The Skirmish Line - Summer 2017

THE MAGAZINE OF THE NORTH-SOUTH SKIRMISH ASSOCIATION, INC.

Summer 2017 In this Issue:

2017 Veterans Skirmish Recap The Hall Carbine Affair 136th National Skirmish Schedule

Volume 63 ~ Issue 3 Regional News The N-SSA Youth Fund 2018 Skirmish Dates

46th Veterans Skirmish 1st Place Musket Winners - Team 3B

Paul Altland, Mark Hughes, Anthony Keppler, Richard Killeen, Jeremy Sanders, Ed Thompson, Brent Williams, Eddie Williams (listed alphabetically)

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The Skirmish LineTM is the quarterly publication of The North-South Skirmish Association, Inc.

Non-member annual subscriptions are available for $24 per year (U.S. Funds) Editor & Publisher Editor, Chris Branch ~ skirmishline@n-ssa.net National Photography Officer ~ Ericka Hoffman Visit our website at: http:\www.n-ssa.org The N-SSA Corporate Seal and the magazine title, The Skirmish LineTM, are registered trademarks of the NorthSouth Skirmish Association, Inc. Reproduction in any form or manner without the expressed written consent of the N-SSA Board of Directors is strictly prohibited. All pages are copyrighted by the North-South Skirmish Association, Inc. and The Skirmish LineTM magazine. Text and images in this publication are the property of the original owners (authors). Text and images may not be published separately, in hard copy or electronically, without the expressed written permission of their owner(s). The authors and advertisers are responsible to make sure that they have the permission and right to publish articles, photos, and illustrations that they did not create. The NorthSouth Skirmish Association, Inc., The Skirmish LineTM, and its staff are not responsible for copyright infringement.

Please contact the Editor for questions relating to any matter, including but not limited to rights, if any, to copy materials herein.

Disclaimer: The North-South Skirmish Association does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse any product or service advertised in this publication. The publisher also does not guarantee the safety or effectiveness of any product or service illustrated, mentioned, offered, or advertised herein. The publisher does not assume responsibility as to whether or not products or services advertised in this publication comply with all state or local laws which may be applicable in regard to the purchase or usage of such products or services.

Warning: Neither the author(s) nor the North-South Skirmish Association, Inc. can accept any responsibility for accidents or differing results obtained using techniques, products, and combinations thereof that will make results vary. Firearms should be checked before firing and periodically thereafter by a competent gunsmith and all manufacturer’s instructions and warnings must be followed.

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Volume 63 ~ Issue 3 Summer 2017 Covering the News & Happenings of the N-SSA from July 1, 2017 - September 30, 2017.

Visit Us at www.N-SSA.org

In this Issue Skirmish Line Advertising Rates.................................................................. 1

National Commander’s Column ................................................................... 4 Meet the Staff Officer: Chris De Francisci .................................................... 5 It’s a Family Thing ...................................................................................... 6 Officer, Commander, Staff, and Committee Contacts .................................. 7

On the Cover

136th National Host Staff ............................................................................ 9 136th National Schedule of Events ........................................................... 10

46th Veterans Skirmish 1st Place Musket Winners

Welcome New Recruits .............................................................................. 12

Team 3B - Paul Altland, Mark Hughes, Anthony Keppler, Richard Killeen, Jeremy Sanders, Ed Thompson, Brent Williams, Eddie Williams

Team Classifications .................................................................................. 14

(listed alphabetically)

Change of Address Requests Please send all address changes to: Judy Stoneburner N-SSA Executive Secretary PO Box 218 | Crozet, VA 22932-0218 If your household receives multiple copies that you’d prefer not to receive, please email execsecretary@n-ssa.net.

You must include your Zip+4 to receive The Skirmish Line

Next Issue...

Photos & Results from the 136th National Skirmish Skirmish Line

Taps ........................................................................................................... 12 Fort Shenandoah 2018 Skirmish Dates ..................................................... 13 Letter to the Editor: Hand Salute Update .................................................. 15 So You Think Skirmishing in the Shenandoah Valley started in 1963? ..... 16 The Unsung Skirmisher: Katie Scanlan ..................................................... 17 The N-SSA Youth Fund .............................................................................. 18 2017 Work Skirmish Recap........................................................................ 20 General Fremont and Hall’s Carbine ......................................................... 22 Charitable Giving: Join the N-SSA Legacy Society..................................... 24 Regional News: Northwest ..................................................................... 31 Allegheny...................................................................... 32 Tidewater ...................................................................... 38 EMERGENCY MEDICAL INFORMATION ..................................................... 40 The 46th Veteran’s Skirmish Photos & Results ........................................ 42

In future issues ...

These articles have been submitted and will appear as space allows: - Case for the Black Confederate Sharpshooters by Gary Yee - The Cap & Ball Gunfight by Jim Van Eldik - Under Attack! by Jim Van Eldik - History of the 5th Virginia Infantry Submit your articles to skirmishline@n-ssa.net.

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I hope that all of you are doing well and taking advantage of the many skirmishes this summer to get out and enjoy the competition and comradery of the N-SSA. There have been many pictures on the internet of different skirmishes and it is wonderful to see the faces of so many skirmishers who seem to be having a great time. We have a unique and competitive sport and need to constantly remind ourselves of that fact. Then we need to spread the word of exactly what we do and invite others to share our sport. As I write this there is more and more controversy in our nation over the American Civil War and we need to remind everyone that we should learn from history, not try to destroy it.

The first weekend of August is always the time for the N-SSA Board of Directors meeting. As in this past January the Board meeting went smoothly. I encourage you to attend a Board meeting so that you can see the operations of the Board and especially to see your regional commander in action. I asked the regional commanders to communicate to all of their teams what happens at each Board meeting. One of the first actions of the Board was to elect Mr. Chuck Kindle to the position of Deputy Commander which came open with the unfortunate death of Wade Huffman.

Chuck Kindle has served the N-SSA as the Northwest Territory Regional Commander for many years. He, and his wife Kathy, were the protocol officers for many years as well. Chuck is the type of man who listens, evaluates, and then makes a decision. He will do an excellent job for us!

The Board accepted a proposal by Carol White to create a different type of remembrance in Memorial Park at Fort Shenandoah.

Bricks will be placed in a circle around the flag pole and skirmishers who pass may have their names and years in the N-SSA on the brick. The current memorial stones are just about full and so this new system will be a good one. A special stone to Wade Huffman will be placed hopefully before the Fall National. We also saw some results from our recruiting efforts. For a number of years we had been losing members at an alarming rate but this decline has slowed significantly. The efforts of many people are paying off! We need to continue to stress the real need to market our sport and to constantly be on the alert for new members. The Board voted to accept the offer of some college students to make a video of our national as seen through the eyes of several teams. We expect this to happen at the Fall National.

One of the goals of the N-SSA is to educate the public about the American Civil War and accordingly the Board donated $250 to the McCormick Civil War Institute at Shenandoah University. One of our members, Jonathan Noyalas, is the director of this program. He is an outstanding Civil War historian and specializes in the history of the Shenandoah Valley during the war. To help the nationals run more smoothly the Board passed a motion to have smoothbore companies consist of four skirmishers instead of five. This will allow smaller units to put a smoothbore team on the line and it will also allow two teams per firing position.

Rule changes passed in the August meeting do not go into effect until the following March. Rules changes were passed to prevent a revolver team from quickly firing all six rounds and calling time. We want accuracy over speed. Penalties were adjusted to help insure that teams will try their best to hit targets. The role of coaches was clarified. A coach may help someone during individuals but during team competition only skirmishers on the firing line may help another person. Rules were also proposed on the single shot pistol competition and the Repeater competition but were tabled to January.

Our Charitable Giving program was very successful last year. We need to continue to stress this program. Everyone can donate some money to this program. Give as you are able (to quote a slogan I hear in church!) We know that almost everyone is challenged by our economy so we are not asking people to give more than they can comfortably do, but we ask everyone to consider giving something. Your donations should be sent to Mr. Jim Baird, the excellent paymaster of the N-SSA. I hope to see you at the Fall Nationals this year!

Dave Booz 4

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MEET THE STAFF OFFICER By: Wayne Jordan

Meet Chris DeFrancisci, who holds two official offices - Chairman of the N-SSA Marketing Committee and Revolver Range Officer. Chris is a member of the Washington Blue Rifles and has been skirmishing for 40 years. He’s competed with just about every weapon that has been shot at Fort Shenandoah over the years. Currently he shoots musket, carbine, revolver, smoothbore, and single shot.

He also is a serious collector of Maynards, particularly the postwar 1873 and 1882 models. The Maynard company survived the postwar era better than most of its competition and moved into production of some fascinating sporting arms. Chris also hosts a black powder Steel Silhouette match six times a year at Fairfax Rod and Gun Club in Manassas, which attracts a wide variety of people. But even with our mid-19th century fixed sight muskets, he finds that N-SSA skirmishers can usually outshoot people with expensive and fancy modern black powder weapons. He enjoys staging a fun and family oriented competition.

Today we’ll highlight Chris’s work as Chairman of the N-SSA Marketing Committee. About two years ago Chris answered the call for volunteers to create a marketing program for the N-SSA. He signed up to help out, but three months later was notified that he was “promoted” to the Chairman position. Promotions sometimes come fast in the N-SSA. The purpose of the committee is to bolster our image and reach out to the public to let them know that we exist, who and what we are, and why they should pay us a visit. Working with the Recruiting Committee, a theme of “History, Camaraderie, and Competition” was developed. The Marketing committee works to promote the organization through publications such as the Civil War Times and the Artilleryman while also leveraging social media to broaden the outreach to the public.

The first major project was a collaboration with the Recruiting Committee to create a new video about skirmishing. It is now available on our website and for distribution to all our regions. “Being behind the scenes and helping with the production was fascinating,” he says. The emphasis is on tapping into the next generation of skirmishers who can adopt our sport and carry on our traditions for more generations to come. Chris and his committee have established relationships with numerous publications whose readership is composed of people who are likely to find skirmishing of interest. He attributes all the success in print media to committee member Bruce Miller. By introducing the N-SSA to the editors and placing some ads, they have found that some of the publications have been impressed enough to give our organization additional coverage, all authored by Bruce Miller. There has also been a strong correlation between these other publications going out to their subscribers and jumps in the number of people visiting our web site. Chris has actually been surprised at how few people involved in Civil War activities are even aware of our existence and what we do, but that just highlights opportunities for the committee.

Chris sees himself as a typical N-SSA volunteer – someone who loves the organization and everything it stands for. He wants to see it grow, thrive, and provide the same great experiences to new skirmishers that he has experienced over the years. After so many years of experience, he feels it is only right to give back to the organization and this is the way to use his strengths. Chris has run a number of businesses, worked in advertising and marketing, managed teams and supported sales forces, and has a considerable technical background in those areas. In today’s world, social media is a key part of any marketing program and he feels that he has a good understanding of how to use the new media to bring attention to the N-SSA. He sees real possibilities in leveraging Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to further knowledge of the N-SSA and get potential skirmishers excited about what we do.

(Continued on page 13) Skirmish Line

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It’s a Family Thing The roots of skirmishing in this family can be traced back to the Civil War Centennial celebration.

During the recent Mason-Dixon and McNeill’s Skirmishes held at Ft. Shenandoah, the Dulany Troop, 6th Virginia Cavalry fielded two five-man teams on the line … at first glance, there was nothing special about that until others on the line soon realized the Dulany Troop’s “B” team consisted of Rick Clements and four of his six sons!

Clements remembers accompanying his own father to N-SSA competitions between 1961-63 when his dad, Bob Clements, a former Marine, joined the N-SSA as a member of Forney’s Battalion. He later switched to the 118th Penna.

Infantry. Now, more than fifty years later, the Clements clan continues the family legacy by competing together on-the-line as members of the Dulany Troop, 6th Virginia Cavalry.

Each member of the “B” team (pictured to the right) was equipped with an 1855 Harper’s Ferry Rifle that had been built by Clements. Imagine being the guy tasked with casting, weighing, and sizing each round, weighing each powder charge, ensuring everyone had a sufficient supply of caps, and had eye & ear protection for a team of five!

Participating together with his sons was especially meaningful for Clements as his sons will soon return to their respective academic studies. John is a senior at George Mason University; Daniel is a junior at West Virginia University; Thomas will soon begin his “Rat year” at VMI; and David will be a sophomore at Centreville High School.

The Clements Clan Daniel, Thomas, their father Rick, David, and John.

The Clements boys have accompanied their father to many skirmishes held at Ft Shenandoah for many years and now have their own special shared moments in time as they took their positions on the line.

