The Civil War Blacksmith

Reb with portable smithy at the June 2007 Corbet's Charge re-enactment. The original tintype actually reverses this image.

This tintype was taken by John J. Bernaski of Oxford, NJ using an original lense on a hand made reproduction 1860's camera.

Reb at the Union Mills Homestead, Union Mills , MD.

Welcome to the Civil War Blacksmith web site. The blacksmith forge is located in the bark shed of the Union Mills Homestead in Union Mills, Carroll County, Maryland.

  My name is Joseph C. Staup III, most just call me Reb. I am a Living History Re-enactor with the Foundation for Preservation of Civil War History which is an umbrella group under the National Heritage Foundation. I portray General Fitzhugh Lee (Robert E. Lee's nephew and cavalry brigade and corps General).

  I have been blacksmithing since 2004 and doing living history demonstratoins at the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster, MD. and the Union Mills Homestead in Union Mills, MD. As a re-enactor and blacksmith I know the high costs of the equipment we bring to re-enactments and what we have to pay at most sutlers who pretty much have us at their will since they are specialty shops to our hobby.

  I am a member of the Blacksmith Guild of Central Maryland, which is located at the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster, Md. They are devoted to the promotion of the traditional art of blacksmithing through demonstration and teaching of it in thier 8 forge facility located on the premises of the farm museum.

  My mission is to bring you quality iron work of civil reproductions that you can use in your camp as well as other iron work at prices more affordable than what can be found on sutler row. Our equipment cost enough, so why pay more than we have to.

Don't forget to check out my Ebay Store for items with special savings.