25th North Carolina Infantry

25th North Carolina Infantry, Inc. portraying
25th Regiment,
North Carolina Troops
and
14th Iowa, U. S.
"Reliving American History"

The 25th North Carolina Infantry, Inc. was formed in 1993 to reactivate the historic regiment and to provide a “mountain regiment” to complement the piedmont and eastern regiments. Some of our members have ancestors who fought in the original 25th, and many have ancestors in other North Carolina regiments. Some had ancestors in other Southern regiments, while some have Federal ancestors or some of both. Having an ancestor who served is not a membership requirement. Our membership ranges from Lexington North Carolina to Santa Barbara, California.

We are family oriented. Women and children are welcome to participate in our camps and events as civilians. Older boys can become drummers or fifers.

What is involved
As a reenactor with the 25th, you can participate rather than just read about our history, visiting historic sites and often seeing or experiencing things a tourist never does. We sometimes have personal tours of sites by noted historians, park rangers, etc. Members of the 25th enjoy the social experience of camp life as well as the tactical and emotional experience of battle. Sometimes some of us appear in movies. The primary pleasures of reenacting are learning history by experience and the camaraderie and fellowship of a wide variety of people, just as the old fellows did.

Typical weekend activities range from battles of all sizes, up to 15,000 soldiers or more, including cavalry and artillery, to living history encampments at historic homes or local festivals. There is generally at least one event per month but there is no required minimum attendance. Most events are within 4 hours of home. Generally a group will get together and carpool.

Uniforms and equipment can be purchased from re-enactor merchants called “Sutlers,” who sell at events and through the mail. You can make a lot of your own clothes and equipment if you have the talent. The basic kit of a soldier purchased new, costs about $1,000.00. including weapons. A new recruit has a year to obtain the basics and can borrow items until then. We have several sets of company muskets, bayonets and leathers for this purpose. Uniform clothing can generally be borrowed from others until the recruit gets the basics: Shoes, trousers, shirt, coat, hat. Purchase of used items and self-made items can decrease the cost substantially.

As the original 25th had no known female soldiers, a military member must be male, at least 16 years old and sufficiently physically fit to participate, as there are periods of strenuous activity involved. Civilian members are spouses and children of military members. Associate membership is available for other interested parties.

The 25th North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment is presently recruiting. If you love Civil War history, the outdoors and great friendship, then this call is for you.

We are a group of men and women dedicated to preserving a part of American history through battle reenactments, living history encampments, preservation projects and school programs.

A recent first for the 25th NC Troops is the introduction of skirmish by bugle commands as was done at that time of the war, successfully demonstrating the effectiveness of this method. We are one of the few units in the entire hobby to have this specialty.