Two years ago I had the opportunity to work as a reenactor for the TNT movie "Rough Riders" which was filmed at several locations here in Texas. Written and directed by John Milius, the Executive Producers are Larry Levinson and Tom Berenger. I wanted to put down my thoughts about the film. Mr. Milius is a certified Teddy Roosevelt "nut". Combine that with him as the writer and also director; what I witnessed was an attention to detail that was extraordinary. There was no hesitation on the part of anyone to deviate from the script if something seemed either more appropriate or portrayed a more accurate interpretation of what must have happened. Having just finished reading Roosevelt's account of the Rough Riders, written in 1899, this movie should become, not only the first, but the definitive film on the subject.

What really struck me were the parallels between what we went through as extras-in-training and how Roosevelt described the recruits in his memoirs. From experienced principal actor to first day extra, everyone was treated exactly the same. The base camp operated not unlike a period military encampment with military courtesy extended to, and returned by, the officers. Everyone worked to achieve the common goal, and no one was too busy, or too important, not to stop and answer a question, or render assistance. Roosevelt's own words describe it best:

"From the beginning we started out to secure the essentials of discipline, while laying just as little stress as possible on the non-essentials. The men were singularly quick to respond to any appeal to their intelligence and patriotism."

This exactly describes the mood of the set. All the drilling, waiting in line, waiting at the set, re-doing minute segments of each major scene a few seconds at a time, wardrobe changes, laying dead on a battlefield for hours, being constantly wet from going in and out of the river over and over again throughout twelve to eighteen hours of shooting, all this was met by everyone with an enthusiastic response and a strong desire to contribute to the film's success. One night after I'd gotten home from an eighteen hour day of shooting, and I was sitting on the back porch unwinding, I asked myself; "What makes this a great movie? There's no love story, no great injustice. What's so special about this film, and why would I, or anyone else want to see it?" I immediately thought, "Well, it's one hell of a war story." But I knew that wasn't enough. These were hard questions, and I couldn't come to a conclusion right away. I had to think more about it for awhile... The war itself was not very long; a few months of preparation and a few weeks of fighting. The short time period does however, make the subject ripe for an all inclusive film. But what makes it a powerful subject, one that people would want to see? I believe it is the time period itself. It was the turn of the century, just thirty years after the Civil War and only fifteen years prior to WWI. The Wild West, and the Indian Wars were over, and a new era was dawning. Everyone knows how the country was torn apart by the Civil War. Not just the country, but families. It was not known as "The War Between Brothers" without reason. In 1898, though a full thirty years after the War for Southern Independence, there was still plenty of animosity between the south and north. This little war had a tremendous effect on changing all that. Roosevelt wrote:

"Everywhere the people came out to greet us... We were traveling through a region where practically all the older men had served in the Confederate Army, and where the younger men had all their lives long drunk in the endless tales told by their elders... The blood of the old men stirred to the distant breath of battle; the blood of the young men leaped hot with eager desire to accompany us... Everywhere we saw the Stars and Stripes, and everywhere we were told, half-laughing, by grizzled ex-Confederates that they had never dreamed in the by-gone days of bitterness to greet the old flag as they now were greeting it, and to send their sons, as now they were sending them, to fight and die under it."

This is why the film is so powerful. It is the story of our rebirth as a nation, and taking our place as a leader in a changing, modern, and international world. I know the editors will be of the same caliber as the directors, actors, and crew, and will do their part in making this an excellent motion picture. As the great-grandson of a veteran, who fought in this war, in Mexico, and WWI as well, I am proud to have played a small role in it's production.

While filming, I met many reenactors well versed in the hobby, and I began to seek them out asking questions about their units, and what they did. I knew I wanted to pursue this thing further.

On my return home, I began a search to find a group with which to become affiliated. After talking to several groups around the state, my search ended accidentally when I walked into the Civil War Museum in Old Town Spring and joined the 11th Texas Cavalry, Co. A.

Later I was to find out that there were six others of the 11th Texas, Co. C, based in Sherman, were also involved, so the 11th Texas was well represented!