Submitted by Rick Clements

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National Officers, Regional Commanders, Staff, and Committee Contacts National Officers National Commander Deputy Commander Past National Commander Adjutant Inspector General Executive Secretary Paymaster

David T. Booz Charles L. Kindle, Jr. Phillip L. Spaugy Melinda C. Shaw Wayne Shaw Judy O. Stoneburner James G. Baird

717-338-9379 419-346-6768 215-913-0329 610-494-2530 434-823-4772 540-382-3213

dtbooz@yahoo.com clk111@roadrunner.com pspaugy@aol.com annieoak13@gmail.com wdsmas@aol.com execsecretary@n-ssa.net paymaster@n-ssa.net

Regional Commanders and Regional Inspectors Allegheny Region Inspector

John V. Doyle Craig C. Shedd

540-869-3706

trapdoor1888@yahoo.com ccsmew@yahoo.com

Carolina Region Inspector

James H. Rogers, III Charles J. Wager

704-880-8324

jjjrogers@abts.net wagerl@soc.mil

Central Virginia Region Inspector Chesapeake Region Inspector

Robert Hannula Phillip E. Crabill Edwin Thompson Michael L. Linton

571-221-2415

bobbyhannula@juno.com pdcrabill@shentel.net mdrebel@live.com

Deep South Mid-Atlantic Region Inspector Midwest Region Inspector

Lawrence E. Gibson Roger A. Gray Harry H. Gaul, Jr. Eric S. Schuessler Ian Egbert

New England Region Inspector

Paul R. Morgigno Richard M. Intravia

860-302-2870

paul14va@gmail.com quahog@sbcglobal.net

Northeast Region Inspector Northwest Region Inspector

Ronald J. Barvian Stanley Wawrzyniak Charles L. Kindle, Jr. Edward Walters

585-652-9625

bbarvian2@rochester.rr.com sw12304@gmail.com clk111@roadrunner.com ewalt1855@gmail.com

Potomac Region Inspector

Davy Crockett, Jr. Mark Elton

570-888-8686

davyc@stny.rr.com mark.alaska@verizon.net

Tidewater Region Inspector

Linwood L. Mc Mahon James T. Wilkinson, Jr.

757-536-5187

linwood.mcmahon@verizon.net jimmyoddtw17@yahoo.com

Western Region Inspector

Yancey Von Yeast John T. Thatcher

618-210-5583

yvonyeast@yahoo.com jt450@aol.com

Staff Officers Artillery Officer Bivouac Officer Corporate Relations Officer Emergency Coordinator Historical Center It Manager/Sutler Officer Judge Advocate/Solicitor Living History/Re-Enactor Officer Logistics National Photography Officer

Robert T. West Robert E. Gorsky Allen Minneman Chester T. Lauck Bruce A. Allen Linwood L. McMahon Lars E. Anderson Robert L. Hodge Todd H. Hess Ericka L. Hoffmann

757-508-3007 410-795-2677 937-272-7520 540-336-3938 703-966-9277 757-536-5187 703-967-1789 703-944-6970 717-398-5678

cannoneer@cox.net gorsbob@aol.com allenm@mtmcase-gard.com lauckc@yahoo.com southernshooter1@verizon.net linwood.mcmahon@verizon.net lars.anderson@ofplaw.com robertleehodge@yahoo.com

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443-532-7841

732-280-8159 216-990-5903

419-346-6768

lawrence5650@gmail.com ragray1961@gmail.com har3rdus@gmail.com eschues@aol.com ian45662@yahoo.com

ehkayak@gmail.com Summer 2017

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National Officers, Regional Commanders, Staff, and Committee Contacts National Registration Officer Michael J. Bodner National Safety Officer Brian J. Evans NRA Liaison Deputy Cwo-2 Frederic A. Behrens Ordnance Officer/Med Liaison John Venskoske, Sr. Program Staff Officer & NRA Liaison Officer Craig Stanley Property Mgt. Staff Officer Jeffrey C. Hall Property Manager Timothy D. Scanlan Protocol Officer Brandon S. Bowser Provost Marshall Robert S. Klutas Public Information Officer Bruce W. Miller Range Officer Scott B. Harris Recruiting Officer Melinda C. Shaw Revolver Range Officer Chris M. DeFrancisci Rules Officer John S. Robey Sanitation Officer Charles J. Wager Signal Officer David Cole Small Arms Staff Officer John D. Holland, Jr. Statistics Officer Matthew R. Bennett Traditional Match Officer Phillip L. Spaugy Youth Program Coordinator Frederick J. Schell Skirmish Line Editor Chris Branch Skirmish Line Advertising Don Branch Committee Chairs Award Committee Charitable Giving Community Relations Costume Committee Chair History Committee Insurance Committee Intl. Muzzleloading Committee Marketing Committee Membership Committee Chair Bulletin Board Admin Webpage Admin Personnel Review Chair Publications Committee Chair Recreation Chair Uniform Committee Veteran's Committee Chair Visitor Committee Chair

Nancy Crockett Wayne V. Jordan Gary J. Crawford Sharleen Mullins John P. Zebelean, III John W. Richardson Errol W. McLean Chris M. DeFrancisci Kenneth L. Stiles Vicky L. Rowe Tony Ebersole Carlton Layne Sharon A. Myers Joseph M. Fisher Mark E. Latham George J. Schell Michael J. Bodner

973-600-3777 540-409-7598 804-598-2868 540-888-3349

mbodner@comporium.net icemo@comcast.net redbaron13@verizon.net bcgsi@hughes.net

717-649-9461 703-901-3691 540-888-4334 419-274-9197 717-921-8660 248-258-9007 571-436-0343 215-913-0329 540-840-2707 937-399-3081 910-326-4833 703-362-7836 716-824-5542 540-327-8143

cws11@ptd.net jchall23.jh@gmail.com nssapropertymgr@aol.com stonycrick61@gmail.com spartan70@sbcglobal.net cwshooter575@gmail.com annieoak13@gmail.com chris@esotericresearch.com robey1861@aol.com Wagerl@Soc.Mil Cole84_89@Verizon.Net Jh44ny@Verizon.Net mbenne1@msn.com pspaugy@aol.com

410-687-4173 skirmishline@n-ssa.net skirmishline@n-ssa.net 570-423-1070 703-407-2445 540-869-2896 757-868-7844 410-747-4161 781-545-3926 301-873-7110 540-840-2707 919-554-0244 717-222-9614 770-426-1918 724-258-4807 603-382-7014 410-461-1670 973-600-3777

nancyc@stny.rr.com wvjordan@aol.com usimlt@hughes.net slwcarr@yahoo.com rebshooter@aol.com jrichardson@historicfirearms.com captain1@slic.com chris@esotericresearch.com nssa.org.membership@gmail.com vickylrowe@gmail.com tony@madcrayfish.com cpllayne@aol.com sharon.a.myers@comcast.net joe@wolfcustoms.net balchiss@hotmail.com gschell516@cs.com mbodner@comporium.net

The information contained in this National Officers, Regional Commanders, Staff, and Committee Contacts list is maintained by the Executive Secretary of the N-SSA. If you see an error, or if your information has changed, please contact Judy Stoneburner at execsecretary@n-ssa.net.

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2017 Fall Nationals

136th Nationals Host Staff Director ................................. Sherry Myers, CVG .......................... Sharon.a.myers@comcast.net ............ 724‐255‐5830 Adjutant ................................ George McDowell, 12th PA .............. McDingle7472@gmail.com .................. 724‐421‐9435 Artillery Officer ...................... Richard Napoli, 1st PA Arty .............. napland@msn.com ............................. 610‐352‐0457 Chief Announcer ................... Kelsey Rebert, 1st PA Rifles ............ kelseyrebert@hotmail.com .................. 717‐752‐0871 Individual Match Officer ........ Davy Crockett, WBR ........................ davyc@stny.rr.com .............................. 570‐423‐1068 Logistics Officer .................... Dave Willard, CVG ........................... dwillard49@gmail.com ........................ 412‐759‐3855 Ordnance Officer .................. Mark Latham, 34th VA ...................... balchiss@hotmail.com ......................... 603‐382‐7014 Range Officer ....................... John Estok, 12th PA ......................... je41stpa.inf@pa.rr.com ....................... 824‐657‐7821 Range Support Officer .......... Matt Patton, 2nd NJ Cav .................. mpatton690@gmail.com ...................... 609‐324‐7352 Registration Officer ............... John Nipar, CVG .............................. jlthenips@aol.com ............................... 412‐835‐7629 Revolver Range Officer ........ Dave Cole, 12th PA .......................... cole8_89@verizon.net ......................... 703‐362‐7836 Sanitation Officer .................. Doug Walter, 1st PA Rifles ............... dwalter47@comcast.net ...................... 717‐677‐7284 Statistics Officer ................... Nancy Crockett, WBR ...................... nancyc@stny.rr.com ............................ 570‐423‐1070

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Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting Friday evening from 6-7pm in the lower level of the Historic Center This is an open discussion meeting. If you have, or think you may have, a problem with drinking, you are welcome to attend. My name is Larry M., and I am a recovering alcoholic for 21 years. If you have any questions or would just like to talk, please feel free to call me at 765-425-5716.

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Allegheny Region Samuel E. Wehr .................................. 1st Pennsylvania Rifles (Bucktails) Jollette M. Williams .............................. 6th Alabama (Raccoon Roughs) Ryan J. Wissinger................................ 12th Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Vol. Central Virginia Region Chandler B. Anderson ......................... Cockade Rifles Chesapeake Region Sean M. Noonan ................................. St. Mary's Light Infantry Mid-Atlantic Region Christopher R. Gehron ........................ 3rd U.S. Regular Infantry Terry A. Mills ........................................ Lancaster Fencibles Midwest Region Morgan Jasper .................................... 6th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Brian Robert Pickens ........................... Harris' Light Cavalry Northwest Region Anthony M. Dezee ............................... Northwest Region Recruit Company Potomac Region Robert M. Lefler................................... 49th Virginia Infantry, CSA Wade G. Miller ..................................... 8th Regt. Virginia Volunteer Infantry

TAPS Ben Betterley ........................ 111th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Joseph Fraterriso .................. 1st U.S. Artillery Larry C. Gollahon.................. 2nd Kentucky Cavalry, CSA Robert J. Hickey, Jr. .............. 5th Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Dennis L. Kendra .................. 1st New Jersey Light Artillery Chalmers S. Ross ................. Dixie Artillery Samuel K. Rucker ................. 1st Valley Rangers

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North-South SkirmishAssociation

Fort Shenandoah 2018 Skirmish Dates Approved Saturday, August 5, 2017 by Board of Directors

Date Jan. 12-14, 2018 March 23-25, 2018 April 6-8, 2018 April 20-22, 2018 May 4-6, 2018 May 16-20, 2018 June 8-10, 2018 June 22-24, 2018 July 6-8, 2018 July 13-15, 2018 Aug. 10-12, 2018 Aug. 17-19, 2018 Aug. 24-26, 2018 Sept. 7-9, 2018 Oct. 3-7, 2018 Oct. 19-21, 2018 Oct. 26-28, 2018

Skirmish Snowball Skirmish Early Bird Chesapeake Spring Regional Spring Potomac Central Virginia Regional - Cockade Rifles Spring Nationals 137th Cockade Rifles Mason-Dixon Skirmish McNeill’s Skirmish Veteran’s Skirmish Allegheny Regional Wainwright Gator Skirmish - 11th VA Cavalry Fall Potomac Regional Fall Nationals 138th Dulany Troop Halloween Skirmish

Region PT AL CH PT CV CV CH CH AL CV PT PT PT

MEET THE STAFF OFFICER (Continued from page 5) He finds it satisfying to see some of his efforts come to fruition and know that he is contributing to the future of the N-SSA. Meeting more skirmishers and making contact with a wide range of people who are associated with Civil War history also make the work worthwhile and fulfilling. Working on marketing is a constant learning experience and he is only getting started. There are so many ways to make our organization known to the general public and new ideas are constantly developing. One of the biggest things that slows the committee down now is a lack of manpower. With the cross section of society that our membership represents, there should be no lack of new perspectives and strategies for reaching out and garnering publicity. What Chris could really use is more people with fresh ideas and a little energy to help implement them. If he has any frustration with this job, it is that he can only implement a limited number of marketing ideas at any one time, and that patience is necessary while these programs build to maturity and reach their desired levels of effectiveness. Right now he is trying to plant as many seeds as he can to build a foundation for future growth.

Any final thoughts, Chris? “Yes. I invite any of our members who are interested to contact me and help with our marketing programs. It can be both fun and satisfying.” You can contact Chris at 540-840-2707 or chris@esotericresearch.com.

