Family Fun at the N-SSA 138th Nationals

By Bruce W. Miller · Originally published December 2018 · pp. 1–6

The Saturday artillery matches at a National Skirmish consist of three relays of up to 16 gun positions each. These matches are a spectator favorite and demonstrate a wide variety of Civil War era artillery pieces.

The very first match of the shooting sports organization that would become the NorthSouth Skirmish Association, Inc. (known as the N-SSA) was shot in May 1950. The competitors shot original Civil War muskets and wore original accoutrements that were readily available at that time. Over the 68 years since the N-SSA began, the Association has grown and so have the types of firearms members can compete with. From shoulder arms to hand guns to artillery, if it was used in the Civil War, the N-SSA probably has a team or individual match for it. At the 138th National Competition held Oct. 3-7, 2018, the latest category of firearms was featured in a “demonstration match,” single-shot pistols. When the war began and the Federal and Confederate governments struggled to arm their troops, obsolete firearms were pressed into service. Revolvers were at a premium so Mexican War percussion and earlier flintlocks converted to percussion were commonly issued, particularly in the Western Theater. The N-SSA match consisted of 13 teams of three shooters.

Targets were hung at 12.5 feet. Four three-minute events consisted of nine clay pigeons on a cardboard backer; six hanging 6x6 inch ceramic tiles; six hanging clay pigeons and six hanging 4x4 inch ceramic tiles. While it may seem a very short distance, these pistols are smoothbore and vary from .54 to .69 caliber. They are also surprisingly quick and easy to reload. As always, safety procedures were strictly followed. When the smoke cleared (and there was plenty of it), the winning team was the 32nd Virginia Infantry “York Rangers” with a cumulative time of 323.4 seconds, 13.3 seconds ahead of the 1st Maryland Cavalry. As interest grows in competing with a new Civil War firearm, the N-SSA frequently starts with demonstration matches. We’ll see what develops with single-shot pistols. Nine team matches were held over the three-day weekend. While the Shenandoah Valley fall weather was hot and humid, few complaints were heard as no rain dampened the competition and the 15 units whose turn it was to host the affair did a masterful job. As with the very first match in 1950, the Rifle-Musket Team match remains the N-SSA signature event. All targets are breakable and the pieces certainly flew as clay pigeons, ceramic tiles, and pot silhouettes were blasted by Minié balls at ranges of 50 and 100 yards. Champions at the spring nationals, the consistently excellent 110th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI), took the gold medals again. They won the musket match with a time of 459.3 seconds for the fiveevent program, besting the next closest unit by a massive margin of 30 seconds. A total of 173 eight-member teams participated in this classic competition. The 8th Virginia Infantry won the Carbine Team match with a time of 406.2 seconds, edging out the 110th OVI by 19.5 seconds. One hundred thirty-seven teams competed in this match of speed and accuracy. The Dismal Swamp Rangers triumphed in the Smoothbore Musket Team match, beating 125 (Ben Harris) other units to finish first with a terrific time of 185.0 seconds and a 19.5 second lead over the second place unit. This exciting match has become increasingly popular and, as you can imagine, is a really great test of skill. Three events are shot at 25 yards and a fourth at 50 yards. Competitors participate with many different firearms, including the U.S. M1842; Confederate Macon arsenal conversions of the M1842; the Hewes & Philips conversion of the U.S. M1816 (which features a rear sight), and the occasional European Potsdam in .72 caliber. Seventy-nine 4 member teams participated in the Revolver Team match of four 25 yard events: 12 clay pigeons on a cardboard backer; eight hanging 6 inch x 6 inch ceramic tiles; eight hanging clay pigeons, and eight hanging 4 inch x 4 inch ceramic tiles. Harris’ Light Cavalry finished first and claimed the gold medals with a time of 123.8 seconds, a scant 4.7 seconds better than the second place Nansemond Guards, winners at the spring nationals. Three additional shoulder arm team matches were held. In the Single-Shot Rifle Team match, the 110th OVI took the gold medals with a time of 214.9 seconds. Most rifles in this match are Sharps’ or Ballard’s. In the Breech-Loading Rifle Team match, the 2nd Maryland Artillery won the match for the third consecutive national, besting 43 other teams with a time of 115.3 seconds. This match is shot primarily with Henry rifles. Competitors start the match with a full magazine, but must single load after the magazine is emptied. Some members want to compete with much slower Spencer magazine-fed arms so they have their own match. The 11th Pennsylvania Infantry won this match with a time of 855.8 seconds…just a bit slower than the Henry’s! Forty-one pieces competed in the Mortar Team match. It is always great fun to watch this match because you can follow the flight of the projectile given the relatively low muzzle velocity. The mortar teams fire seven shots at a stake 100 yards down range. Officials then carefully measure the distance from the stake and tally the best five shots for score. The overall winner was Graham’s Battery (gun #1) with a five shot aggregate score of 19 feet-6.25 inches, almost five feet better than the runner up 2nd Maryland Artillery (CSA). The artillery matches are a spectator favorite and 43 guns participated at this National’s beautiful fall weather. The range is reconfigured so the cannons fire perpendicular to the regular firing line. Target frames and their paper targets are then set at a range of 200 yards for rifled guns and 100 yards for smoothbores and howitzers. Each cannon fires solid shot at two targets, a bull’s eye and the silhouette of a cannon facing them that represents counter battery fire. A maximum of seven shots are fired on either target with a maximum point count of 25 per target. A perfect The Union Guard musket team, including father and son Bill score is 50 points. The guns are and Mike Jordan, fire through the morning fog and smoke at the classified by type: Smoothbore, clay pigeon targets. (Ericka Hoffmann) Rifled, Howitzer, and Rifled Howitzer. In the Smoothbore class, the 3rd Maryland Artillery won the gold medal with a 45-3V (“V” represents the dead center of the center ring). In the Rifled class, the 5th Virginia Infantry won with an almost perfect score of 50-4V. In the Howitzer class, the 3rd U.S. Infantry won, shooting an excellent 50-3V. The Rifled Howitzer class winner was the 15th Battery, Ohio Light Artillery, with a 48-4V. The accuracy of these Civil War cannons is truly amazing and N-SSA gun crews know how to get the most In a roar of smoke and recoil, 3rd Maryland Artillery fires their reproduction of the Austrian 24-pounder field howitzer. They out of them. The N-SSA is the country’s placed 3rd in the howitzer match with a score of 47-3V. oldest and largest Civil War (Ericka Hoffmann) shooting sports organization and has some 3,000 individuals who make up its 200 member units. Each team represents a particular company or regiment and proudly wears the uniform they wore over 150 years ago. At the 138th National, eight members were recognized for 50 years of membership in the Association; quite an accomplishment. The 139th National Competition is scheduled for May 17-19, 2019, at Fort Shenandoah, just north of Winchester, Va. For more information about the N-SSA visit the web site at www.n-ssa.org. (Lis Cole) (Bruce Miller) Two smoothbore musket shooters fire away at hanging four-inch tiles hung on frames at a distance of 50 yards. The smoothbore matches include events with a variety of breakable targets set at 25 and 50 yards from the firing line. (Ericka Hoffmann)

