Skirmish Line Spring 2021

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

Spring 2021 Volume 66 ~ Issue 1 In this issue: Covid 19 and Shooting sports a return to normalcy.

HISTORY. COMPETITION. CAMARADERIE.

The N-SSA promotes the competitive shooting of Civil War firearms and artillery while encouraging the preservation of battlefields, artifacts, clothing and education of the period.

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The Skirmish LineTMis 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, Eddie Davenport ~ skirmishline@n-ssa.net National Photography Officer ~ Ericka Hoffman Visit our website at: www.n-ssa.org The N-SSA Corporate Seal and the magazine title, The Skirmish LineTM, are registered trademarks of the North-South 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 Text and images may not be published separately, in hard copy or electronically, without the expressed written permission of their owner(s).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 secure the proper permissions and right to publish articles, photos, and illustrations not created by them. The North-South 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 permission 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: The author(s), The Skirmish LineTM and its staff, and the North-South Skirmish Association, Inc. cannot 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 66 - Issue 1 Spring 2021 Covering the Covid era of Skirmishing Visit us at N-SSA.org

On the Cover Memories from N-SSA Past.

Family, friends and the future of our Sport.

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

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Stories & Features The Firing Line.............................................5 Taps............................................................6 N-SSA Contact Information..........................7 New Recruit Welcome...................................9 Blast From The Past...................................11 The Chuck Wagon.......................................12 Proper Load Development...........................13 Message to the Troops...............................18 Roll Call of Donors......................................19 Campfollower’s Chatter...............................24 How to Splice & Save a Musket...................25 News From the Troops................................32 Deep South Region Skirmish Report............33 A Family Affair............................................40 Sponsored Ads Goex Black Powder.............Inside Front Cover Muzzle Blast................................................4 Walk The Talk America.................................5 Doc’s Place..................................................5 Patrick Kaboskey.........................................9 Larry J. Flees.............................................9 Schutzen Black Powder..............................10 Back Creek Gun Shop.................................11 Skirmish Line Advertisment Specs..............18 National Rifle Association...........................19 Single Shot Exchange.................................31 50 Year Membership Award Form...............43 Skirmish Line Price Guide...........................44 Dixie Gun Works.........................................45 Davide Pedersoli Firearms.............Back Cover Thank you to all of our Sponsors.

Note From the Editor

Send in any photos or articles that you feel may be of interest to other N-SSA members. When sending photos, please include captions and the names of those pictured. Don’t forget to credit yourself as the writer.

Submit all articles in text format (ex. Word, not a pdf).

All photos must be at least 300 dpi (credit the photographer).

Submit via e-mail to skirmishline@n-ssa.net.

You will receive a return email confirming receipt.

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The Firing Line For many of us skirmishing is more than just shooting.

The members of our teams are family. Going to nationals is like going to a family reunion and reuniting with old friends sharing stories and laughs. Like many families our fellowship was disrupted by Covid-19. We lost many friends and loved ones during this difficult time which was made worse by not being able to see them on the shooting line. Like many of you I have been patiently awaiting the return of normalcy and that sweet smell of black powder. When I heard that the N-SSA was seeking a new Skirmish Line editor I knew that it was time I stepped up. I grew up in the N-SSA celebrating many of my childhood birthdays at our Fall Nationals in October. I perfected my craft on the shooting line ultimately winning numerous individual championships and an A1 Musket Championship beside my dad with the Dismal Swamp Rangers. I am invested in the N-SSA not only continuing but to thrive in the coming years. But to grow we must adapt with the times. To grow as an organization, we must strive to continue to be what we have always been. A shooting organization focused on the civil war period arms, a living history of the various weapon systems of the day. We can weather this storm if we stay true to who we are. We are the most unique shooting sport on the planet. Let us remember that.

I am grateful to the organization for choosing me as your editor. My plan is to return the magazine to what it used to be something you looked forward to receiving. I will be publishing articles from our previous issues going back to the 50’s thanks to the work of Todd Wenzel.

I look forward to sharing the line with all of you soon. Until next time, keep your powder dry and your shots X’s.

Eddie Davenport Dismal Swamp Rangers 11366V Skirmish Line Editor.