Meet the Staff Officer or Committee Chairperson is published in each edition of the Skirmish Line. The most recent N-SSA directory lists 32 Staff Officers and 17 Committee Chairs. This reflects the wide range of duties that must be performed to keep our organization running. Most of these volunteers are low profile people who work quietly behind the scenes, contributing an enormous number of hours of work to support the N-SSA each year. This series of articles is meant to bring them out of the background and share with our membership who they are and why they are in these jobs.

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Team Classifications After 135th National Skirmish, May 17 - 21, 2017

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Letters to the Editor: Skirmish Line

The Hand Salute An Update, Spring 2017 Issue, Pg. 14 After exchanging emails with Bill Rambo of Forney’s Bn. USMC and using wording from his unit’s history and a couple of hours searching the internet, I was able to find a copy of a revised Army manual from 1861 that contains nearly the same words as Bill. You can see the manual on the internet at http://www.storymindmedia.com/angryalien/books/general-services/1861. Revised regulations for the Army of the United States.pdf. This shows that the British form of hand salute was used during the Civil War. I am very humbly your, Jim Magill Jim, Unfortunately, the internet is not a particularly good source of information regarding the correct hand salute as used in the late unpleasantness. The matter can be researched simply by reading the US and CS Army Regulations of the period. The hand salute protocol has been argued by many persons, but the reality is that there were period sketches and paintings showing soldiers giving the regulation salute.

Article XXIX of the U. S. Army Regulations of 1861 describes the salute as follows; the Confederate regulations were the same: 256. When a soldier without arms, or with side-arms only, meets an officer, he is to raise his hand to the right side of the visor of his cap, palm to the front, elbow raised as high as the shoulder, looking at the same time in a respectful and soldier-like manner at the officer, who will return the compliment thus offered.”

Note that the hand was held palm to the front, not palm downward as in the modern hand salute. The question should not be what was the proper hand salute, but just exactly when did it change to the "modern" version? Several of us, including a few field grade modern military officers, have not been able to pinpoint the exact date of the change and are still searching.

We in the 34th Bn Virginia Cavalry often get chided by other skirmishers because we do not carry our rifles during the opening ceremonies and because we render the proper hand salute during the ceremonies. The reason that we do not carry our rifles is because the N-SSA incorrectly orders the troops to uncover and troops under arms did not, and still do not, uncover outdoors or when under arms. Generally, in a formation, the officer or NCO in charge of the individual unit renders the salute and the troops would stand at attention or at shoulder arms if under arms.

While some may disagree, early motion pictures can be a good source of examples of the proper salutes of the 1860's. Particularly in silent movies, veterans were employed as advisors: Frank James was an advisor for the early silent movie about Quantrill, "Under the Black Flag." Modern movies cannot source Union and Confederate veterans.

You are correct in that the palm-forward salute was used by the British Army. The earliest British Army Salute was a raising of the headgear with the right hand. Due to the wear and tear of headgear, that practice was later changed to the “hand salute.” The palmdownward salute adopted by the US military after the 1860’s was a rendition of the British Navy Salute. The Naval Salute differs from the "Open Hand" British Army Salute in that the palm of the hand faces down towards the shoulder. This dates back to the days of sailing ships, when tar and pitch were used to treat the rigging and to seal the timber from seawater. It was considered most undignified to present a dirty palm in the salute so the hand was turned through 90 degrees. (The HMS Pinafore salute - it is not correct for the American soldiers of the Civil War era.)

Bill Adams, Cmdr - 34th Bn Va Cav Skirmish Line

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So You Think Skirmishing in the Shenandoah Valley started in 1963?

Think again!

Submitted by: Phil Spaugy I thought that many of you might enjoy this excerpt from longtime N-SSA member (11th PVI) and prolific American Civil War historian, Jonathan Noyalas’ newest book “Civil War Legacy in the Shenandoah, Remembrance, Reunion and Reconciliation.”

The event described took place following a September 1885 skirmish held in Harrisonburg, VA between Sheridan’s Veterans Association (SVA) and Confederate Veterans, many of whom fought against Sheridan’s men in the 1864 Valley Campaign.

Quoted from Chapter Three of Noyalas’ book:

Jonathan A. Noyalas is assistant professor of history and director of the Center for Civil War History at Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, Virginia. A widely published Civil War historian who is active in battlefield preservation, he has served as a consultant for the National Park Service, the Civil War Trust and National Geographic.

… Following the ceremony at the cemetery and the reception, the veterans gathered that afternoon for competitive rifle matches. The ground chosen for the competition was owned by Judge John Paul, himself a Confederate veteran, who believed that while the nation could not “afford to forget” the Civil War, it had to move forward and reunite.

While Paul did not offer an apology for either side, he informed Rockingham natives and Union visitors that the Civil War’s end was “the best for all people of this land.” Additionally Judge Paul reminded the crowd that although the soldiers of blue and gray might have fought for opposing principles, they had shared experiences that could bring them together. “Today we can meet on common ground, both Union and Confederate, for we shared like toils, like dangers, like victories and defeats. We are all American citizens whether with North or South,” Judge Paul stated. He concluded his remarks: “Let us join hand and heart in the future to do good to one another, and … do the greatest good to the whole people.”

The match held on Judge Paul’s farm consisted of two teams. Both the Blue and Gray teams had seven members who fired at paper targets up to 500 yards away. The Gray team outmatched its counterpart. Scores shot by both teams proved anything but remarkable, however. A member of the Blue team recorded; “It will be seen that as between the teams that goose egg honors were easy.” Although the Gray team reveled in its success, it did the best to keep the scores secret. The Winchester Star desperately tried to secure the scores for publication, but reported it was “unable to do so.”

It is certainly no stretch of the imagination that in many ways the sentiments expressed by both Judge Paul and in the title of the book, are most certainly the very same principles that our founders had in mind when they gave birth to the N-SSA and the same ones that is our duty to perpetuate today. “Civil War Legacy in the Shenandoah, Remembrance, Reunion and Reconciliation” is a very worthwhile addition to your Civil War bookshelf.

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The Unsung Skirmisher By: Wayne Jordan “Katie commits more volunteer hours than probably any other member of the N-SSA”, says Melinda Shaw in describing Katie Scanlan. Known as “Mrs. Property Manager” to her team commander at the 1st Maryland Cavalry, Ray Quinn, Katie is known to most people as the wife of Tim Scanlan, our on-site property manager. But many people also know her as one of the people who is often seen doing chores around Fort Shenandoah and helping clean up after skirmishes. According to Range Officer, Scott Harris, Katie is at every work detail and “rides that zero turn mower like a boss before every National.”

Tim says, “Katie has spent countless hours assisting with thankless tasks such as cleaning up after each flood, cleaning bathrooms, cutting trees, and clearing brush,” among other things. “She often assists me on other projects when available.” She also helps to promote the N-SSA in numerous ways including participating in the live mortar firings at the Gettysburg reenactment every year. In addition, she participates in living history events at both Kernstown and Fort Collier. She represents the sport of skirmishing when participating in all historical events.

She is a longtime member and team Adjutant of the 1st Maryland Cavalry where she competes with musket, carbine, smoothbore, cannon, and mortar. Do you know who put together the first all-female cannon team in the N-SSA? Katie.

And what about the first all-female musket team? Once again, Katie, about 8-10 years ago. And the first all-female carbine team, too. Melinda Shaw points to Katie as a “catalyst to other females joining the N-SSA”. She also credits Katie with helping to create a fun and welcoming environment on her team and within the whole organization. Ray Quinn says that people come to the mortar competitions to watch Katie and her teammates put on a show. It is the only mortar team where you are likely to see the members dancing and pirouetting from the limber box to the mortar with the next load. And then striking the post.

It is hard to say whether skirmishing is a hobby or a lifestyle for Katie. Her commitment to the N-SSA runs deep and she takes real pride in everything she does for the organization. She has many family members involved in the sport as well. Her husband, son, father, and in-laws all are active in the N-SSA. Katie has been presented the prestigious N-SSA Pioneer Patch for all her volunteer time. She also works at a fulltime job. Yet, Scott Harris says she still manages to be “one of the 2% of skirmishers who do almost 100% of the work.” Quinn adds, “she is always there when there is work to be done.” Dave Booz credits Katie with at least 100 hours of grass cutting time each year. And many people know her as the Terror on the Zero Turn.

Katie Scanlan, for being one of the hardest working skirmishers in the N-SSA, you are recognized as the Unsung Skirmisher.

The Unsung Skirmisher is a regular feature of the Skirmish Line. Each edition will highlight at least one N-SSA member who has done something above and beyond the call of duty for the benefit of the N-SSA and its members. It can be large or small. It can be a guest or family member. The purpose is not only to recognize these individuals, but to help motivate others to make that extra effort on behalf of their teammates and fellow N-SSA members. Be on the lookout for such an individual, pair, or group and nominate them for The Unsung Skirmisher column. Do you know someone who has given selflessly of their time for the benefit of others? Send their information along with a photograph (300dpi or more) to wvjordan@aol.com or call me at 703-407-2445.

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THE N-SSA YOUTH FUND By: Wayne Jordan A little known fact about the N-SSA is that we have a dedicated fund for youth shooting activities. The major goal of the Youth Fund is to help expand the N-SSA’s potential membership pool by encouraging and teaching the sons and daughters of N-SSA members, and their friends and families, to safely learn proper shooting techniques using available air rifles in a controlled environment. Hopefully, these future skirmishers will continue developing their skills and become active members of the N-SSA. Since 2014, the Youth Program has worked in concert with the NRA to Sponsor the Young Skirmisher Awards at each National Skirmish.

The program initially funded the award of a year’s paid N -SSA dues for the first and second place winners. That example led to some teams (Chiswell’s Exiles and Mosby’s Rangers) stepping up and donating the funds for the winners’ dues, thus helping the Youth Fund grow its bank account to support the BB Gun competitions.

The hope is to start funding the dues for the third place winner as early as next year. Giving a young person the chance to not only compete as an adult, but also to win a prize of paid dues cannot help but instill pride, a sense of accomplishment, and loyalty to the organization.

In recent years, the N-SSA has become more proactive in reaching out to younger generations and bringing them into the sport of skirmishing. The National Skirmishes have included Youth BB gun matches since the 1990s, largely through the efforts of Fred Schell of McNeill’s Rangers, and that has led some regions to start their own BB Gun competitions. One of the major purposes of the Youth Fund is to support each region

Photo by Terianne Carey.

with funds for BB guns, targets, or other needed items.

At this time, any region can apply to the National Adjutant for a $100 annual grant to help build its program. This amount should grow over time as the fund increases in size. The Fund now has nearly $40,000 in its account, which is invested with a nationally known investment firm in mutual funds that are considered prudent for this purpose. With investment gains and annual donations made to the fund, it is anticipated that the principal balance will grow and the grant sizes will increase. But in order to sustain the Fund over the long term, the distributions need to be kept below the annual investment returns. The N-SSA does not budget any money for this Fund.

The brainchild of Frank Kapper and his wife, Anita, the Youth Fund started with the Great Recession of 2008 -2009 which had a marked effect on our membership.

Frank and Carlton Layne collaborated at a National Board Meeting in 2012 to formulate a strategic plan for the future with an emphasis on membership, budgeting, marketing, and overall strategic planning. This was the foundation for some of our current programs to increase membership. Hard choices had to be made about where to put time, effort, and money. Frank was disappointed that youth activities were unable to be addressed in a meaningful way at the time due to an extremely tight budget, so he decided to look into raising money himself to get the Youth Program started. “In 2013, Anita and I felt it was clear that if something was going to be done to really make a concerted effort to develop a more formalized N-SSA Youth Program, we would need to help get it started.” says Frank. He worked with his employer, Dominion Virginia Power, to create a program that was eligible for Dominion’s backing. Then Frank

Photo by Ericka Hoffman.

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and Anita made a commitment to make significant annual donations which Dominion would then match, or under certain circumstances even donate double the amount the Kappers put in. The Kappers made the first donation in late 2013. With the help of Phil Spaugy and Jim Baird, a proposal to formally create the N-SSA Youth Fund was presented to the Board at the January 2014 meeting and was approved. A dedicated investment account was opened in February 2014 and the donations started flowing in. Frank’s goal is to see the Fund reach $60,000 and he will continue to contribute to it at least until it reaches that level. At that point it should be selfsustaining while distributing grants to the regions, and still be able to grow in value.

The long range goals for the Fund according to Frank are “to be able to develop programs to provide more structured learning and training to our youth and future N-SSA members at both the regional and national levels to help them safely enjoy a sport that we all love and cherish.” Where better to invest in new members than with our own family members who are growing up around skirmishing?

