We are always looking for recruits that have an interest in The Civil War. You will find that we are a friendly, but professional unit on and off the field, and we strive to honor the memories of those in the original 79th.  Our unit is a family, and close-knit, but we welcome those who want to join us. You will find that the members of the 79th are eager to share our knowledge, and to welcome you into our ranks.

Once you contact us, we will answer any questions you may have, and try to provide any information you need.  If you decide you want to attend an event  ( reenactor term for reenactments ) we will let you know what you need to do, what to bring, etc. 

When you first come out to an event with us, we don't expect you to obtain all your gear right off and we have loaner gear available. If you decide you want to attend with us, let us know your clothing sizes as soon as possible so we can make arrangements.

 If you decide you want to join, we will assist you in buying the right uniform items and equipment, and we allow sufficient time for you to purchase what you need ( we ask that you not make any purchases without checking first, so you don't waste money on gear you can't use ).  Before you take the field for the first time, you will be assigned to a Non-Commissioned Officer ( NCO ) or designee for training.  We stress safety first and foremost, and your trainer will help you learn the skills you will need to be a reenactor. Also, while on the field, veteran members will work with you as well.

 The 79th normally requires members to be 18 or older to carry a weapon. We ask, in the case of recruits under 18, that we speak to a parent or guardian before the recruit comes to an event. Those under 18 may also function as musicians ( drum or fife, etc ). Some events have rules about participants under 18, and such situations will be handled on a case by case basis.   

We do have yearly dues, which currently are $10 for individuals and $20 for families. These funds are used for buying unit supplies, black powder, percussion caps, maintaining this website, and for other basic day to day operations of the unit.

 Every year, usually in January,  we gather for an annual meeting and set our schedule for the year. While we do not require members to attend a certain number of events, we do ask that you attend as many as you are able to, especially those designated as maximum effort/company events. We attend events close to home and in other states ( in the past we have visited  Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania and the Carolinas, among others ). We organize carpools to far away events, and members assist each other connecting riders and drivers. For past long-distance events, members have rented a van, and organized riders from the same area. We will give you plenty of notice about events so you can make plans. You will receive e-mail or phone reminders, and the events for the year are all listed on this site.

We also pride ourselves on being friends off the field as well. The members of the 79th don't just see each other at events,  we meet as friends for dinner, movies, etc.  Members have made road trips together to visit battlefields, museums, and historic sites, outside of the realm of reenacting.

Of course, reenacting can be a strenuous hobby, and weather conditions at events can be rough.  At times, you may get rained on, you may be cold, and you may be hot. But you will also get to experience waking up to the smell of a campfire and seeing no modern intrusions. You will get to  fight at dawn in the woods and camp under the stars after a march. You will also make lifelong friends and have a really good time in the process.

If you are interested in the 79th New York and enjoy Civil War history, go to the Contact Us section and send us an e-mail. We'll be glad to assist you in joining our ranks.