Jonah,
While at a reenactment I happened to hear a very enlightening conversation between a wide-eyed 10-year-old and a "colonel" of dismounted cavalry.
It sort of went like this...
Shelby Toe
Colonel: Howdy there little feller! You look like a fine little Confederate!
Boy: (shyly) Nawwww. (Covering eyes) I am an American. Who are you?
Colonel: Why, I am Colonel Alfred Bullrod Busby, 77th Texas Cavalry, at your service!
Boy: (Eyes opening up widely) Neato! Where is your horse? Can I pet him?
Colonel: Um um huh... Well, the Yankees... um… they shot our horses and we have no more, so we are "dismounted."
Boy: So you are regular soldiers then? And you have to walk?
Colonel: Why um, no. (Inspired) We rode our horses here and we fight on foot.
Boy: (Suspicious) I thought you said you didn't have no horses.
Colonel: Well, um, we um, we just have to... umm…
Boy: (Understanding tone) Oh I see. You pretend. I like to pretend too. I pretend I am a Pokemon trainer
Colonel: (Embarrassed) Sort of...
Boy: Well, sir, can I see your regiment? I want to talk to the Soldiers! I bet they are neat!
Colonel: (Proudly) Why, certainly son! (Pointing) That's them over there.
Boy: (Craning neck) Are they behind those two old fat guys and the woman dressed up like a man?
Colonel: (Turning red) That's my regiment.
Boy: Oh, okay. My uncle is in the Marine Corps and he has four guys that work for him, but he don't call them a regiment; he calls them a fire team, and he's only a corporal.
Colonel: Um, um, uh huh...
Boy: This looks like fun. Do you do it because its fun?
Colonel: (Looking noble) Why, I do this in order to honor the Confederacy and teach people the truth about the war!
Boy: Wow, so you are a teacher! Cool! I bet you are a neat teacher. What school do you teach at?
Colonel: Well, actually, I am not a teacher. I am, ah... an assistant manager at an automotive convenience mart.
Boy: Neat! My older brother pumps gas, too! At least until he gets out of high school.
Colonel: (Quickly changing subjects) As I was saying, son, I like to teach people the truth about the War Betwixt the States.
Boy: (Puzzled) Well, why wouldn't they just read books on it?
Colonel: (Looking indignant) Well, them books where written by Yankees! (Spits.)
Boy: (Wide-eyed) Wow! You mean people from the South never wrote books?
Colonel: Um, ah… you ask a lot of questions...
Boy: I thought you liked teaching us kids. Well, if you want you can ask me a question.
Colonel: (Preening) Okay, son. Why did you pick me out of all the reenactors to talk to?
Boy: (Shyly) I thought you were Santa Claus.
Colonel: (Turning purple) Son, here's five dollars - go get yourself some soda and ice cream.
Boy: (Looking at the bill) Cool! Look, it's Abraham Lincoln!
Colonel: (Runs into tent, closes flap.)