Gettysburg Section Inside Vol. 42, No. 6 History, Competition And Camarader By Bruce Miller WINCHESTER, VA — The North-South Skirmish Association held its 133rd National Competition May 20-22, 2016. At Fort Shenandoah near Winchester, Virginia member units competed in live-fire matches with
Civil War period muskets, carbines, breech loading rifles, revolvers, m tars and cannons. It is the largest il War event of its kind. The N-SSA has over 3,200 individuals that mak up its 200 member units. Dressed in the uniforms soldiers wore 150 years ago, and each unit represents a Civil War regiment. Competitions are called “skirmishes” where participating teams shoot at breakable targets in several timed events. Th teams with the lowest cumulative times win medals or other awards. Women participate along with the men in all events. There are also competitions for the authenticity o Civil War period dress, both milita and civilian, as well as lectures o topics of interest. Despite a few bouts with cold an rainy conditions, the stalwarts who braved the storm competed with their usual gusto and enjoyed the competition and camaraderie. The competition began with individual matches which are available for
One Hundred forty-nine teams compet Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry won a solid time of 469.5 seconds.
e N-SSA 133rd Nationals all Civil War period firearms from rifle muskets to single shot pistol The competitors order their targets well in advance of the Nationals. For example, a competitor can order only one 50-yard and one 100-yard target for the rifle musket match. They can also order a score for the aggregate of the two targets if the choose to. There is no warm up and once the targets are shot there is reentry. Targets are retrieved by t host team staff and are taken to th Stat House where host team staff as signed there must score more target than you can imagine over the duration of the matches on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. For example, at the 133rd, they scored over 1,00 rifle musket targets, over 800 carbine targets and nearly 700 smoothbore musket targets. Competitors ar classified for each firearm they sh based on the average of their previous three matches and are reclassified after each National in which they participate. The team matches begin on Friday morning. As with individual matches, each unit is classified based o prior performance; A-1, A-2, A-3; if they enter a second team they ar classified “B” and a third or more teams “C”. Set up for the revolver team matches begins bright and early at 7:30 a.m. with phase one
ronically the 149th e-event musket match with hotos by Ericka Hoffmann)
The traditional musket match is shot whatsoever. The teams use paper cart Union Guard, (Company A, 19th Indian
immediately followed by phase 2. The favored revolver is the Rogers & Spencer, but many prefer the Remington, Colt Army and Navy models too. Seventy-eight four-person teams participated in the match of four events: 12 clay pigeons on a cardboard backer; eight hanging 6"x6" ceramic tiles; eight hanging clay pigeons and eight hanging 4"x4" ceramic tiles. With a terrific time of 139.8 seconds, the Iredell Blues finished first and claimed the gold medals. With the completion of the revolv er match, the team matches are then moved to the main range. With over 60 shooting positions, each accommodating eight shooters, this range is over a quarter mile in length. It is observed and controlled by welltrained host staff members who man their important positions in the mai control tower and three sub towers. On the ground, each team match relay requires a timer and safety offi to insure that all proper procedures are observed. Safety is always the first consideration at every N-SSA event. The smoothbore musket team match was next on the schedule. This relatively new match has become increasingly popular and, as you can imagine, a great test of skill. Competitors participate with many diffe ent firearms including the U.S. Model 1842; Confederate Macon Arsenal conversions of the Model 1842; the Hewes & Philips conversion of the
rifle muskets as issued in the Civ and dress authentically, right do ntry) won this match handily.
including the extra challenging si houette of a tiny clay pot and the Nansemond Guards bested 111 other units to finish first with a total of 188.3 seconds. Friday’s shooting adventure then continued with the concurrent bree loading rifle and Spencer team
Despite the rain and mud, 42 guns The accuracy of these guns is rema
matches. Fifty-two teams competed in the breech loading match, prima ily with Henry rifles. Competitors can load their magazine to capacit but when empty must then single load. You have to see this match t believe just how fast and accurate
these rifles can be 2nd Maryland Artill just 142.2 seconds medals. It was a bi four units that com magazine-fed Spence Illinois Infantry c seconds.
The final should of the day were the gle shot rifle matc tional musket match
ack Melton firing a 10-inch mortar at the N-SSA shoot.(Peggy Melton)
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– Preservation News – By Gregory L. Wade Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association Presents Annual Awards The Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association (TCWPA) recently held its annual recognition and business meeting at the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee. TCWPA identifies for preservation and interpretation Civil War sites across the state, many often not we known or documented.
During the past year, teams from each of Tennessee’s three major regions inventoried and updated
battle site information in rural as well as urban environments. Along with reports of the progress of thi and other initiatives, the organiza presented its annual awards to thos who have furthered the cause of battlefield preservation. The Bob Ragland Award was presented by association president Joe Smyth to Billy King for his work with the Big Black Creek Historical Association near Jackson and the restoration of Denmark Church in West Tennessee. “Billy has been instrumental in getting markers erect
ed and sites registered in that are Smyth noted.
Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association President Joe Smyth
presents Billy King with the Harvey Ragland Award.
Julian Bibb of Franklin’s charge, l evolving Carter Hill Battlefield Pa
Eric Jacobson of the Battle of F tour of the Eastern Flank Battle
Bob Ragland was an early proponent of battlefield preservati Tennessee and a charter member o the TCWPA. The Presidents Partne ship Award was presented to Tenn see State Congressional Represen tive Charles Sargent for his wor helping fund several state spons Civil War Preservation projects. “Charles’s involvement has been critical in much of the work goi on Franklin’s Carter Hill Battle
including the removal of an old school gym from the site,” Smyth
President Joe Smyth presents Tennessee State Representative
Trust addresses the TCWPA (All photos Greg Wade)
said. This recognition is for a pub servant who has helped elevate Civi War Preservation in Tennessee. After the business and awards session, attendees toured Franklin Civil War sites preserved in recent years thru the reclamation efforts of several groups led by Franklin’s Charge and Save the Franklin Battlefield. Included were stops at the Eastern Flank Battlefield, Coll Farm, five acres known as Loring’s
Advance and the evolving Carter Hill Battlefield Park. Julian Bibb of Franklin’s Charge discussed how various private and public partnerships enabled local preservationists to purchase key
battlefield properties. He elaborat on the complexities presented when structures have to be removed. Bibb quipped, “we are always broke,” but with a lot of help from many groups including the city of Franklin, the Civil War Trust and others, roughly 130 acres at the cost of about twen
ty-five million dollars have been r claimed since 2005, Bibb said.
Sam Huffman leads the TCWPA annual meeting tour at Collins Farm.
Daniel Taylor of Jackson, Tennessee (Left), Jim Ogden of Chickamauga Battlefield Center and Dr. Anthony Hodges of Chattanooga at the TCWPA tour.