Dominion Virginia Power has also donated a utility trailer for storing the growing amount of equipment and supplies needed to support a growing and active youth program. The idea is to fully stock the trailer with everything needed to run individual and team BB gun matches at Fort Shenandoah. It also takes a lot of volunteers to make this program work. There is plenty of work involved in setting up, running a match, and cleaning up. And just like any N-SSA match, there is also a need for stats and IT support. Joe Plakis has put in many hours of his time to make these things happen.

Photo by Niki Bethke.

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The Youth Fund is an excellent example of what one member with a vision can do for the N-SSA. Of course, no matter how great the vision, only the handson efforts of many people can make this sort of thing happen.

Our aging membership becomes more aware every year of the need to work with and appeal to younger people if we are going to maintain this organization. This The N-SSA Youth Fund was the brain fund is a key part of the child of Frank & Anita Kapper, and is an excellent example of what one member strategy as the N-SSA with a vision can do for the N-SSA. ramps up its efforts to work with young people. Without the efforts of many of our members, these kids would miss the chance to learn about competitive shooting sports and develop a healthy and safe attitude toward firearms. They may never have as good an opportunity to learn about and appreciate history and the experiences of their forebears during our country’s most significant trial. Fred Schell’s original vision of a BB gun competition at Nationals led to several regions doing the same. This idea was expanded into the Potomac Region and people like Bobbi Woods and her teammates at Chiswell’s Exiles, and later Robin Hildebrand and Mark Elton of the 7th Virginia kept it going. Other regions have people who are also working hard to build a youth program. Hundreds of kids have been introduced to the competitive side of the N-SSA through these programs and many have gone on to become adult members. Those first BB gun programs have led to the founding of the Youth Fund, opening more doors for involvement of young people. The number of adult members becoming involved is also growing each year. As time goes by, this fund will be there to help as more skirmishers join the effort and bring new ideas with them. All those interested in volunteering a couple hours of their time to this worthy endeavor is invited to help at both the regional and national matches.

Monetary donations of any size are also welcome.

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2017 WORK SKIRMISH

On June 17, 2017, more than 50 volunteers from 22 different units gathered at Ft. Shenandoah for the 2017 Work Skirmish and completed several projects prepared in advance

by N-SSA Property Manager, Tim Scanlan.

Ramps to Pistol Range Bridge and steps to Towers were painted with non-slip paint.

A trailer was re-decked.

The Pistol Range Shed was painted.

Positive drainage was re-established and improved in the Sutler Area.

Flaps on Sutler buildings were repaired.

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Trees were trimmed and brush was hauled to the disposal area. Another crew, not pictured, cut up and hauled away hazardous trees which were previously downed by the Property Manager.

Steps were constructed in the lower slope behind the Veterans Building.

Pipes were installed at the 25 ft. line to accommodate BB Gun target frames at the Pistol Range.

Other projects completed this year under the Adopt-a Project Program included: ▪ Repair of treads on Tower at Main Range by Cockade Rifles.

▪ Reconfiguration of doors at Pistol Range Shed by 9th Va. Cav. ▪ Repair of Executive Secretary’s Porch by Harlan’s Light Cav. ▪ Painting of the roof on the “Guard Shack” by the 14th Tenn.

▪ Generous monetary contribution by 44th NVVI to help defray the cost of lunch.

Thanks to all volunteers for their contribution to the upkeep of Ft. Shenandoah.

Submitted by Jeff Hall, Property Mgt. Staff Officer

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General Fremont and Hall’s Carbine By: A.M. Beck, Palmetto Guards, Co. I, 2nd SC Vol. Inf. The Hall Carbine Affair is one of those bazaar stories that grows from the panic and disorganization of war. Virtually every book on Civil War arms relates a version of it. If the brief retelling below whets your interest, R. Gordon Wasson’s book “The Hall Carbine Affair”, is probably the best researched and even handed account available, even though it dates from 1941. It can be downloaded at https://goo.gl/cqxpvX.

In June of 1861, General John C. Fremont was desperate to arm his western command and was encountering obstacles at every turn. Meanwhile, back in Washington, Brigadier General James W. Ripley, the new Chief of the Army Ordnance Bureau, was sitting on 5,000 obsolete smoothbore M-1843 Hall carbines. Most of them were brand new and had never been out of their shipping crates.

For reasons lost to history, Ripley wanted to be rid of the Halls. George Eastman, a civilian in the arms trade, knew of them and suggested to Ripley that he could have the old carbines rifled and altered to take standard 58 caliber musket ammunition for the government. The total cost would be about $1 per gun. Ripley declined. Eastman then proposed to buy the carbines instead, offering $3 apiece for all serviceable Halls. Ripley drove a hard bargain, $3.50 each for the whole lot, serviceable and unserviceable. In spite of his offer, Eastman was unprepared for Ripley’s willingness to sell. However, he was well aware of the desperate need for military arms and was pretty sure he could find a buyer, so he took Ripley’s deal.

Thus began an urgent search for a customer, and financing. Eastman soon connected with Isaac Stevens, a Republican Party political operative. Stevens was well aware of Fremont’s urgent requirement for arms and realized the opportunity that the Halls offered. Before accepting Eastman’s proposal of $12.50 per carbine, rifled for 58 caliber ammo, he telegraphed St. Louis, offering to sell them to Fremont for $22 per carbine. Fremont believed that Stevens could deliver quickly, so replied with his acceptance.

Hall’s breech action up close.

Stevens went to an unknown 24 year-old New York banker named J. Pierpont Morgan, who wrote him a loan, taking title to the carbines as collateral and charging the usual rates and conditions.

Morgan’s loan enabled the daisy chain of deals to proceed.

Soon the carbines were on their way to W.W. Marston’s Union Arms Co. in New York, and the Taunton Locomotive Works in Massachusetts.

Fremont got the first 2500 rather later than he had hoped, in August. By the time Stevens presented the voucher for payment, the second batch of carbines was being shipped to Fremont.

That first voucher was paid, but a firestorm soon erupted.

Why was Fremont paying $22 for carbines that only a couple months previously had been sold by Ripley for $3.50? The newspapers would have had a field day with this, except for the fact that it was one of so many scandalous war contracts that the press gave it little more than passing mention. When the second voucher arrived at the War Department, it was refused, and the whole matter wound up in the Holt-Owen “Commission on Ordnance Claims and Contracts”, which concluded that Stevens had acted as Fremont’s agent and was due only an agent’s commission on the price he had paid Eastman, $12.50.

With that money, Stevens paid his bills, but he had no profit.

Stevens quickly found himself a lawyer. The case worked its way thought the court system for years before his second voucher was ultimately paid, in 1868.

With the carbines still in the US Armory at Governor’s Island, N.Y., Stevens had to raise money to buy them from Eastman, who had to raise money to buy them from Ripley.

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The Hall carbine affair took on a second life in the early 20th century when the Progressive movement resurrected it as a way to attack J.P. Morgan, and the Robber Barons in general. Much of this later reporting tends toward supposition and distortion, such as the incorrect assertion that the Halls had been condemned by the Ordnance Department, that they would shoot off the thumbs of soldiers while being loaded, or that Fremont was dismissed from command because of the Hall deal. In spite of the vilification heaped upon him, Morgan was neither the perpetrator nor victim of the scam, which makes him almost unique in this cast of characters. Thus grew the legend of the Hall carbine scandal.

Fremont’s cavalry was quickly armed with the Halls, which proved to be a great improvement over the shotguns, civilian arms, and decrepit castoffs from Europe that were issued previously. Western cavalry units continued to carry them long after Fremont himself had departed the scene.

They served well in the First Battle of Springfield (Mo.) in October of 1861, and at Pea Ridge in March of ‘62.

Lt. A. R. Buffington of the St. Louis Arsenal (who later designed the sight used on M-1884 and ‘88 Trapdoors, 1901 Krags, and 1903 Springfields) commented, "In the early period of the war, officers complained of these arms, but for many months they are only too willing to use them, as no others have been and apparently cannot be supplied, but the impression is, among those who know and those who do not know, that this arm is very inferior to Sharpes carbine."

The Halls came in for a lot of criticism. Officers tended to exaggerate the failings of arms they wanted replaced, but in the Hall’s case, most of it was legitimate. The Hall action leaked more than other breechloaders. When worn, the barrel joint grew wider. Poor maintenance aggravated the problem. New breech plates could be installed to correct that, but this was rarely done. The carbine has to be completely disassembled in order to clean it properly, which led to frequent damage or loss of its many small parts. A major annoyance was the fact that the carbines could not be carried on a cavalry sling when loaded, since the bullet would drop forward in the oversize breechblock chamber, causing misfires. As with most carbines, stocks broke when carried on horseback.

In spite of their failings, the Halls saw a lot of service and proved to be reasonably rugged. Late in 1863 as many as 2000 were still in the field, mostly with Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas troops. Once replaced in front line regiments, they were issued to state guard units.

Due to their long and hard service, the survival rate of General Fremont’s Halls is low. When they do turn up, they are either in very nice shape, or absolutely beaten to death, with few examples in between. Not long ago, one in the former group turned up here in Charleston. Since a Hall had been on my wish list for a long time, it followed me home.

William Forse Scott, of the Fourth Iowa Veteran Volunteers, recalled of the Halls, "It was about this time [1863] that carbines were first issued to the regiment. Only forty could be obtained, and they were divided among several companies. They were Hall carbines, an inferior gun of short range, taking a paper cartridge; but they were breechloaders, and their coming was a thing of great interest to the men. Those who did not receive them envied those who did. It was soon found, however, to be a distinction not altogether desirable; the carbine men were called to the front whenever there was a fight on hand."

An officer of the 2nd Missouri Cavalry summed up the feeling about Hall’s carbines when he commented that they were better than civilian shotguns and squirrel rifles, but didn’t compare to more modern breechloaders.

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Shooting the Hall - Hal Davis of the 24th Ga.

(Continued on page 27)

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Charitable Giving

JOIN THE N-SSA LEGACY SOCIETY We all reach a point in our lives when we give some thought to our legacy. Usually, our first thoughts are about our families and descendants. We also think about perpetuating the work we’ve done, whether it is our livelihood or other good works. Another significant area of our lives involves the hobbies and interests that have made our lives enjoyable and fulfilling. As members of the North-South Skirmish Association, we have spent many hours of our lives involved in various aspects of our organization – competition, camaraderie, and the preservation of history. And we’d like to preserve the N-SSA for the generations to come. This is where planned giving comes in.

In the last two issues of the Skirmish Line I have discussed ways that are easy and beneficial for leaving something behind. Now I am organizing a recognition society for our members who have committed to leaving a bequest to the N-SSA after they are gone. This will be called the N-SSA Legacy Society.

Anyone and everyone can be part of this. Our members come from all walks of life and all financial backgrounds. Some people will provide for a small donation to the N-SSA in their will or other written request to their executor, and others will be willing and able to leave more. The amount is not the important thing ... participation is.

I have included a Declaration of Intent form in this issue for you to fill out when you decide to participate.

A copy should be filed with your important papers such as your will and estate documents, if not included outright in your will. And we ask that a copy be sent to the N-SSA to be kept on file. It is not unusual for some confusion to arise when sorting out a person’s estate and trying to determine what his/her true wishes were. If this document is filed with us, we know to help bring the bequest to fruition. The details of your Declaration will be kept confidential, but we would like to be able to list your name as a member of the N-SSA Legacy Society. You may also elect to remain anonymous if you’d prefer.

Wayne Jordan, Charitable Giving Committee 24

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Planned Giving Declaration of Intent Thank you for including the North-South Skirmish Association in your estate plans. This document will help to assure that part of your legacy lives on in the future of the N-SSA. By providing this document to us with details about your legacy gift, we are better able to ensure that the N-SSA can provide the best possible stewardship of your gift, and see to it that your intentions are fulfilled. This is not a legally binding document. It can be amended at any time for any reason. Your information will be kept confidential although your name will be listed in the N-SSA Legacy Society unless you ask to remain anonymous.

Your Name(s) and/or name of your trust: ______________________________________________________________ Date of estate plan and/or trust: _____________________________________________________________________ Description of type of gift (cash, bequests, trusts, life insurance, IRA, pension, etc.): _____________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ This gift is revocable _____ irrevocable _____. (Initial your choice.)

This gift is for a specific dollar amount _____, a percentage _____, or tangible property _____. (Initial your choice.)

Current cash value or estimated value of your gift (optional) ___________________________ Gift designation – Would you like this gift directed toward any specific purpose? Please be aware that placing restrictions on your gift’s use can sometimes create difficulties in honoring your intentions. It is advisable to discuss your intentions with N-SSA officers if you have specific needs or are leaving a large gift. _____________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________

The N-SSA Legacy Society is our recognition society for those who have committed to support the N-SSA through their estate plan. This may be done through a will, trust, beneficiary designations, or a written statement of intent that you provide to your executor and/or family members. We look forward to listing your name as part of this group in our publications in hopes that others are inspired to participate as well.