The Union Guard musket team, including father and son Bill and Mike Jordan, fire through the morning fog and smoke at the clay pigeon targets.

Dulany Troop 6th Virginia Cavalry’s Mike and Mark Klinepeter (father and son respectively) fire their 3-inch Ordnance rifle down range in a blast of flame and smoke. (Ericka Hoffmann)

The 110th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) consistently wins the top spot in the N-SSA National Skirmish musket competition. Here, 110th OVI members deftly take aim at hanging tile targets hung on frames at a distance of 50 yards. (Ericka Hoffmann)

The N-SSA Costume Committee events include beautiful gowns and dresses created by talented seamstresses in the styles worn by women in the Civil War era. (Niki Bethke)

In a roar of smoke and recoil, 3rd Maryland Artillery fires their reproduction of the Austrian 24-pounder field howitzer. They placed 3rd in the howitzer match with a score of 47-3V.

Above: The “Tenderfoot” BB and pellet gun matches enrich the family-oriented nature of the N-SSA by involving the younger generation of skirmishers in individual and team competitions under close adult supervision and coaching. (Lis Cole)

Henry shooters can empty their 16-shot magazines very quickly. When the magazine is empty they must single load for the rest of the relay.

Right: This skirmisher carefully loads her Smith carbine during the company match. 137 carbine teams competed in the 138th National Skirmish.

Through the thick smoke from the opening volleys of the N-SSA’s signature musket match, skirmishers fire at clay pigeons on a cardboard backer in the initial event of the competition.

The 1st Pennsylvania Rifles “Bucktails” smoothbore team loads, aims, and fires at their targets. Here, one skirmisher pulls a round from his cartridge box and another reaches for a percussion cap, while the other two deftly aim at their targets.

The Union Guards’ Smoothbore musket team includes three generations of the Robey family, and the fourth team member who is married to a Robey. From left to right: Phil Spaugy (who is married to the aunt/sister/daughter of the other three), Thomas James “TJ” Robey, Tom Robey (TJ’s Dad), and John Robey (Tom’s Dad).

Three member teams competed in the single shot demonstration match of four events at 12.5 yards.

John Mark of the 29th Wisconsin takes careful aim with his M1842 Aston contract model single-shot pistol. (Bruce Miller)

Many different pistols were used during the single-shot demonstration match. Here skirmisher Jim Leinicke prepares to shoot his Model 1819 North flintlock conversion. (Bruce Miller)