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TAPS

October 2019 –February 2021 Michael H. Anderson Palmetto Sharpshooters James G. Baird 49th Virginia Infantry Sandra C. Baird 49th Virginia Infantry Layle B. Barker 66th North Carolina Regt. Co. C Lee Bowling Nansemond Guards William A. Borate 1st U.S. Artillery Teddy Borkowski 14th Virginia Cavalry Katherine M. Bowles Portsmouth Light Artillery Patrick R. Culver McGregor’s 2nd Battery James D. Curtin 1st Regt. Virginia Volunteers Gilbert A. Denn Wheat’s Tigers Will K. Dickerson, Jr. 4th Tennessee Infantry, Harris Guard Jeffry J. Diekmann Knap’s Battery Charles H. Eatmon Manly’s Battery Carlton N. Elam, III Richmond Volunteer Militia Kenton O. Enger 20th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Matthew Eppley 13th Confederate Infantry Paul E. Faeth 5th Btty Michigan Light Artillery William T. Finney 19th Indiana Infantry Leslie W. Flint 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Rush’s Lancers Alex Gamble Washington Blue Rifles William “Bill” Groah Washington Blue Rifles Donald S. Herring 2nd Virginia Volunteers Fred Hodson 19th Indiana Infantry Thomas P. Hunger Wheat’s Tigers Michael H. Jordan Union Guards John E. Kenney 4th Virginia Infantry John M. Kevin, Jr. Co B 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry Gordon “Duke” Lane 1st Regt. Virginia Volunteers Sheila C. Lauer 111th Ohio Volunteer Infantry John L. Maas McGregor’s 2nd Battery Monte G. Montgomery Tuckers Naval Brigade David R. Moore York Rangers Gerald W. Nelson 72nd New York Volunteer Infantry Percy “Buzz” Nowlin, III Dixie Artillery Edison C. Occhi 15th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry James Cecil Pinner Tuckers Naval Brigade Elbert C. Pirtle 20th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Jimmy D. Pittman Forrest’s Escort Company Paul G. Postill 7th Tennessee Infantry Regt., CSA David E. Scanlan 1st Maryland Cavalry, CSA William “Dutch” Schoenfeld Mosby’s Rangers Norman Schaefer 69th New York State Volunteers Richard Sheppard 13th Regt. North Carolina Infantry Richard Siegel General W.T. Sherman Body Guard Archie Simmons Jeff Davis Legion Kenneth J. Spence, Sr. McNeill’s Rangers Christopher Waller Palmetto Sharpshooters Kenneth White 7th North Carolina Volunteers Anthony R. Williams 19th Indiana Infantry William M. Zachman Washington Grays 6 Skirmish Line Spring 2020

North-South Skirmish Association National/Regional/Staff/Committee Contact information

National Officers National Commander

Charles Kindle Jr.

chuckkindle1@gmail.com

National Deputy Commander

Robert Hannula

bobbyhannula@juno.com

Past National Commander

David Booz

dtbooz@yahoo.com

National Adjutant Richard Clements

nssa_national_adjutant@aol.com

Inspector General Michael Santarelli

1stpacavalry@gmail.com

Executive Secretary

Judy Stoneburner

execsecretary@n-ssa.net

National Paymaster

Bette Shepherd

paymaster@n-ssa.net

Allegheny Commander

David Cole

cole84_89@verizon.net

Craig Shedd

ccsmew@yahoo.com

Carolina Commander

Rex Cockerham

racockerham@hotmail.com

Dave Jackson

gaffergrip65@yahoo.com

Regional Commanders & IG’s AL-IG: CR-IG

Central Virginia Commander Ralph Shaw

ltnup@embarqmail.com

Michael Boley

mikebol11@comcast.net

Chesapeake Commander

Edwin Thompson

mdrebel@live.com

Michael Linton

mlinton1966@yahoo.com

Deep South Commander

Charles Bondurant

smokinpole@aol.com

Eddye Lawley

eddyelawley@gmail.com

Mid-Atlantic Commander

Roger Gray

ragray1961@gmail.com

Michael Santarelli

1stpacavalry@gmail.com

Midwest Commander

Eric Schuessler

eschues@aol.com

Ian Egbert

ian45662@yahoo.com

Louis Ruggiero

tammany42@aol.com

Richard Intravia

quahog@sbcglobal.net

Robert Kelley

rkel870@hotmail.com

Benjamin Nevlezer

bnevlezer@yahoo.com

Edward Walters

ewalt1855@gmail.com

James Weber

shooter575@gmail.com

CV-IG: CH-IG DS-IG MA-IG MW -IG:

New England Commander

EN- IG

Northeast Commander

NW-IG

Northwest Commander

NW-IG

Potomac Commander

Davy Crockett, Jr.

davyc@stny.rr.com

Mark Elton

mark.alaska@verizon.net

E.R. Mike Davenport

Eddie_Davenport@advantushp.com

TW –IG

Michael Stoneburner

bulletmaker.stoney@gmail.com

Western Commander

John Mark

jmark48@hotmail.com

John Thatcher

jt450@aol.com

Robert West

sixpounder1841@yahoo.com

PT-IG

Tidewater Commander

WR-IG

Staff Officers & Committee Chairs Artillery Staff Officer

Awards Committee Chair Nancy Crockett

nancyc@stny.rr.com

Bivouac Staff Officer

Robert Gorsky

gorsbob@aol.com

Charitable Giving Committee Chair

Wayne Jordan

wvjordan@aol.com

Community Relations Committee Chair

Gary Crawford

usimlt@hughes.net

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Corporate Relations Staff Officer

Allen Minneman

allenm@mtmcase-gard.com

Costume Committee Chair

Sharleen West

sharleenleighwest@gmail.com

Ft. Shenandoah Emergency Manager

Chester Lauck

lauckc@yahoo.com

Historical Center Staff Officer Gary Crawford

usimlt@hughes.net

History Committee Chair

John Zebelean, III

rebshooter@aol.com

Insurance Staff Officer

Jason Rexrode

nssaprogramchair@gmail.com

International Muzzleloading Committee

Errol McLean

captain1@slic.com

IT Manager Linwood McMahon

linwood.mcmahon@verizon.net

Judge Advocate/Solicitor

Lars Anderson

lars.anderson@ofplaw.com

Logistics Staff Officer

Todd Hess

thess6685@yahoo.com

Long Range Planning Committee Chair

Robert Hannula

bobbyhannula@juno.com

Long Range Planning Committee Co-Chair Edwin Thompson

mdrebel@live.com

Marketing Committee Chair

Chris De Francisci

webmaster@washingtonbluerifles.com

Medical Liason Staff Officer

John Venskoske, Sr.

