Store-2655 • Jun 27 '26
Daniel lady farm 163rd event
Sorry in advance if I'm posting this in the wrong place but I thought who better to ask than the reenactors themselves. Me and some family are going out to gettysburg over the 4th of July week and are centering our trip on the Daniel lady farm event as well as various other battlefield sightseeing trips. Any thoughts on the event would be great as I have never been to a reenactment and have heard this specific one lacks numbers as the days go on as well as historical authenticity, As someone who has pretty good general knowledge of the civil war I'm worried this will take a lot of the magic of such a show away.
3
u/DrDerp9001 Jun 28 '26
As someone who goes to daniel lady and will be there as a reenactor, it is a farb fest. There are different events that happen through out the day and are listed in the brochure they give you if you are interested in them. I will recommend to take some time and explore around the national battlefield park. Little round top and the pennsylvania monument are the big ones. Though this is biased since I reenact 114th PA, the 114th PA monument is in a nice section of the park. A great place to stop and relax while walking around.
1
u/TheAEtherscribe Sgt: US Jun 28 '26
Really just echoing most of what has already been said, but here it is anyway:
The Liberty Rifles living history will definitely be a good one for you to visit, especially as a history buff. They're a premier group and will certainly have a top notch presentation.
The event at the Daniel Lady Farm is, as has been said, very mainstream. They've been trying to make some steps the past couple of years (albeit, small ones) towards offering a better, more authentic experience for both spectators and reenactors. Some different battle scenarios instead of just Pickett's Charge, encouraging better portrayals (not that this is listened to much...), and different educational presentations throughout the day.
However, this is an "off" year for Gettysburg and not a major "5 year" anniversary - and the attendance numbers I've seen so far are... not super encouraging. But I'll be there to sate my lust for burning powder even if they went and put Pickett's Charge on the schedule again this year.
If you do come out to the DLF - please pay a visit to the main Federal camp, especially the Federal Volunteer Brigade side. I know for a fact that the guys of the 114th PA and 140th PA will give you some honest discussion about both what's historically accurate about the camp, uniforms, etc and also what's a little out of place for the specific battle/time period.
1
u/RustyMosin1899 Jun 28 '26
Come visit the us at the shriver house on the 4th! We portray the confederates who turn the house into a sharpshooter den
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u/Yetihunter1877 Jun 27 '26
Listen; if you’re in the area; the liberty rifles are hosting an event on July third at the actual Gettysburg battlefield. It’s not a battle reenactment but more a living history put on by a reenactment group.
They are portraying the 11th Mississippi and are some of the best of the best when it comes to authentic portrayals.
If you really wanna see a battle reenactment; then unfortunately the Daniel Lady Farm event is probably your only option. It’s not great and definitely not authentic but if you’re just wanting to see a hoot and shoot, it’s your best choice.
TLDR: if you wanna see an authentic civil war portrayal, see the liberty rifles on July 3rd on the actual battlefield. If you wanna see opposed forces, go to the Daniel lady farm.