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