bcgsi@hughes.net

National Photography Staff Officer

Ericka Hoffmann

ehkayak@gmail.com

National Safety Staff Officer

Douglas Walter

dwalter47@comcast.net

NRA Liason Staff Officer

Craig Stanley

cws11@ptd.net

Ordnance Staff Officer

John Venskoske, Sr

bcgsi@hughes.net

Personnel Review Committee Chair

Carlton Layne

cpllayne@aol.com

Program Staff Officer

Lynn Warner

lwarnerl15@gmail.com

Program Staff Officer

Jason Rexrode

nssaprogramchair@gmail.com

Property Management Staff Officer

Jeffrey Hall

jchall23.jh@gmail.com

Property Manager

Timothy Scanlan

nssapropertymgr@aol.com

Protocol Staff Officer

Brandon Bowser

no email

Provost Marshall Robert Klutas

stonycrick61@gmail.com

Public Information Staff Officer

Bruce Miller

spartan70@sbcglobal.net

Range Staff Officer

Scott Harris

cwshooter575@gmail.com

Recruiting Staff Officer

Robert Harrison

48thva@gmail.com

Registration Staff Officer

John Gaskill

jlg14tenn@aol.com

Revolver Range Staff Officer

Chris De Francisci

webmaster@washingtonbluerifles.com

Rules Staff Officer

Sharon Myers

nssarulesoffice@gmail.com

Sanitation Staff Officer

Charles Wager

cwager@ec.rr.com

Signal Staff Officer

Robert Hannula

bobbyhannula@juno.com

Skirmish Line Editor

Eddie Davenport

nssaeditor@gmail.com

Small Arms Committee Staff Officer

John Holland, Jr.

jh44ny@verizon.net

Statistics Staff Officer

Jeffrey Knauss

j.knauss@verizon.net

Sutler Staff Officer

Paul Stoneburner

madforestry6@gmail.com

Uniform Committee Chair

Mark Latham

balchiss@hotmail.com

Unit Membership Committee Chair

Kenneth Stiles

nssa.org.membership@gmail.com

Veteran’s Committee Chair

George Schell

gschell516@cs.com

Youth Program Coordinator

Frederick Schell

no email

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Welcome to all New Recruits 2020 & 2021(through February)

North-South Skirmish Association National Commanders

*John Gilmer

1956-1958

Allegheny Region

6

*James Waters

1959-1962

Carolina Region

5

*Albert Hardin

1963-1964

Central Virginia Region

5

*Carl Jensen

1965-1970

Richard Corrigan

1971-1974

Chesapeake Region

3

Deep South Region

8

*Frank Schoch

1975-1976

Mid-Atlantic Region

11

John Sharrett

1977-1982

Midwest Region

12

*James McAleer

1983-1984

John Robey

1985-1988

New England Region

9

Northeast Region

4

*Royal Inge

1989-1992

Northwest Region

3

Earl Coates

1993-1996

Potomac Region

7

Gary Crawford

1997-2000

Tidewater Region

3

Earl Coates

2001-2004

Western Region

6

Charles Smithgall

2005-2008

Linwood McMahon

2009-2012

Phillip Spaugy

2013-2016

David Booz

2017-2020

Charles Kindle, Jr. 2021 -

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Best Quality Quality for for Traditional Traditional Rifles Rifles Best Schuetzen Black Black Powder Powder Schuetzen and 4-Wing 4-Wing Musket Musket Caps Caps and

Schuetzen Black Powder

Schuetzen Powder Energetics, Inc. 866-809-9704 www.schuetzenpowder.com 10 Skirmish Line Spring 2021

Blast From the Past Sharpshooter ‘Kildee’ Related by Himself (following is the first of a two-part article, subtitled “Thrilling Reminiscence of John West, alias ‘Kildee’,” which appeared in Muzzle Blasts for November 1946. Later published in the Skirmish Line in January 1974 issue.

Originally this story was submitted by John L. Rawls. Original illustration by Larry Chiarizia.)

I was born and reared in Twiggs County, Georgia, which is in the very heart of the cotton producing section, and when the war between the states seemed evident, the young men of my home county began to think about service for their cause. However, before the struggle began, I wondered into Louisiana and it was from Louisiana that I entered the Southern Army as a private.

Word had reached me that the Twiggs County “Jorees” had been formed and I naturally had a desire to become a member of a company of my own county where many of my friends were now serving the Confederacy. I made application for transfer and changed from my Louisiana company to the Twiggs County “Jorees”. This company had taken on the nickname of “Jorees” and had adopted as their uniform three stripes upon the tail of their coat which resembled three black feathers of the bird called “joree” of which there were many in Twiggs County. The “Jorees” were a proud and determined group of Confederate soldiers and I was glad to be back with them.

Being rather slender and, I suppose, possessed of an unusual amount of agility, I acquired the nickname “Kildee” because I was very accurate with a rifle. In ’62 General Lee was fortunate enough; in spite of the effective blockade the Union Navy had been able to throw around the Southern States to secure a total of thirteen very fine old English Whitworth military rifles which we had heard were the finest guns so far developed for the use of the English army. To receive thirteen of these rifles for use against the Northern Forces was a landfall for General Lee because it was known that they far exceeded in killing power any rifle on the Union side. They were warranted to kill at 1800 yards, which was several hundred yards more than the range of any marksman’s rifle among the Northern Forces.

