Excellence at the N-SSA 140th By Bruce W. Miller Over the 69-year history of the North-South Skirmish Association (N-SSA), there have been many great championship units. Without a doubt, the gre est of the 21st Century to date the 110th Ohio Volunteer Infant (OVI). Interestingly, the origi nal regiment spent much of its three-year service in and aroun the home of the N-SSA, Fort Shenandoah, near Winchester, Virginia. Organized in October 1862, under Colonel J. Warren Keifer, the 110th OVI moved into West Virginia. In January 1863, the 110th OVI marched to Winchester and served in the Army of the Potomac. At Kernstown, it engaged Lee’s advance, resisting an overwhelming force. Finally cutting its way out, the regime marched to Harper’s Ferry. In 1864, the regiment operated wit Grant in the Overland Campaign and then with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley at Winchester and Fisher’s Hill. The regiment took part in the assaults upon Petersburg and pursued Lee until he surrendered. The 110th e gaged in 20 battles and lost 79 men. It was mustered out June 25, 1865. Today’s N-SSA 110th OVI
America’s Monthly New nals joined the association in 1961. Many of those original members worked at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Eldon Bertram and Jon Barber are the sole surviving members of that era. The current roster includes 24 active members and five non-shooting members. Most members are from Ohio, primarily in the southwestern part of the state. Like many N-SSA units, the 110th OVI includes brothers, married couples, fathers, sons, and even a grandfa ther, son, and grandson. The unit practices together an that has paid off with an amazing string of N-SSA championships. Since 2000, they have won rifle musket gold 24 times; smoothbore musket seven times; carbine six times; Henry rifle three times; single shot rifle once, an even one mortar match. They are members of the Midwest Region and often travel to neighboring regions to conquer the locals! Not only are the members of the 110th great shots, but great people too. The 140th National Competition was held October 2-6, 2019. Member units competed in livefire matches with original or
period muskets, carbines, breechloading rifles, revolvers, mortar and cannon. It is the largest Civil War event of its kind in th country. After two days of individual matches, seven team matches were held over the three-day weekend. The weather in the scenic Shenandoah Valley was spectacular with the exception of a rainy Sunday; the day of the Rifle-Musket Team match, the N-SSA signature event. A total of 159 eight-member teams participated in this classic competition All targets are breakable and the pieces flew as clay pigeons, ceramic tiles, and pot silhouettes were blasted by Minié balls at ranges of 50 and 100 yards. The rain couldn’t keep the 110th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) from winning gold medals once again. They won the musket match with
Hardaway’s Alabama Battery pulls practices are so important when from the relatively large powder amazing 25 rifle-musket championships since 2000. Two members, Mike Rouch and Jerry Smith, have been on all 25 teams The always competitive 8th Virginia Volunteer Infantry won the Carbine Team match with a time of 392.1 seconds, beating t next closest unit by a solid 44. seconds. One hundred thirty-four teams participated in this match of speed and accuracy. Smith car bines are a favorite in this mat and many are valuable originals. Skirmishers are also fond of Sharps’ carbines and you will of ten see Burnsides, Maynards, and even muzzle-loading carbines and musketoons on the firing lin Friday morning dawned cool and bright as 80 teams squared off in the Revolver Team match. The four-member teams participated in the four event match: 12 clay pigeons on a cardboard backer, eight hanging 6 x 6 inch ceramic tiles, eight hanging cla pigeons, and eight hanging 4 x 4
laynard to fire their piece and d g artillery, due to the significa ges used. inch ceramic tiles. Harris’ Light Cavalry finished first with a tim of 118.4 seconds, 13.5 seconds better than the second place team the Nansemond Guards, winners of the match at the previous two nationals. The 1st Maryland Cavalry won the Smoothbore Musket Team match, outshooting 130 other units to finish first with a tota of 214.2 seconds, just 1.1 second ahead of the ever present 110th OVI. This relatively new match has become increasingly popular and, as you can imagine, a really great test of skill. Competito participate with many different firearms, including the U.S. Model 1842, Confederate Macon arsenal conversions of the Model 1842, the Hewes & Philips conversion of the U.S. Model 1816 (which features a rear sight), an the occasional European Potsdam in .72 caliber. The match consist of four events, including the extra challenging silhouette of a
es why safety lame and muzzle blast (Joseph Pelot tiny clay pot at 25 yards and 6 6-inch ceramic tiles at 50 yards Three additional shoulder arm team matches were held. In the Single-Shot Rifle Team match, the 149th Pennsylvania Infantry finished first. In the BreechLoading Rifle Team match, the 2nd Maryland Artillery was the winner; in the Spencer Team match, the 46th Illinois Infantr took gold. Fifty units participated in t Mortar Team match. The mortar teams fire seven shots at a stak 100 yards down range. Officials then carefully measure the distance from the stake and tally the best five shots for score. T overall winner was the 2nd South Carolina Infantry, Company I “Palmetto Guards,” with a terrif ic five shot aggregate score of feet-3.25 inches; a huge 12 feet better than any other team.
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