Please list your name(s) here as you would like them to appear on our registry. If you prefer your name not be listed, please enter “Anonymous”. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Your address: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Your email and/or phone number: ____________________________________________________________________ Your signature and date: _____________________________________________________ Date: ________________ Please mail the completed form to:

Wayne Jordan N-SSA Charitable Giving Committee 8606 Eagle Glen Terrace Fairfax Station, VA 22039

Your Declaration of Intent will be filed in a safe place and shared only with elected N-SSA officers, and only as needed.

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In preparing the carbine to shoot, several interesting features came to light.

First, these are beautifully made arms. The build quality is outstanding, especially given that the design dates from 60 years before the Civil War and the required machine work is complex. For instance, as assembled at the armory, a 0.001” feeler gauge will not slip into the breech/barrel joint.

It is this high quality work that made Halls the first fully parts interchangeable industrial products, predating the interchangeable US models of 1842 by decades.

Although there is no provision for sealing the breech joint beyond an unusually close fit, the resulting gas leakage is directed away from the shooter very effectively. A metal plate is installed under the breechblock to prevent stock erosion. In the Model of 1843, this plate includes a drain hole, which serves both to clear any powder spilled under the block, and as a gas vent. The stock also has large vents under the frame rails.

The breechblock is bored to 59 caliber. Apparently, the plan was that standard issue musket bullets would be loaded while still wrapped in cartridge paper.

The breechblock isn’t bored all the way down. The bottom part is still sized for 52 caliber ammo. It takes about 45 grains of powder to fill the chamber past this step.

Although the chamber is enlarged, the barrel is still 52 caliber. Apparently, Eastman concluded that the small bore would work, and the rifling process would go a lot faster without bothering to ream the barrel up to match the chamber. Rifling consists of 6 shallow grooves, about 1 in 72 twist.

A thorough inspection of my ‘new’ carbine revealed a good bore and tight action. With a clean bill of health, the next question was what kind of ammo to shoot. 0.560” round balls seemed like a good choice. A liberal coating of beeswax served to center and hold them in the chamber.

With 45-50 grains of FF, the carbine functioned well, didn’t leak excessively or build up fouling, and it had unusually low recoil. My daughter even fired a few rounds, thus joining the exclusive ranks of Hall shooters.

While the Hall handled round ball ammo well enough, it was not much more accurate than a smoothbore musket.

Burnside bullets didn’t fare any better. Digging a few rounds out of the backstop provided the answer. Balls were Skirmish Line

not lining up with bore when they left the chamber. The plan that a thick lube coating would center bullets in the chamber didn’t work out as hoped. After some load development, I found a combination that put balls into the scoring rings of the N-SSA 50-yard target most of the time, and in the black about half the time.

The next step was to try musket ammo, which fit the chamber nicely. After all, that’s what it is supposed to shoot. The carbine functioned just fine, but accuracy was non-existent! A couple recovered slugs gave the answer.

Their bases were heavily deformed.

Before and after shots of the bullets I tried while trying to find a reasonably accurate load

That led to the design of a “Hall Bullet”, a 0.535” diameter bullet with two 0.590” driving bands that center it in the chamber. These bands collapse back into grease grooves as the bullet enters the barrel. This worked well enough that shots went into the scoring rings of the N-SSA 50-yard musket target most of the time.

At its best, the Hall’s accuracy is disappointing. While it is a lot of fun to shoot, nobody will be winning Distinguished Skirmisher awards with a Fremont Hall carbine! I suspect that the best solution to the accuracy woes would be to install a breechblock bored to better match the barrel diameter. Hall rifles, which have a good match between the block and bore, are reputed to be very accurate.

In spite of its shortcomings, and in the interests of the historical record, I shot the Hall at this year’s Denhamville skirmish. Since this is the first shoot of our season, my teammates were less likely to be upset when my hit count fell off a statistical cliff.

As noted above, there is a wide range of choices for ammo, none of which work especially well. I went with 0.560” round balls dipped in beeswax and propelled by 50 grains of FF. That load produced the most encouraging results at the practice range.

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So, here’s what it’s like to skirmish with a Fremont Hall carbine.

Be sure to have your shooting glasses when you go to the line. Like many early percussion arms, there is no fence behind the cone, so cap debris goes everywhere. In addition, gas from the breech vents back through the action and under the block as well as out the top of the breech joint. By the time it gets to you it is mostly cooled, and it is well directed away from the shooter. The puff of smoke from the breech happens so fast that it is not distracting, but you don’t want any in your eyes!

Operation on the line is awkward at first. The problem is that the gun consists of a muzzle loading pocket pistol mounted in a carbine frame. All the loading precautions required for a muzzle loader are required for a Hall, with the added complication that the ‘muzzle’ is at the back end of the barrel.

Thumbing down the lever on the right side of the action raises the breechblock for loading. This is very handy and a big improvement over the earlier bottom mounted levers.

The breechblock must stay pointed in a safe direction while pouring powder, ramming the ball, and keeping your valuable appendages clear of the front of the block. A third hand would be most helpful. Soldiers pushed balls down the chamber with their fingers during the war. That’s easy enough, but it is a MAJOR N-SSA Faux-Pas, not to mention unsafe! The carbine’s ramrod is awkward, but a short 1/2” dowel works well.

Once loaded, the breech snaps easily into position with thumb pressure. However, after half a dozen rapid shots, the block gets quite hot! With the action closed, prime and fire as with any other carbine.

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The carbine match at Denhamville as the Hall blows smoke everywhere.

The second thing you notice as you take aim is that the sights are awful. They are similar to first type Mississippi Rifle sights, only worse. The V notch is so wide that you can see the entire front sight through it, bottom to top, and a good bit of barrel as well. In addition, the hammer and cone are extremely close to the sight line. Earlier Hall models have the sights offset to the left, but not M-1843s.

Percussion cap wings can obscure the sights if not bent down. It takes some serious range time to make these sights work.

Rate of fire is better than muzzleloaders, but you won’t keep up with the Maynard and Smith shooters.

Overall, the Hall functions well on the line, although leakage around the breech means that this is not a carbine you want to shoot in close ranks. It’s kind of like a flintlock in that regard, but on both sides. Fouling is not a problem.

The action works perfectly throughout a match. In fact, it requires much less fiddling than some more modern breechloaders (for instance, a Gallagher or unmodified Sharps). On the other hand, this is not a very accurate carbine. The Hall broke a few targets, but not at my usual rate.

Halls can be primed and fired with the breech open.

Because of this, it is especially important that you follow the N-SSA loading procedure. The hammer stays down on the last cap until loading is complete and the block is down.

NEVER prime until the block is locked down.

Back behind the line, cleaning between relays requires a shotgun rod that holds patches in a slotted tip. Regular musket/carbine rods will lose patches in the breech due to the oversize chamber. Lost patches are easy enough to pull out by opening the breech. Unfortunately, they push fouling to the bottom of the camber, causing misfires.

The first thing you notice on taking aim is that the buttstock seems short. It’s actually the same length as an M-1816 musket, or a short stock Enfield P-53, but it feels at least an inch shorter.

Several skirmishers wanted to try the Hall, so we all got together after Saturday’s competitions were done. As we passed the carbine around there was no doubt that

Summer 2017

(Continued on page 29)

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everyone was having a great time, and after all, that’s what skirmishing is about. Several shooters scored hits on the 25 -yard smoothbore targets we were shooting. One skirmisher even left the line commenting, “I gotta get one of those!”

The real work begins once the skirmish is over. Now you have to clean your carbine! Imagine shooting black powder in an M-1 Garand and you have an idea of the work involved in cleaning a Hall. It wouldn’t be hard to clean your whole team’s carbines in the time required to get a Hall ready for inspection.

Shooting the Hall - Brannen Sanders of the 24th Ga

This cleaning marathon is due to the gun’s infamous breech leakage. In addition to the bore, everything from the bottom barrel band back will be coated with fouling. The barreled action must come out of the stock for cleaning, and unlike most Civil War vintage carbines, it is not designed to come apart easily. In addition to your usual cleaning supplies, you will need a screwdriver and a cup to hold all the parts that come off the gun.

Removing the breechblock pivot screw frees the block, which can then be lifted out of the frame. The barrel comes out pretty much like a musket. Pull the rammer and remove the front band. Next take out the two horizontal screws at the back of the action. This frees the saddle bar so the bottom band can be removed. Now the barreled action can be lifted out of the stock. Be careful as the barrel comes free. The stock is quite thin and easily broken on the sides where the receiver meets the barrel.

Clean and oil the stock (linseed on the wood and gun oil on the metal parts). Then clean and oil the barreled action and breechblock, inside and out. A spray oil works best on the breech block. There are lots of nooks and crannies underneath that you can’t get to, even with Q-Tips. Make sure you have a box of swabs handy. You will need a dozen of them for the underside of the breechblock alone!

My Hall had century old fouling under there.

While you are oiling, pay special attention to the butt plate, trigger guard, and bands. The action is steel and is reasonably rust resistant. Other metal parts are iron, which seems unusually susceptible to the red menace.

Hall’s breech loader was completely obsolete in 1861, and the only advantage obtained by rifling the old smoothbore M-1843s was the somewhat dubious ability to fire standard issue musket ammunition. Accuracy was improved very little, if at all, and the many other problems of the Hall design were left unaddressed. Still, Halls were better than the equally obsolete European muzzleloaders that Fremont had been issuing, when he could get them. Had I been a cavalry trooper in Saint Louis in 1861 and was given a choice between a 71 caliber muzzle loading Austrian carbine and a Hall, I’d eagerly take the Hall!

The Hall’s breechblock will be covered with fouling after a trip to the range.

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Summer 2017

29

30

Summer 2017

Skirmish Line

REGIONAL NEWS - Northwest Northwest Territory Members Help “Save the Flags” By: Bruce W. Miller, N-SSA Public Information Officer Every year the unit commanders of the North-South Skirmish Association’s Northwest Territory select a historically-based project and donate $1,000 to that cause. Past donations have gone to organizations like the Gettysburg Foundation, Civil War Trust, and last year to Detroit’s Historic Fort Wayne where many Michigan regiments were mustered into service. For 2017, the NWT selected the State of Michigan’s Save the Flags project.

Based on unit seniority, NWT commanders selected a flag of the 5th Michigan Infantry for adoption. Company F of that regiment is known by their militia company name: the Huron Rangers (N-SSA #004). Those adopting flags are honored in a special ceremony. The State Director of Adopted Battle Flag of the 5th Michigan Infantry the Save the Flags project, Matt Van Acker, attended the regional skirmish at Laingsburg on July 30. The Huron Rangers were given a photograph of the adopted battle flag and a legislative tribute signed by both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor was presented to NWT Regional Commander, Chuck Kindle. The NWT will also be added to a “Roll of Honor” plaque displayed in the flag exhibit area at the Michigan Historical Center at the capitol complex in Lansing.

Save the Flags is Michigan’s project to preserve, research, and display 240 battle flags carried by Michigan soldiers in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I. One of the project’s great successes has been its “adoption” program. For a donation of $1,000, individuals, families, organizations, schools, and communities help with the preservation, research, and display of the flags by “adopting” flags in the collection. To date, over 150 flags, mostly from the Civil War, have been adopted, providing the project with much needed funds. Adoptions also help preserve history by commemorating particular regiments and individuals. Adoptions are often made in the name of the original regiment which carried that flag into battle or in the name of a veteran by his descendants.

For more information, visit capitol.michigan.gov/savetheflags.

Skirmish Line

NWT Regional Commander, Chuck Kindle (right) displays the Legislative Tribute, and Huron Rangers Commander, Henry Heatley (center) holds a photo of the adopted battle flag of the 5th Michigan Infantry. Both were presented by State Director of the Save the Flags project, Matt Van Acker (left), during the flag adoption ceremony at the skirmish at Laingsburg, Michigan on July 30, 2017.