Upon receipt of these rifles, General Lee proceeded at once to select from the Southern Army thirteen of its best marksmen to form a special service detail of sharpshooters to be equipped with these Whitworths. I was very proud to be the only Georgian to be selected. I suppose my record with my “Jorees” company had a lot to do with my selection. We were placed under the command of General Brown, whose only assignment was to command and train us so that we would become the most accurate and deadly sharpshooters of all the confederate forces. For three months under all kinds and conditions of fire, weather, and terrain, through every daylight hour, we were trained and drilled.

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We learned the operation of the Whitworth to perfection. So far as we knew, the Union forces had none of these guns and when finally, we would go into service against the Northern Forces, General Lee was expecting a lot from his thirteen selected sharpshooters. He was not disappointed. A record was kept of every shot fired in these three months of practice and when the final day of examination and test arrived, I was 176 shots in the bull’s-eye ahead of the other twelve marksmen. But even this record was not sufficient to rate me any higher than the other sharpshooters. We all were compelled to take the test. The last day of practice arrived and our marksmanship was to be judged by our superior officers and we knew the day was not far distant when we would go into the line and harass Union artillerymen and spot out Northern officers as a target for our long range rifles.

For the final tests, a white board two feet square with a black diamond about the size of a hat in the center, was placed at a distance of 1500 yards. We were a nervous lot in spite of the grueling training we had been through, and the wind was blowing stiffly which was very unfavorable for good shooting. Ten shots were to be fired in this examination-three of mine went into the black diamond and seven in the white of the board.

I felt exceedingly proud because mine was the best score among thirteen sharpshooters. I was awarded the first prize which was the choice of horse, bridle, saddle, spurs, gun, revolvers, and saber. General Lee had seen to it that our accouterments in the way of these items of uniform, were the best the Southern army could afford. All of us felt that we were the elite of the Confederate riflemen on the day we set out to enter active service to fulfill the confidence that our leader had placed in us.

(To be concluded in the next issue of the Skirmish Line).

The Chuck Wagon Want to try a quick and easy camp recipe? Make yourself some Beer Bread.

Ingredients - 3 cups Flour - 3 teaspoons baking powder (omit if using Self-Rising Flour) - 1 teaspoon salt (omit if using Self) Rising Flour) - ¼ Cup sugar - 12 ounce of your favorite beer - ½ cup melted butter (1/4 cup will do just fine).

Directions Preheat Oven to 375 Degrees Mix Dry ingredients and Beer.

Pour into a greased Loaf pan.

Pour melted butter over mixture.

Bake 1 hour, remove from pan and let cool for at least 15 minutes.

Editor Note: Darker beers make a heartier bread play around to find your favorite my personal favorite is Miller High Life with a little honey added to the mixture. To make a thicker less fluffy bread omit the baking powder and it will come out as a dessert style bread.

It is possible to use non-alcoholic beer, just be sure to add a packet of yeast to the mix.

Do you have a favorite camp recipe that you want to share? Send it to me at skirmishline@n-ssa.net

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Proper Load Development By Tony Bagdon The late Tony Bagdon shot with the 44th NY and was an expert at making muskets shoot well. Tony crossed the river many years ago, but he left us not only the popular Hodgdon/N-SSA bullet, but the wisdom that follows on how to develop the most accurate ammunition for your skirmish arms. This article is based on several of his posts to the N-SSA Bulletin Board back in the late 1990s. His advice is just as useful today as it was back then. As you will understand while reading his notes below, he was meticulous about load development. – Anton Beck Original message intro: Here is a combination report on what I did and a general how-to-do what I did. Please don’t think that what I accomplished is impossible for the average shooter to do. The only real complication was doing it for five different guns and duplicating each step as I went. Believe it or not, the worst part was buying adequate quantities of caps, powder, and lube ALL OF THE SAME LOTS! Later on you will see why this is so important.

A couple of ground rules. I plan on going into detail on procedures as much as necessary. I do not plan on showing tables of velocities vs. powder charge vs. group size vs. point of impact. If I did, I’d have to hire a professional typist and charge accordingly. And if I did, you’d wind up with very specific data that would apply only to those five guns used in the test.

I listed 10 things in my bulletin board entry that you must do to get the best from any specific gun, be it musket, carbine, pistol etc. I’ll take them one at a time and elaborate on what works for me. Feel free to disagree with me at any time, then let’s get together out at the 100 yard bench rest. Please bring your wallet or checkbook with you. Everything I say I have proven more than once. Let’s begin.

1. WEIGH EACH AND EVERY BULLET YOU CAST. HOLD YOUR BULLET WEIGHTS TO PLUS OR MINUS ONE HALF GRAIN. ANYTHING ELSE IS PRACTICE AMMO. How critical a step is this? Mr. C.E. Harris of NRA technical staff was once asked this very same question. He replied that his idea of match weighing cast bullets was plus or minus one half of one percent of bullet weight.

He was referring to match weight pistol bullets usually fired indoors at 50 yards or less.

The Hodgdon bullet averages about 405 grains depending on mould diameter, who’s doing the casting and how.

