The Michigan State Relief Association

The Michigan State Relief Association (MSRA) is devoted to accurately portraying camp life of civilians during the American Civil War ,1861 - 1865. It is designed to guide re-enactors to develop a civilian impression and conduct period activities.

A separate authentic camp area will be available at ACW Society events as a centre for civilian re-enactors. Authenticity is paramount and all costumes, camp furniture and artefacts need to be either age related or accurate copies.

Activities undertaken by the MSRA will reflect those carried out by a typical Relief Agency of the civil war period . Some activities are provided in the following list :

• Sewing quilts, ration bags, flannel drawers and shirts, housewives, handkerchiefs
• Knitting mittens and socks
• Making slippers
• Providing refreshments - cordials, biscuits, cakes, jellies, jams
• 'Scraping lint' ( used to pack wounds!)
• Reading to and writing letters for wounded soldiers.

The authentic civilian camp will be set up to display material, demonstrate activities and interact with both the public and other re-enactors.

An original MSRA banner from the Civil War