Kris --
Those movies had their problems. But think about how much better they were
in creating a believable atmosphere and sense of place because of what the
material culture-reenactor have discovered and taught us about the finer
points of 17th and 18th century life. Much more than you'd get out of of
academic journals or CRM reports.
As a former F&I and Rev War reenactor, I felt that I learned a great deal
about life in 18th century military that I would never have learned from
the historical or archaeological record, or from my graduate education in
history and historical archaeology.
Cheers!
Carl Barna
Regional Historian
BLM Colorado State Office