Let’s use a figure of 400 grains. One half of one percent in this case is two grains. Plus or minus this gives you a total range of 398 grains to 402 grains, not much to worry about right? If your gun will shoot a 1.5 inch group using bullets weighed to plus or minus one half grain, if you randomly select five bullets spread from 398 to 402 grains your group will expand to five inches or more if everything else remains the same. I’ve observed this many times in many different guns and can reproduce this at will.

If you need further proof, go to your local sporting goods store and buy some commercial jacketed bullets made

by Speer, Sierra, or Hornady (the brands I’ve tried) and weigh them. You’ll be lucky to find a spread of plus or minus four tenths of a grain regardless of general bullet weight. These brands are noted for their accuracy and reliability; do you suppose there might be some reason for this? Remember, the guys who started these companies were shooters themselves who weren’t satisfied with what was available on the open market at that time.

“Casting bullets takes a lot of time I’d rather spend doing something else. If it looks good. I’ll use it. Say, did I tell you about the two eights I had last week that should have been right there?”

Ever heard that before in all its variations? As long as I’m up here on the pulpit, let’s talk about casting good, 13 Skirmish Line

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consistent bullets. First of all, if you cast with a ladle and your bullets are consistently good, stop reading right now. I freely admit that I can’t begin to get decent bullets using a dipper and gave up trying a long time ago.

I recommend a bottom pour electric pot, preferably a 20 pounder and there is a reason for this. In order to get repeatability and consistency with your bullets, you must ALWAYS maintain a constant lead level in your pot. I add a one pound ingot every twelve casts when casting .58s. I start with 17 pounds (weighed) in the pot and add as I go. When I finish and empty out the pot, I take out 17 pounds give or take a couple of ounces.

SAFETY NOTE - Never leave your pot full of lead. If you do, you risk winding up covered with lead when you reheat that pot. It’s called the “Volcanic effect” and has been well documented. What causes it is the lead on the bottom becoming molten while the top is still solid. Pressure builds and at some point the top ruptures spraying molten lead all over. Never happened to you yet? Well, how many times would you like it to happen?

When I this method, my bullet weight is consistent from casting session to casting session. I normally average 85% or better match bullets each time I cast. Try it; you might like it.

2. WEIGH YOUR POWDER CHARGES TO PLUS OR MINUS ONE HALF GRAIN. “Everybody knows that you have to vary your powder charge by at least five grains to make a difference in your pattern” This statement is probably true if your gun is shooting patterns. If your gun is capable of shooting good groups, this statement couldn’t be further from the truth. If you believe otherwise, I have a wonderful deal for you on some swampland; cash only please!

During a discussion with a fellow skirmisher on this very subject, he commented that getting every granule in the gun during the heat of competition was probably impossible. I agreed with him but pointed out that if there was exactly the same amount in every tube every time, wouldn’t it be more likely that the same amount would go in the gun each time.

I’ve also heard comments about granules remaining in the tubes due to “static cling”. This problem can be pretty much resolved. Have your wife or someone who REALLY likes you buy two washcloths. Sew them together on three sides and put a zipper on the fourth.

Fill this bag with dirty tubes and throw in the wash with your everyday clothes. Throw them in the dryer together with those same clothes and add a fabric softener sheet. This will not only do a great job of cleaning your plastics, but will pretty much eliminate “static cling”. A word or warning; use a safety pin to anchor that zipper in the closed position. If you don’t, well, take my word for it, you don’t want to go there...EVER! I have seen substantial differences in groups caused by plus or minus one half grain of powder. If your gun is the exception to the rule, congratulations, but I’d be willing to bet that most are like the ones I’ve worked up loads for.

One more point before I leave this subject. When you are shooting individuals, especially at Nationals where there are no reentries, can you think of any reason not to get every granule of powder down your barrel?

3. WHEN WORKING UP A LOAD, DON’T BE AFRAID TO TRY ONE HALF GRAIN POWDER CHARGES. This goes along with the statement I made earlier concerning weighing all powder charges. I started skirmishing in 1968. In the years since then I’ve had the opportunity to work up loads for many different guns; some mine, but most belonging to others who wanted their guns to shoot better. I’ve yet to run into one that didn’t show 14 Skirmish Line Spring 2021

significant differences in group size with half grain charges. I had one gun that went from two inch groups at 50 yards to one ragged hole by increasing the powder charge by one half grain. Adding another half grain opened the group back up to two inches.

If this sounds like I am splitting hairs, you are absolutely right. The whole purpose of this report is to help you get the utmost in accuracy from your gun. If you are completely satisfied with a gun that shoots 4 to 6 inch groups at 100 yards more power to you. But if you aren’t winning medals or are missing targets that you know you were “right on” when you pulled the trigger, go look in a mirror and meet the person responsible.

4. SEAT EVERY BULLET EXACTLY THE SAME. Variations in seating pressure can cause wild swings in velocity, group size, and even point of impact. If you wish to prove this to yourself, you’ll need access to a chronograph to measure velocity changes. Otherwise go out to that 100 yard bench rest and see what happens when you use different seating methods.

It’s not hard to develop a good seating technique. You can seat the bullet with one good firm push, or “thump it” once to be sure. Maybe even thump it twice. It makes no difference what method you use as long as you use the same method all the time. As in all of these processes, consistency is the name of the game.