Summer 2017

31

REGIONAL NEWS Allegheny Regional Skirmish Musket Company Match Results - Final Class A-1 - 3 Places Paid Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Team/Company

Evt 1

Evt 2

Evt 3

Evt 4

Evt 5

Evt 6

Total

9TH VIRGINIA CAVALRY, CSA CO. A 8TH REGT VIRGINIA VOL. INF CO. A 5TH VA. VOL. INF. CO. A 1ST MARYLAND CAVALRY, CSA CO. A WASHINGTON BLUE RIFLES CO. A HARLAN'S LIGHT CAVALRY CO. A 1ST FLORIDA CAVALRY CO. A 12TH REGIMENT PA RESERVE VOLS. CO. A 11TH VA CAVALRY CO. A CO. C, 2nd U.S. SHARPSHOOTERS CO. A

64.1 67.7 87.1 119.5 113.0 91.6 75.4 102.0 105.1 166.0

152.2 150.9 197.8 214.1 265.5 248.7 262.9 309.0 285.2 265.9

67.8 80.2 85.9 100.7 72.4 100.8 119.7 89.0 115.7 98.4

77.9 64.0 105.0 107.2 89.7 100.6 98.4 134.2 116.2 108.5

108.0 113.7 107.0 119.9 148.3 135.0 159.2 140.9 189.0 205.7

54.0 64.0 70.0 70.0 46.0 68.0 64.0 78.0 60.0 72.0

524.0 540.5 652.8 731.4 734.9 744.7 779.6 853.1 871.2 916.5

WHITE'S CO, 35TH VIRGINIA CAV. CO. A HAZELWOOD VOLUNTEERS CO. A COCKADE RIFLES CO. A

183.3 149.9 182.0

309.0 328.0 421.0

105.8 135.5 175.1

134.7 179.2 160.3

182.3 204.6 230.0

88.0 88.0 92.0

1003.1 1085.2 1260.4

Evt 1

Evt 2

Evt 3

Evt 4

Evt 5

Evt 6

Total

139.1 122.1 218.6 200.4 600.0

299.3 309.0 356.0 393.0 600.0

118.6 155.3 190.5 159.0 600.0

144.6 123.1 164.3 181.9 600.0

162.5 253.1 219.1 299.4 600.0

80.0 84.0 68.0 90.0 120.0

944.1 1046.6 1216.5 1323.7 3120.0

Evt 1

Evt 2

Evt 3

Evt 4

Evt 5

Evt 6

Total

148.1 337.0 431.0 318.0 243.4 375.0

365.0 337.0 440.0 469.0 450.0 469.0

141.2 253.0 215.6 246.7 248.2 318.0

182.2 215.7 220.2 195.5 318.0 356.0

152.8 273.4 252.1 356.0 356.0 356.0

88.0 96.0 90.0 94.0 94.0 116.0

1077.3 1512.1 1648.9 1679.2 1709.6 1990.0

Evt 1 134.4 166.9

Evt 2 190.9 309.0

Evt 3 96.4 147.0

Evt 4 118.7 183.6

Evt 5 167.7 232.3

Evt 6 86.0 72.0

Total 794.1 1110.8

Evt 1

Evt 2

Evt 3

Evt 4

Evt 5

Evt 6

Total

186.1

440.0

158.9

251.8

203.1

106.0

1345.9

Class A-2 - 2 Places Paid Place 1 2 3 4 5

Team/Company 2ND VIRGINIA VOL. INF. CO. A COMPANY D, 33RD VIRGINIA CO. A 11TH REGIMENT, PA VOL. INF. CO. A 1ST PA RIFLES (BUCKTAILS) CO. A 17TH PA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY CO. A

Class A-3 - 2 Places Paid Place 1 2 3 4 5 6

Team/Company LAUREL BRIGADE, ANV. CO. A ALLEGHENY CITY GUARDS CO. A 2ND REGT. PA RES. CORPS CO. A 6TH ALABAMA (RACCOON ROUGHS) CO. A 7TH WV VOLUNTEER INFANTRY CO. A ST. MARY'S LT. INFANTRY CO. A

Class B-1- 1 Place Paid Place Team/Company 1 8TH REGT VIRGINIA VOL. INF CO. B 2 WASHINGTON BLUE RIFLES CO. B

Class B-2 - 0 Places Paid Place

Team/Company

1 11TH REGIMENT, PA VOL. INF. CO. B

32

Summer 2017

Skirmish Line

REGIONAL NEWS Allegheny Regional Skirmish Carbine Company Match Results - Final Class A-1 - 3 Places Paid Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Team/Company HARLAN'S LIGHT CAVALRY CO. A 9TH VIRGINIA CAVALRY, CSA CO. A WASHINGTON BLUE RIFLES CO. A 11TH VA CAVALRY CO. A KNAP'S BATTERY E, PA LT. ARTY. CO. A 8TH REGT VIRGINIA VOL. INF CO. B 5TH VA. VOL. INF. CO. A 1ST FLORIDA CAVALRY CO. A 12TH REGIMENT PA RESERVE VOLS. CO. A COCKADE RIFLES CO. A

Evt 1 44.0 72.0 58.0 78.0 80.0 82.0 88.0 80.0 72.0 108.0

Evt 2 109.7 90.2 134.4 170.6 151.4 161.6 270.0 197.3 211.5 405.0

Evt 3 46.0 63.0 73.4 41.3 56.9 89.3 100.9 50.8 82.6 227.7

Evt 4 51.6 67.0 75.8 104.1 95.3 119.7 163.2 123.8 238.3 420.0

Evt 5 146.0 152.6 154.2 148.2 165.5 130.8 161.3 360.0 360.0 360.0

Total 397.3 444.8 495.8 542.2 549.1 583.4 783.4 811.9 964.4 1520.7

Evt 1 64.0 90.0 80.0 88.0 106.0 94.0 94.0 90.0

Evt 2 166.6 189.4 253.2 256.0 420.0 315.0 360.0 600.0

Evt 3 64.9 74.7 100.6 103.0 160.7 101.1 149.3 600.0

Evt 4 171.2 124.7 178.6 166.6 225.9 280.3 274.2 600.0

Evt 5 254.5 247.5 214.5 360.0 268.6 480.0 540.0 600.0

Total 721.2 726.3 826.9 973.6 1181.2 1270.4 1417.5 2490.0

Evt 1 96.0 98.0 104.0

Evt 2 330.0 266.3 525.0

Evt 3 92.7 82.0 360.0

Evt 4 270.7 158.5 360.0

Evt 5 225.2 420.0 480.0

Total 1014.6 1024.8 1829.0

Evt 1 88.0 64.0 88.0 82.0 96.0

Evt 2 109.6 147.5 160.3 390.0 295.5

Evt 3 56.9 90.2 53.3 54.1 111.0

Evt 4 92.8 108.7 133.3 154.4 212.0

Evt 5 190.2 213.8 360.0 253.8 390.0

Total 537.5 624.2 794.9 934.3 1104.5

Evt 1 92.0 110.0

Evt 2 330.0 450.0

Evt 3 118.1 179.2

Evt 4 206.4 240.4

Evt 5 299.7 450.0

Total 1046.2 1429.6

Evt 1 104.0

Evt 2 375.0

Evt 3 113.9

Evt 4 246.2

Class A-2 - 2 Places Paid Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Team/Company 1ST MARYLAND CAVALRY, CSA CO. A HAZELWOOD VOLUNTEERS CO. A CO. C, 2nd U.S. SHARPSHOOTERS CO. A 11TH REGIMENT, PA VOL. INF. CO. A 12TH REGT. U.S. REGULAR INF. CO. A 2ND REGT. PA RES. CORPS CO. A 1ST PA RIFLES (BUCKTAILS) CO. A 17TH PA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY CO. A

Class A-3 - 2 Places Paid Place Team/Company 1 LAUREL BRIGADE, ANV. CO. A 2 6TH ALABAMA (RACCOON ROUGHS) CO. A 3 ST. MARY'S LT. INFANTRY CO. A

Class B-1 - 1 Place Paid Place 1 2 3 4 5

Team/Company HARLAN'S LIGHT CAVALRY CO. B 8TH REGT VIRGINIA VOL. INF CO. A WASHINGTON BLUE RIFLES CO. B 5TH VA. VOL. INF. CO. B 11TH VA CAVALRY CO. B

Class B-2 - 0 Places Paid Place Team/Company 1 12TH REGIMENT PA RESERVE VOLS. CO. B 2 1ST PA RIFLES (BUCKTAILS) CO. B

Class C - 0 Places Paid Place Team/Company 1 11TH REGIMENT, PA VOL. INF. CO. B

Skirmish Line

Summer 2017

Evt 5 360.0

Total 1199.1

33

REGIONAL NEWS Allegheny Regional Skirmish Smoothbore Company Match Results - Final Class A-47 - 3 Places Paid Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Team/Company HARLAN'S LIGHT CAVALRY CO. A WASHINGTON BLUE RIFLES CO. A 8TH REGT VIRGINIA VOL. INF CO. B 9TH VIRGINIA CAVALRY, CSA CO. A HAZELWOOD VOLUNTEERS CO. A 1ST MARYLAND CAVALRY, CSA CO. A 5TH VA. VOL. INF. CO. A KNAP'S BATTERY E, PA LT. ARTY. CO. A

Evt 1

Evt 2

Evt 3

Evt 4

Total

82.0 86.0 90.0 88.0 94.0 100.0 102.0 102.0

72.6 68.6 94.5 101.8 64.4 91.5 88.8 138.0

21.4 41.9 39.6 46.0 60.9 52.0 83.4 70.6

71.3 51.3 59.6 54.4 90.3 97.9 90.0 120.5

247.3 247.8 283.7 290.2 309.6 341.4 364.2 431.1

Evt 1 104.0 108.0 102.0 108.0 116.0

Evt 2 143.6 140.0 151.1 107.9 240.0

Evt 3 72.6 62.3 50.7 119.9 166.8

Evt 4 104.9 125.9 140.1 240.0 270.0

Total 425.1 436.2 443.9 575.8 792.8

Evt 1

Evt 2

Evt 3

Evt 4

Total

108.0 106.0 102.0

126.6 200.0 240.0

67.5 88.0 122.5

90.2 62.6 210.0

392.3 456.6 674.5

Evt 1 96.0 90.0 96.0 98.0 92.0 104.0 110.0 114.0 100.0

Evt 2 93.9 79.9 135.0 102.0 178.0 240.0 200.0 220.0 104.1

Evt 3 40.0 67.0 63.9 84.7 76.0 76.9 85.8 169.5 240.0

Evt 4 88.8 85.1 80.2 130.3 78.6 169.9 240.0 210.0 270.0

Total 318.7 322.0 375.1 415.0 424.6 590.8 635.8 713.5 714.1

Evt 1

Evt 2

Evt 3

Evt 4

Total

94.0 114.0 98.0 114.0

120.7 179.3 164.0 260.0

81.7 103.3 109.8 240.0

130.4 93.1 168.3 270.0

426.8 489.7 540.1 884.0

Class A-48 - 2 Places Paid Place 1 2 3 4 5

Team/Company COCKADE RIFLES CO. A 1ST PA RIFLES (BUCKTAILS) CO. A 1ST FLORIDA CAVALRY CO. A WHITE'S CO, 35TH VIRGINIA CAV. CO. B 12TH REGT. U.S. REGULAR INF. CO. A

Class A-49 - 2 Places Paid Place 1 2 3

Team/Company 2ND VIRGINIA VOL. INF. CO. A 11TH REGIMENT, PA VOL. INF. CO. A 11TH VA CAVALRY CO. A

Class B - 1 Place Paid Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Team/Company 8TH REGT VIRGINIA VOL. INF CO. A 9TH VIRGINIA CAVALRY, CSA CO. B WASHINGTON BLUE RIFLES CO. B HARLAN'S LIGHT CAVALRY CO. C 1ST MARYLAND CAVALRY, CSA CO. B 5TH VA. VOL. INF. CO. B WHITE'S CO, 35TH VIRGINIA CAV. CO. A 11TH REGIMENT, PA VOL. INF. CO. B HAZELWOOD VOLUNTEERS CO. B

Class C - 0 Places Paid Place 1 2 3 4 34

Team/Company HARLAN'S LIGHT CAVALRY CO. B 8TH REGT VIRGINIA VOL. INF CO. C WASHINGTON BLUE RIFLES CO. C 11TH REGIMENT, PA VOL. INF. CO. C

Summer 2017

Skirmish Line

REGIONAL NEWS Allegheny Regional Skirmish Revolver Company Match Results - Final Place Team/Company 1 KNAP'S BATTERY E, PA LT. ARTY. CO. A 2 12TH REGIMENT PA RESERVE VOLS. CO. A 3 WASHINGTON BLUE RIFLES CO. A 4 11TH REGIMENT, PA VOL. INF. CO. A 5 11TH REGIMENT, PA VOL. INF. CO. B 6 2ND REGT. PA RES. CORPS CO. A 7 ALLEGHENY CITY GUARDS CO. A 8 11TH VA CAVALRY CO. A 9 5TH VA. VOL. INF. CO. A

