Spirit on Display at N-SSA 153rd Nationals

By Bruce W. Miller · Originally published September-October 2026 · pp. 40–43

As the United States of America marks its 250th birthday in 2026, the North-South Skirmish Association (N-SSA) has its own “Spirit of ’76,” recognizing the 76th anniversary of its founding in 1950. The Association held its 153rd National Competition May 15–17, 2026, at Fort Shenandoah near Winchester, Virginia. Member units competed in live-fire matches with original and authentic reproduction Civil War period muskets, carbines, breechloading rifles, revolvers, mortars, and cannon. It remains the largest Civil War live-fire competition of its kind in the United States. As Civil War enthusiasts know, a sutler was a civilian merchant who followed an army and sold food and merchandise to soldiers. At Fort Shenandoah, modern “sutlers” offer almost anything a skirmisher could want or need. More than 30 sutlers set up at this spring’s national. Most of the regulars rented space in the permanent structures of Sutler’s Row, while others set up along the road adjacent to the buildings. Looking for antique firearms and militaria? The Horse Soldier from Gettysburg was there. Need bullet molds? Visit Moose Molds. Need gun parts, uniforms, insignia, books, or reloading supplies? There is S & S Firearms from New York. Every cavalryman needs a McClellan saddle, and Sam Sheffler had them. For the fashionable lady, The Jeweler’s Daughter specialized in mid-Victorian reproduction jewelry. The list was much longer, but the sutlers at Fort Shenandoah’s Sutler’s Row are a major part of the N-SSA Nationals experience. Shopping is great, but competitive shooting is even better. It was another terrific national for the 110th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI), which won three team matches. The 110th OVI won the musket team match with a terrific time of 401.6 seconds for the five-event program, more than 100

seconds ahead of the second-place team. One hundred thirty-nine teams participated in this N-SSA signature match of speed and accuracy. The 8th Virginia Infantry won the carbine team match, besting a field of 109 competing teams. The 110th OVI also won the smoothbore musket team match by a healthy 47.5-second margin, defeating 130 other four-member teams. McGregor’s 2nd Battery won the revolver match by a narrow 8.2-second margin while beating 71 other teams. The 110th OVI took its third gold medal by winning the single-shot breechloading rifle match, while the 2nd Maryland Artillery won gold medals in the magazine-fed rifle match. The 2nd New Jersey Cavalry defeated 47 other teams in the increasingly popular single-shot pistol match. In the artillery matches, spectacular Shenandoah Valley weather brought out 37 guns to compete. The winners included Dixie Artillery in the smoothbore class; 2nd Maryland Artillery in the rifled class; Hardaway’s Alabama Battery in the howitzer class; and 1st Maryland Cavalry, which won once again in the rifled howitzer class. Today, the N-SSA is the nation’s oldest and largest Civil War shooting sports organization, with more than 3,000 members in more than 200 units. Each unit represents a Civil War regiment or battery, and members wear uniforms patterned after those worn more than 160 years ago. At this national, 15 members received awards for 50 years, and three received awards for 60 years of continuous membership. N-SSA members come from across the country to Fort Shenandoah each spring for the National Competition, which traditionally opens the association’s season. Competitions, called “skirmishes,” are held throughout the summer on a regional basis. At a skirmish, participating teams shoot at breakable targets in several timed events. The teams with the lowest cumulative times win medals or other awards. There is also BB gun competition for youngsters, competitions for authenticity of Civil War period dress, both military and civilian, and lectures on topics of interest. For more information and how to join, visit the N-SSA website at www.n-ssa.org. Safety and accuracy are foremost at all team matches. Here, a timer holds his stopwatch to record the time it takes for the team to break all its targets, while the safety person observes that the firearms are properly loaded, fired, and cleared when the event concludes. (Lis Cole) (Lis Cole) (Lis Cole) The 1st Wisconsin Infantry passed inspection and A member of the 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry was added to the roster of N-SSA units at the 153rd takes careful aim with his Model 1842 musket Nationals. Here, a young lady skirmisher loads her during the smoothbore musket match. His team Springfield as the unit competes in its first musket placed first in the A-2 class by a close 1.7 seconds. team match. (Lis Cole) (Lis Cole)