5. & 6. USE A CENTERPUNCH TO PUT A SMALL INDENTATION ON ONE SIDE OF YOUR MOULD IN THE NOSE SECTION. THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN INDEX MARK ON EVERY BULLET YOU CAST. An index mark has many different uses. For example, if you size your bullets as many do, make sure that your index mark always faces the same way before you run the bullet into the die. If there is the slightest imperfection in your die, now you can be assured that you are compensating for it and minimizing its effect on your bullets flight.

Which leads to my next point. When shooting individuals, use the index mark to make sure that every bullet starts into the rifling exactly the same every time. Using the front sight as “l2:00 o’clock” while you are at the bench, try a group at 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, etc. and see the difference it will make in your group size.

Hairsplitting again, but it does help.

I can’t take credit for this idea; it belongs to every bench rest shooter I ever talked to. These are the guys who are trying to put 10 rounds into the same exact hole at 200 yards. The guys who shoot in the Cast Bullet Association feel that it is doubly important for them. They’re trying to do the same thing using cast bullets only. Or you can ask the guys who are shooting black powder cartridge using iron sights at 1000 yards whether they use index marks. If it works for them, it’ll work for us.

7. WHEN DEVELOPING A LOAD FOR YOUR GUN, DO YOUR SHOOTING AT 100 YARDS AND USE A SANDBAGGED REST. Remember, you are testing different loads in your gun, you’re not testing yourself. That comes on the firing line.

For instance, two different powder charges that show identical groups at 50 yards may vary greatly at 100 yards.

You may also run into the group that shoots into an inch at 50 and opens up to 6 inches at 100. I had a .50 cal. flint that was really good at this and no one has yet come up with a satisfactory reason for this behavior.

Some bullets in some guns will not work at 100 yards. Wadcutter style bullets are known for this. The theory is that they are not aerodynamically stable over a long distance because of the large frontal area of the nose. As good an explanation as any I’ve heard.

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The bottom line is: if a load is really good at 100 yards, it’ll be better at 50 yards. If there are any exceptions to this, I haven’t seen them.

8. & 9. AFTER YOU HAVE FOUND THE BEST POSSIBLE LOAD, IF YOU BUY NEW POWDER, CAPS, OR LUBE, HEAD FOR THAT 100 YARD BENCH IMMEDIATELY! Many people believe that blackpowder is blackpowder with different granulations available. Some are willing to concede that different manufacturers make a slightly different product that may not give identical performances.

But I’ve yet to talk to anyone who is willing to concede that different lots made by the same company can vary to any significant degree.

Let me tell you a true story that happened to me just prior to Fall Nationals 1997. I had purchased a new supply of powder at Spring Nationals and had no occasion to use it until fall. After loading 300 rounds to get me through Nationals and the preceding practice, I remembered that I had to redo my 100 yard sights I had changed my point of aim. After firing two fouling rounds, I very carefully fired five rounds using my new point of aim. Imagine my shock when my normal 1.25 inch group was now opened out to 8 inches.

Thinking that I wasn’t holding my aiming point right, I switched targets fired 5 more rounds with the same result. What happened? To make a long story short, the only change in the load was the powder. The new batch of powder required 2.5 grains less to go back to the excellent groups the gun was capable of. I freely admit that I had never experienced this problem with this company’s product before, but it was the cause.

I had run into this problem on occasion in the past, but usually it was a case of switching brands of caps or brands of lube, or going to a different bullet or sizing the bullet to a different diameter. I guess that we are never too old to learn. Redoing 250 plus rounds of ammo is a time consuming job and it gives you time to reflect on the error of making assumptions.

10. ALWAYS USE PURE SOFT LEAD WHEN CASTING BULLETS FOR YOUR RIFLE. I can’t really believe some of the things that I have overheard in many different conversations. I know of at least two guys in the same outfit that prefer to use wheelweights that a local tire store gives them just to get rid of them. The price is right and they cast into beautiful bullets. Now if they could only find a gun that was capable of shooting as good as those bullets....

How many people do you know that rely on “dug” lead from the N-SSA range? The theory here is that if other skirmishers are using it, it must be OK. “Everybody knows” that if you shoot black powder you must use only pure lead.

How can you tell if your lead is soft enough? The only positive way is to use a lead tester. LBT makes the best one on the market but they cost around $125 plus shipping (Editor Note – I kept this price here but the price of lead has increased over the years). Each individual shooter may not want to spend this kind of money, but how about your team buying one or two for general use?

What other alternatives do you have? Well, how about relying on your local scrapyard dealer to sell you what you want? If a few guys or a team goes together you can buy in quantity and may get a discount. I buy 1000 lbs. at a time and get a 5% discount. If I am willing to buy a ton or more, I can get a better discount.

Tell him what you want when you call to check availability. You aren’t the only one who buys lead to use for bullets. In fact, he sells a lot more wheelweights and linotype to shooters than pure lead. If you are dealing with an established business, he won’t try to sell you “hard” lead when you want soft. He knows that you have a means 16 Skirmish Line Spring 2021

to test what he sells, and besides, he wants your business.

The price of lead fluctuates greatly on the open market. Try to find three or more vendors within 100 miles of your location and periodically check the price with each. When it drops to a reasonable price (as defined by you) go buy in bulk. The last I purchased was a combination of lead pipe and lead sheeting. My tester gave it a BHN (Brinell Hardness Number) of 5. Anything up to 6 is considered soft. Wheelweight normally rates a 9 and linotype rates a 22. I’ve heat treated lead to 38. I like to shoot cast bullets in every gun I own.