Evt 1 93.8 71.7 114.6 113.5 104.8 113.2 128.0 108.6 170.0

Evt 2 80.4 96.5 106.5 107.6 112.3 119.8 118.9 124.4 91.3

Evt 3 35.0 65.0 35.0 60.0 85.0 70.0 65.0 80.0 75.0

Evt 4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total 209.2 233.2 256.1 281.1 302.1 303.0 311.9 313.0 336.3

Mortar Match Results Place

Team/Mortar # 1st PA Rifle 1 Hazelwood Volunteers 1

Ball 1 3' 10" 5' 1.75"

Ball 2 3' 11" 5' 4.5"

Ball 3 4' 4" 6' 8"

Ball 4 11' 2" 6' 6"

Ball 5 10' 3" 18' 9.5"

Total 33' 6" 42' 5.75"

Individual Match Results - Final 50-Yard Musket - 3 Places Pd Competitor

Place Expert 07560 09996 02318 Sharpshooter 04354 06914 05318 Marksman

Score 93-3X 93-1X

07560 10496

SEMPELES G

91-3X

10552 Sharpshooter

93

04354 06546

HUGHES M DUTY W

91-2X

10696

COUMES J

85-1X

HUGHES M POLING V COMER D

87 85-1X

MCBRIDE M HARRIS S

Score

MCBRIDE M BODNER M

SHEETZ D

92-2X 91-1X 91

85-1X

Marksman

01095 03097

ROBERTSON A MEARS G

91-1X

01876

BAUM J

88-1X

90-1X

Striker

Skirmish Line

100-Yard Musket - 3 Places Pd Competitor

Place Expert

87

01876 02078 00526

BAUM J BURGESS, JR. J STILES K LINK D NAPIER D

79

BALTRUNAS P

74

86-1X 82-1X

Striker 12883 13494

NAPIER D LINK D

82 77

13494 12883

13638

WETZEL E

74

00385

Summer 2017

75

35

REGIONAL NEWS Allegheny Regional Skirmish Revolver Company Match Results - Final Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Team/Company KNAP'S BATTERY E, PA LT. ARTY. CO. A 12TH REGIMENT PA RESERVE VOLS. CO. A WASHINGTON BLUE RIFLES CO. A 11TH REGIMENT, PA VOL. INF. CO. A 11TH REGIMENT, PA VOL. INF. CO. B 2ND REGT. PA RES. CORPS CO. A ALLEGHENY CITY GUARDS CO. A 11TH VA CAVALRY CO. A 5TH VA. VOL. INF. CO. A

Evt 1 93.8 71.7 114.6 113.5 104.8 113.2 128.0 108.6 170.0

Evt 2 80.4 96.5 106.5 107.6 112.3 119.8 118.9 124.4 91.3

Evt 3 35.0 65.0 35.0 60.0 85.0 70.0 65.0 80.0 75.0

Evt 4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total 209.2 233.2 256.1 281.1 302.1 303.0 311.9 313.0 336.3

Mortar Match Results Place

Team/Mortar # 1st PA Rifle 1 Hazelwood Volunteers 1

Ball 1 3' 10" 5' 1.75"

Ball 2 3' 11" 5' 4.5"

Ball 3 4' 4" 6' 8"

Ball 4 11' 2" 6' 6"

Ball 5 10' 3" 18' 9.5"

Total 33' 6" 42' 5.75"

Individual Match Results - Final 50-Yard Musket - 3 Places Pd Competitor

Place Expert 07560 09996 02318 Sharpshooter 04354 06914

Score

MCBRIDE M BODNER M

93-3X 93-1X

07560 10496

SEMPELES G

91-3X

10552 Sharpshooter

93

04354 06546

HUGHES M DUTY W

91-2X

COUMES J

85-1X

HUGHES M POLING V

87

MCBRIDE M HARRIS S

Score

SHEETZ D

92-2X 91-1X 91

85-1X

COMER D

85-1X

10696 Marksman

01095 03097

ROBERTSON A MEARS G

91-1X

01876

BAUM J

88-1X

01876 02078 00526

BAUM J BURGESS, JR. J STILES K LINK D NAPIER D

79

BALTRUNAS P

74

05318 Marksman

90-1X

Striker

36

100-Yard Musket - 3 Places Pd Competitor

Place Expert

87 86-1X 82-1X

Striker 12883 13494

NAPIER D LINK D

82 77

13494 12883

13638

WETZEL E

74

00385

Summer 2017

75

Skirmish Line

REGIONAL NEWS Allegheny Regional Skirmish Individual Match Results - Final (Continued) Musket Aggregate - 2 Places Pd Competitor

Place Expert 07560 10496

MCBRIDE M HARRIS S

Score 185-5X

06546

181-1X

07560 09996 Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter 05318 11048 Marksman 01876 01095

COMER D LYTTON T

90

MCBRIDE M

88-2X

BODNER M

88-1X

COMER D

85-1X

04354 11902 Marksman

HUGHES M WETZEL E

85

00023 10696

HALL J COUMES J

82

07278

NOYALAS, JR. R

56

05318

169

BAUM J

175-1X

ROBERTSON A

172-1X

Score

DUTY W

170-1X

Striker

83

79-1X

Striker 13494

LINK D

156

12883

NAPIER D

78

00385

BALTRUNAS P

146

08626

NOYALES J

71

10106

MAAS J Carbine - 3 Places Pd 50-Yard Competitor

69

Musket Aggregate - 2 Places Pd Competitor

Place Expert 07560 10496

MCBRIDE M HARRIS S

Score

05318 11048 Marksman 01876 01095

COMER D LYTTON T

Place Expert 06546

Score

DUTY W

90

MCBRIDE M

88-2X

BODNER M

88-1X

COMER D

85-1X

04354 11902 Marksman

HUGHES M WETZEL E

85

00023 10696

HALL J COUMES J

82

07278

NOYALAS, JR. R

56

156

12883

NAPIER D

78

146

08626

NOYALES J

71

10106

MAAS J

69

185-5X 181-1X

Sharpshooter

07560 09996 Sharpshooter

170-1X 169

BAUM J

175-1X

ROBERTSON A

172-1X

Striker

Skirmish Line

50-Yard Carbine - 3 Places Pd Competitor

Place Expert

05318

83

79-1X

Striker 13494

LINK D

00385

BALTRUNAS P

Summer 2017

37

REGIONAL NEWS - Tidewater The annual Cure for Cancer Skirmish will be held October 20-22, 2017. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has placed the North-South Skirmish Association Tidewater Region on their 2016 honor roll listing of dedicated organizers that held events to benefit the MSK Cancer Center. For more information on how you can participate or donate, please contact Michael Davenport at eddiedavenport@netzero.com.

Spring Skirmish Results - Tucker’s Naval Brigade April 21-23, 2017 - Capron, VA TEAM RESULTS Carbine Dismal Swamp Rangers Co. A .......................................... 394.1 Nansemond Guards .......................................................... 411.2 York Rangers, Co. A ......................................................... 514.2 York Rangers, Co. B ......................................................... 726.4

Breechloader Dismal Swamp Rangers ................................................... 158.6 Norfolk Light Infantry ......................................................... 228.1 York Rangers Co. A .......................................................... 249.3 York Rangers, Co. B ......................................................... 442.7

Revolver Nansemond Guards, Co. A ............................................... 147.9 York Rangers, Co A .......................................................... 162.9 York Rangers, Co. B ......................................................... 175.0 Nansemond Guards Co. C ................................................ 241.8

38

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS 50 Yard Musket K. O’Bryant ...................................93 E. Miles ........................................92-1X R. Propst ......................................92

100 Yard Musket D. Heuer ................................... 92-3X K. O’Bryant ............................... 92 B. Waits .................................... 90

Musket Aggregate K. O’Bryant............................. 185 D. Heuer................................. 180-3X E. Miles .................................. 177-2X

50 Yard Carbine R. Propst ......................................89 V. Roach ......................................87-1X D. Branch .....................................86

100 Yard Carbine D. Heuer ................................... 90-1X K. O’Bryant ............................... 89-1X B. Waits .................................... 87-1X

Carbine Aggregate K. O’Bryant............................. 174-2X D. Heuer................................. 173-2X D. Branch ............................... 168

25 Yard Revolver B. Waits ........................................99-2X G. Bowling ....................................94-1X D. Branch .....................................92-1X

50 Yard Revolver G. Bowling ................................ 78-1X D. Branch ................................. 73-1X F. Brockmiller ........................... 70-1X

Revolver Aggregate G. Bowling.............................. 172-2X D. Branch ............................... 165-2X F. Brockmiller ......................... 160-2X

50 Yard Breechloader C. Chapman ................................92-1X R. Foster ......................................88 G. Brockmiller...............................86-2X

100 Yard Breechloader K. O’Bryant ............................... 89-1X G. Brockmiller........................... 87 R. Foster .................................. 85-1X

Breechloader Aggregate K. O’Bryant............................ 174-2X G. Brockmiller ........................ 173-2X R. Foster ................................ 173-1X

25 Yard Smoothbore E. Miles ........................................93-2X D. Heuer .......................................93 D. Clark ........................................92-2X

50 Yard Smoothbore G. Bowling ................................ 91-1X D. Heuer ................................... 89-1X D. Clark .................................... 88

Smoothbore Aggregate G. Bowling ............................. 182-2X D. Heuer................................. 182-1X E. Miles ................................. 180-3X

Grand Aggregate G. Bowling ....................................513-5X D. Branch .....................................495-2X

Five-Gun Aggregate G. Brockmiller........................... 836-7X F. Brockmiller ........................... 809-3X Summer 2017

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REGIONAL NEWS - Tidewater Tidewater Spring Regionals May 5-7, 2017 - Capron, Virginia TEAM RESULTS Musket Dismal Swamp Rangers Co. A ........................................ 556.9 Nansemond Guards Co. A .............................................. 578.5 Mosby's Rangers Co. A ................................................... 679.7 66th NC Regt, Co C. Co. ................................................. 744.3

Carbine Dismal Swamp Rangers Co. A .......................................... 512.0 66th NC Regt, Co C. Co. A ............................................... 538.5 Nansemond Guards Co. A ................................................ 589.7 Nansemond Guards Co. B ................................................ 928.2

Revolver Nansemond Guards Co. A .............................................. 143.6 Iredell Blues Co. A........................................................... 148.2 3rd NC Cavalry Co. A ...................................................... 189.3 Nansemond Guards Co. B .............................................. 207.4

Breechloader Nansemond Guards Co. A ................................................ 264.3 Iredell Blues Co. A............................................................. 306.5 Dismal Swamp Rangers Co. A .......................................... 377.2

Smoothbore Nansemond Guards Co. A .............................................. 232.5 Dismal Swamp Rangers Co. A ........................................ 242.3 Nansemond Guards Co. B .............................................. 320.0

Mortar Southampton Greys 1 ........................................................23' 6" Manly's Battery 1 .........................................................45' 10.25" Manly's Battery 2 ................................................................52' 0"

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS 50 Yard Musket K. O'Bryant ................................ 95-1X B. Waits ....................................... 94-1X D. Heuer .................................... 88-1X D. Baldwin ................................ 88-1X

100 Yard Musket M. McChesney ......................... 90-1X M. Arnette ................................. 90-1X E. Miles..................................... 86-1X K. O’Bryant ............................... 86-1X

Musket Aggregate K. O’Bryant ............................. 181-2X B. Waits .................................. 178-1X M. Arnette............................... 177-1X

50 Yard Carbine M. Arnette .................................... 91-3X P. Corrigan .................................. 90-1X K. O’Bryant .................................. 90

100 Yard Carbine H. Sharison............................... 92-2X D. Branch ................................. 92 K. O’Bryant ............................... 89

Carbine Aggregate D. Branch ............................... 181-1X K. O’Bryant ............................. 179 M. Arnette............................... 177-4X

25 Yard Revolver B. Waits ....................................... 96-3X T. Wenzel .................................... 94-1X D. Branch .................................... 94-1X

50 Yard Revolver D. Branch ................................. 82-1X M. Arnette ................................. 82-1X B. Waits .................................... 82-1X

Revolver Aggregate B. Waits .................................. 178-4X D. Branch ............................... 176-2X T. Wenzel ............................... 173-1X

50 Yard Breechloader C. Chapman ................................ 91 D. Baldwin ................................... 88-1X G. Bowling ................................... 87-1X

100 Yard Breechloader G. Bowling ................................ 93-2X K. O’Bryant ............................... 89-2X P. Corrigan ............................... 86

Breechloader Aggregate G. Bowling .............................. 180-3X K. O’Bryant ............................. 175-3X C. Chapman ........................... 171

25 Yard Smoothbore R. Foster...................................... 96-2X T. Rea ......................................... 94-3X D. Heuer ...................................... 94-2X

50 Yard Smoothbore T. Rea....................................... 94-2X E. Miles..................................... 93-2X R. Cameron .............................. 92-1X

Smoothbore Aggregate T. Rea .................................... 188-5X R. Foster ................................ 186-2X R. Cameron ............................ 185-3X

Grand Aggregate B. Waits ....................................... 530-6X M. Arnette .................................... 524-9X D. Branch .................................... 519-3X

Five-Gun Aggregate D. Branch ................................. 838-4X P. Corrigan ............................... 830-4X H. Sharison............................... 799-9X

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Attention all Skirmishers Emergency Medical Information On the back of this page are Emergency Medical Information slips that you can cut out, fill in, and keep in whatever you use to carry and display your N-SSA Competitor ID Card.