That covers my ten points and you’re still waiting to be given my method of load development. OK, here goes.

All of the following is based on meeting the ten points listed above.

Make sure you start out with a sufficient quantity of powder, lube and caps ALL OF THE SAME LOT. If you can’t meet this criteria, don’t bother; you’ll be wasting time and components.

Start your powder charges at 30.0 grains and go to 60 grains in two grain increments. Load 7 rounds of the 30 grain load and 5 of each of the other 15 weights. Reason? If you start with a clean gun, you probably need a couple of fouling shots to dirty the bore. After firing each powder charge, brush your bore lightly; twice down and out is enough. This assures that there is approximately the same amount of fouling in the bore for each different powder charge. DO NOT PATCH THE BORE! Let it stay “dirty”.

If you are one of those unlucky people whose bore fouls quickly, try changing your lube. I’ve used MCM lube for 20 plus years and though I’ve tried others, I’ve yet to find anything better. Besides, for the economy minded, it is cheap. A tub will lube 450 plus rounds even when you are using it both inside the base and on the outside.

How well does it lube? In my younger days when I was shooting 50 plus rounds per day, I only cleaned my bore on Sunday evenings. I cleaned it then only because I was feeling guilty. Other than under certain weather conditions, the last round went down as easy as the first. Admittedly, your gun maybe different than the ones I’ve used. During my test of the Hodgdon mould, I cleaned the bores only when I knew I wasn’t going to be shooting the next day or when I switched from FFg to FFFg. You should use a target backer about 4 to 6 foot square. Remember, it’s not important where the bullet hits as long as they all go the same place. Sights can be adjusted later. Use regular N-SSA 100 yard targets for aiming points. Feel free to use whatever you wish, If your eyes are good enough, use smaller targets. By the way, a good spotting scope can save you a lot of walking.

You’ve now fired 82 rounds and you’ve got three almost identical groups at 38, 40 and 42 grains. Back to the loading bench. Load ten rounds at 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 grains. Back to your bench rest. This time fire 10 shot groups. (another 60 rounds).

Now you’ve narrowed it down to 40 and 41 grains. Load 10 rounds at 39.5, 40, 40.5, 41 and 41.5 grains.

Somewhere in the next 50 rounds is your best load. If you followed the first ten points, this load should easily be 2 inches or less. At this point you have fired a total of 192 rounds. You can quit now or make one more refinement.

Remember the index mark on your bullet? Try five or ten round groups at 12 o’clock, three o’clock, etc. Odds are you’ll take another one quarter inch or more off your final group size. Is it worth it? Anyone who looks at the Nationals results can find my name in the Striker class. Once upon a time I was in the expert class and I want to get back there. What I’m trying to say is that if you are as bad a shot freehand as am, every little bit helps!

Only you can decide if you want to put forth the effort required to obtain the greatest accuracy possible in your gun. If you are satisfied with what you are doing and want to stay where you are, feel free to ignore everything you have just read. If you are in my shoes and want to improve, try this method; it can’t hurt (other than your 17 Skirmish Line

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shoulder).

If you don’t have a range in your back yard like I do, you should still be able to accomplish this in two or three trips to your local range. If you are recoil sensitive, get a PAST Recoil Pad, or one of the shooting jackets High Power shooters use. They may not be legal for competition, but you can use them for practice. Besides, you may luck into a great group in your first 40 or 50 rounds. The first rifle I tried shot into less than an inch with a 38.0 grain charge of FFFg. If you think I tried to better that, you’re nuts. I know enough to quit when I’m ahead!

Interestingly enough, the five guns I used all preferred FFFg. That doesn’t mean your gun won’t like FFg, so try if that is what you are currently using. I used RWS caps and as noted above, MCM lube. This lube is available from most sutlers or you can get it direct from: John Dewald - North East Trading (570) 546-2061

https://www.northeasttradeco.com/ Good shooting to all who are willing to invest some time and effort on their own behalf. Don’t forget to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, ETC, ETC...

Tony Bagdon 44th NY

Message to the Troops

Mike Davenport - Tidewater Regional Commander

Members of the N-SSA- All Regions, Greetings- Hello- Howdy!

I truly hope this message finds you preparing for a new Skirmish Season along with good health and well-being.

The virus that has so altered our world and actions seems to be receding its grip on us and there is new hope that with the continued preparations and distancing along with available vaccinations that we can re-start the sport that we hold so dear.

If you have lost a teammate or loved one this past year, please send a note to the Skirmish Line Editor to inform them. If you are a member of Tidewater please send me a note or give me a call or text as we would like to recognize them when we hold our Regional quite possible this May. Yes, that’s right, a committee on dedicated N-SSA staff and volunteers has been working to develop guideline and protocols to adapt our sport to the regulations laid out by the Governor in Virginia to allow us to re-start our sport. More to come on that information and decisions in coming days.

Please send a email to skirmishline@n-ssa.net and I will work with you on getting your ad to print. - ED 18 Skirmish Line Spring 2021

ROLL CALL OF DONORS FOR 2020 Wayne Jordan, Charitable Giving Committee

During this past year the membership of the N-SSA has stepped up to support the organization in the most impressive manner. You’ll notice that the generosity of our members has really shown through in the form of a greatly increased level of giving in terms of both the number of donors and the amounts given. Total donations from our membership were $63,414.55 from 325 donors. Some of those donors were teams or regions and therefore represented donations from many more of our members. A couple of employers and Amazon (through Amazon Smile) contributed, too. Based on our 2021 budget, these donations are our second largest source of revenue and equal to over one quarter of all National member dues. These donations are making a very significant impact on our budget and our ability to keep National dues low while still maintaining our physical plant.