Multiple slips are provided should you wish to keep extra copies in your wallet, trailer, shooting cart, etc.

The intent of these cards is to provide members with a free, and easy-to-use safeguard in the event of a medical emergency. This is especially important if you were to become incapable of communicating with team mates or medical/first responders (i.e. having a severe stroke, heart attack, and/or loss of consciousness).

This information is NOT solicited by, nor will it be maintained by the N-SSA. It is your personal information - you update and safeguard it. Hopefully you will have it ready and easily found (example in your ID card holder!) should an actual emergency arise.

If needed, additional Emergency Medical Information slips can be obtained at no cost in the National Secretary’s Office during National Skirmishes.

Please take a few moments to take action on something as simple as this, something which could spell the difference between life or death.

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The 46th Veteran’s Skirmish By: Tammy Nicodemus-Linton (photos & article) The 46th Veteran’s Skirmish was a blast for those who participated. Mother Nature was mostly kind to us. She brought in a late afternoon storm on Friday which caused us to close the range a little earlier, but it came late enough that no one was really put out. The storm even brought down the temperature so the picnic was more enjoyable. Tim Scanlan cooked up his famous roast pig (weighing in at 197 lbs.), and we had fresh corn-onthe-cob, assorted side dishes, and desserts - Yum! I’m pretty sure no one left hungry or “thirsty” as there was a nice cold keg on tap along with sodas and bottles of water. Getting together and sharing a great meal with friends and family on a beautiful Ft. Shenandoah night just can’t be beat. This is what Veteran’s is all about … fellow skirmishers and families getting together in a relaxed environment, competing in the hobby that they love, hanging with friends, and sharing old stories while making new ones (both stories and friends).

Saturday was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining and there was a slight breeze, so let the fun begin. Along with the traditional musket targets, there were several “fun” events. The awesome opossum pigeon board elimination was won by Ed Schneeman with 17 consecutive hits, and the closest to center opossum target was won by Eric Shaw with a virtually perfect bullseye. Both of the skirmishers won a “basket of cheer.” Six country hams were won by shooting a dairy creamer from 50 yards. These went to Skirmishers Quinn, Morton, Buss, Filbert, McBride, and Lovelace. Great shooting guys!!

The Saturday meeting was short and sweet with a brief auction of gun carts, then teams were picked, and shooters proceeded to the annual prize table. Next, it was time to hit the creek to cool down. There’s nothing like sitting in (or around) the creek, enjoying the day, and visiting with friends. The “kids”, both little and big, enjoyed the water balloons and games, especially the new floating Beer Pong game. Next, on to a delicious dinner (winner winner chicken dinner) of fried chicken, homemade beans with pineapple, and fresh cucumber salad. Yes, we eat very well at Veteran’s.

Once the evening set in, party time began throughout the camp. You must make sure to come to the annual Artillery Punch Party at the 3rd Maryland campsite, where you will find great fellowship around the campfire and perhaps hear a song or two.

Sunday morning’s main event was the musket match. The newly formed teams lined up to shoot under the magnificent Shenandoah sky. Only 1 team will win, but 2 more will place. Next was the Brigade shoot, where the North competes against the South to clear the opossum pigeon board and then cut a wooden post in half with musket shots. It’s always exciting to see who will finish first. As it turned out, no one finished at all! The ash wood used for the post refused to come down. The diehard shooters shot for almost an hour and could not bring it down. Oh well, we’ll try again next year (we may start with the same post, LOL).

The winning musket team was Team 3B, made up of Ed Thompson, Paul Altland, Richard Killeen, Jeremy Sanders, Mark Hughes, Anthony Keppler, Eddie Williams, and Brent Williams.

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The volunteers that support the Veteran’s is what truly makes a Veteran’s a Veteran’s. So, we would like to thank a couple of volunteers who you will see at every Veteran’s holding down the fort, so to say. Karen Rawls has served as Range Officer for many years and can always be counted on to be on the line with a smile and a friendly, “Hello”. On the other side of the tower, you will find the ever-perky Ashley and her mother Clesta running the “fun” events. Wayne Jordan and his crew always gather all the wonderful goodies for the prize table. These are just some of the ever-faithful volunteers that make this weekend the unique and special skirmish that it has become. A special thank you to Skirmish Director, Michael Linton, and his family for all of their efforts to make this a fun weekend. A special shout out to Anna Nicodemus for her awesome opossum design and drawing that was the theme for this Veteran’s. Thanks to George, Jeremiah, and many more unsung heroes for all the behind-the-scenes manual labor and support.

Karen chilling on the range.

Ashley with the pigeon elimination board.

Michael on the move.

Katie with closestto-center target.

Deana rocked the opossum t-shirt at the creek party.

The Infamous Ash Wood Post By: Ericka Hoffman, National Photography Officer (photos & article) The Brigade match is when the "Confederates" and the "Yankees" each have to clear an elaborate Pigeon Board and cut down a stake.

This year, the stakes were 6" x 6" ash "tree trunks" and they would NOT fall. The Yankees ran out of ammo and/or patience and surrendered.

The Confederates hung in there until, one by one, their ammo ran out.

The last four die-hard shooters were finally forced to concede to the post when even they ran out of ammo!

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Scenes from the Veteran’s Shoot Ericka Hoffman, National Photography Officer

Musket Match Winners 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Teams

"Friends don't let friends run out of ammo!"

During the Brigade Match, there was some sharing between shooters when people started running out of ammo.

Eddie Schneeman grabbed some ammo out of Scott Harris' cartridge box.

Robin Hildebrandt played "powder monkey" and brought ammo to Matt Cox and Mark Elton.

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Scenes from the Veteran’s Shoot Ericka Hoffman, National Photography Officer

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2017 VETERAN’S SKIRMISH PRIZE TABLE DONATIONS By: Wayne Jordan, Chiswell’s Exiles - Prize Table Chairman All registered skirmishers get a chance to claim a prize from the table at the skirmish.

The following sutlers, N-SSA members, and local businesses generously donated over 200 items to the Prize Table at this year’s Veteran’s Skirmish. Their generosity was overwhelming with most of them quickly offering up their merchandise.

Some of the items, like hats and shirts, were able to be traded back to the sutlers for the proper size if necessary.

It takes a team to make the Prize Table happen. Special thanks to Judy Stoneburner, Executive Secretary, for helping to gather up prizes. The Elton family of the 7th Virginia – Mark, Robin, and Mackenzie – always help to organize the prizes for distribution. Ericka Hoffmann of Dulany Troop and Mac McCumbie of Thomas’s Legion also helped out.

There are always many last minute donations of prizes made at the skirmish, some without a name attached, which may not be recorded here. I apologize to those that not listed, but rest assured your contributions are all now in the possession of a grateful skirmisher. Thank you all for participating. Please let the donors know that their donations are appreciated.

Thank you to our generous donors!

SUTLERS C-7 Jeweler’s Daughter, Susan - closed case pocket watch C-6 Regimental Quartermaster – 1,000 caps C-4 Abe’s Offshoot, Juanita – soft lead C-8 S & S Firearms, Ed and Phil Siess – various shooting supplies B-10 Romano, Larry and Laurlyn – T shirt B-9 Dixie Gunworks, Lee Fry & Margaret - .45 cleaning kit B-8 Ball Accuracy, Joe Fisher – Wild Puppy lube, shop towels, bag of .678 roundballs B-7 North-South Tailor, Tom Witham – straw hat B-5 Charlie Hahn - Mustang gun cart, range bag B-4 Whittaker, Dan – bore sizer .576 - .578 F-3 Blue and Gray Relic, Mike Klinepeter – framed bullet display E-2 Weber’s Weapons, Paul Weber – bags of roundballs - .678 and .675 E-4 Northeast Trader, John DeWald – Coleman stove, shooting box E-5 Tennessee Bullet Moulds, George Gumpf – stainless steel .576 sizer and push rod E-7 Unique Shirts, Jeff and Wendy – Clay pigeon T shirt E-9 Freischutz Shop, Bobby Hoyt – 2 $50 gift certificates F-1 Vinny Capone – Phil Sheridan carte-de-visite F-5 Tom Crone – variety of jag sets, mainspring vice G-5 Southern Gun Works, Richard Carroll – beer keg sponsorship G-4 Moose Moulds, Sandy and Moose – 2 $25 gift certificates, rolls of targets G-4 Shaker Style Woodcrafts – spalted maple ice cream scoop A-3 Jerry Stone – various shooting supplies A-2 Rebel Trading Post, Mary Lou – various shooting supplies A-1 Horse Soldier, Sam and Wes Small – Troiani Irish Brigade miniatures D-3 CS Arms, Cliff Sophia - bayonet TENTS ALONG THE CREEK Everything Confederate, Red and Grover – Irish/Celtic music CDs OTHER SKIRMISHERS Judy Stoneburner, Mosby’s Rangers – cavalry kepi Tom Magno, Chew’s Battery – Civil War Archive book John and Mary Lou Wells, 3rd US – book of period clothing styles Dennis Angermaeier – cavalry sword, framed prints of generals, rifle wallmounts Jim Burgess, 15th Connecticut – 120 plastic Sharps tubes Don – Watermelon slicer Wayne Jordan, Chiswell’s Exiles – assorted camping and shooting supplies, tin cup 46

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Fred Herlinger, 12th Pa - block of pure lead Eric Shuessler, Sherman’s Bodyguard – 4 wood handled cleaning rods Back Creek Powder Shop, John Venskoske – 1000 caps Jim Whitehouse, Allegheny City Guards – 2 T-handled cleaning rods Bob Hickey, 5th Va Cav – cavalry boots (size 10 – 11) Paul, McGregor’s – large cake, and 12 small rum cakes John Sharrett, Dismal Swamp Rangers – carpenter bee trap Estate of Al Myers – his gun cart, a book, and coasters Fred Schell, McNeill’s Rangers – Gettysburg DVD Kirk Stanley, Cockade - caps and patches Don Rollette, Div of Marines – Scotch, Jar Head Wine, shooting supplies John Doyle, 2nd Va Inf – books Ron Beeman, 1st Stuart Horse – moulds, shooting box, Navy Arms barrel Fletcher Pastore, Cockade – trailer hitch table Janet Elton, LED lantern

BEER KEGS WERE DONATED BY: RICHARD CARROLL and DICKIE DODD – to the memory of Frank Garrett – “We Had Fun in the Old Days” R. PRESTON CHEW’S BATTERY & THE LINTON FAMILY – in loving memory of Robert Linton, Sr. 13th CONFEDERATE – to the memory of Jim Fisher, a long time skirmisher MUSKET RELAYS ON SUNDAY WERE DEDICATED TO: THE MUSKET MATCH – the memory of Bob Harden, 14th Virginia Cavalry, a dedicated longtime member of the N-SSA Veterans, by his loving wife, Karen Harden THE PIGEON BOARD – the memory of Jack Rawls, Co-Founder of the N-SSA, from his wife, Karen THE HANGING BLOCKS – the memories of John Elton and Pappy Foster of the 1st Stuart Horse Artillery – in the hope that their grandson and great grandson could only be half the men that they were. From the Elton family.

THE HANGING PIGEONS – the memory of Jim Brady of Knap’s Battery, even though he is not dead yet (the last time we checked), from his wonderful teammate and brother-in-arms, Tim Rasinski. Why not get ahead on this?

THE 25 YARD STAKE - the memories of Pete Connor and Lee Connor, 67th New York, from Duff Connor and family THE 100 YARD TILES – the memories of the many members of the 9th Virginia Cavalry who have passed on over the years. May they rest in peace.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DONATE OR DEDICATE A KEG OR A MUSKET RELAY FOR 2018’s VETERAN’S SHOOT? Dedications can be serious or humorous, for members past or present, or be dedicated to an organization or group.

Please contact Wayne Jordan, Chiswell’s Exiles, at wvjordan@aol.com to discuss options.

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