Below is a list of our donors by category. There is also a supplementary list of donors who have answered the call for specific projects that needed funding, as well as donations for other specific purposes of dedications.

For example, we had a donor offer $5000 to rehab several of the bathroom facilities if our membership would match that amount. Our members more than matched it with donations reaching almost $11,000 in total. After the Property Management Committee performs its rehab projects the remaining money will be available for teams who want to spruce up bathrooms near their campsites. We also called for $3,000 to purchase and install a generator on the main range which will be used for backup power and various maintenance tasks. Donations far exceeded that amount. You’ll notice some other specific projects that donors targeted as well.

Due to the great delays in mail service this year, many of your donations took over a month to find their way to me after being mailed so I did not close out the 2020 donation year until the end of January, 2021.

Numerous other donations have come in since that cutoff date and will be included in the 2021 report. We are hoping that the level of donations will only continue to grow over time. We are also experiencing more members donating money for specific purposes, projects, or committees that have a special meaning to them. Members are increasingly using Donor Advised Charitable Trusts and their IRA accounts for tax efficient giving. Feel free to contact me at any time if you’d like to discuss a specific donation, or would like to discuss the most tax effective options for giving. I can be reached at wvjordan@aol.com, or 703-407-2445.

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2020 Donor List Seargeant Major ($5,000+) Anonymous(1)

Ordnance Sergeant ($2500-$4900) Hodgdon Powder Company Jordan, Wayne Miller, Bruce & Terri Zebelean, III, John

First Sergeant ($1000-$2499) 44th New York Volunteers Dennis, Mark Estok, John Faeth, Paul First Maine Heavy Artillery Northwest Territory Schuesller, Eric & Veronica Sharrett III, John Skidmore, James The Artillery Battalion York Rangers

Sergeant ($500-$999) 2nd Md Artillery Amazon Smile Anonymous(1) DeFrancisci, Chris Funk, Laurence Hacker, Johannes Harris Light Cavalry Hill, Richard & Nancy Northeast Region Taylor, Nick Union Guards

Corporal ($250-$499) 10th Va Inf 110th Ohio Volunteer Infantry 12th Regiment US Regulars 15th NJVI 1st Virginia Cavalry Bondurant, Charles Booz, Barbara & Dave Boyce, John & Shannon Brady, James Brown, John Frank Budzynski, Joe Budzynski, Nick Caire, Raphael Cockerham, Rex Corrigan, Richard Culbert, Vernon Dismal Swamp Rangers Dorner, Steve Forrests Escort

Garrison III, George Gaskill, Brian Gibson, Lawrence Hall, Jeff Heiser, William Hovatter, Kent Howell, Michael Kapper, Francis B. Kindle, Chuck & Kathy Lawson, Robert LeMasters, Aaron Lindstrom, Alan Midwest Region Muckenhirn, Larry & LeAnna Network for Good Newman, Daniel & Mary Anne Nolte, Paul & Mabel Norfolk Light Inf Thompson, Ed Walsh, Wayne Wenchel, John Willard, David Wood, James Wright, David

Bugler ($100-$249)

Lisa & Bruce 110th OVI 1st Regiment Engineers 4th Va Inf, from Richard Comeau 5th Va Vol Infantry Acton, Michael Angermaier, Dennis Anonymous( Balla, Carl Bergman, Daniel Bertram, Eldon Bittner, Todd & Linda Bologna, John Brasser, Eric Brown, Jr, John Frank Carver, John Chauce, Bob Childs, Terry Chiswell’s Exiles Conner, Duff Conway, John Cox, James Crump, Dennis Crump, John Dobbs, Stephen Druen, Raymond Dusch, Brian Early, Joy Egbert, Ian & Deanna Fisher, Clayton Folk, William 20 Skirmish Line Spring 2021

Forrest’s Escort Fox, Steve & Maria Freeman, Robert Garman III, Walter Giovanelli, Dominick Goodrich, Ronald Goyne, William Gravatt, Glenn Haag, Jim & Bernice Ham, Edward Hamilton, John Hampton Legion Hayes, Dan & Yvonne Hayes, Foster & Jeanette Hefferan, Peter Heiser, Doug Heisy, Dennis Hodge, William Horne, Mary Ann Horne, Mary Ann & Family Hovatter, Jr, Karl Huffman, Clint & Edith Jackson, Harry Jewett, Mike & Judy Killeen, Richard King, Al Klutas, Bob Knapp, Louis Koch, James Koprowski, Michael Krafchick, Ned Lane, Gordon Laurion, Steven Lawley, Eddye Lease, Jeff Lee, Edward Lee, Elizabeth Liniger, Harry Maroney, Michael McDowell, Jeffrey Morisco, Anthony & Cynthia Mosley, Reichard Moyers, Joenn Myers, Robert & Sharon Nansemand Guards, Co E Neblett, Jr, Sterling Newman, Daniel Newman, Mary Anne Nipar, John Occhi, Theodore Pond, Steve Powers, Skip Propst, Robert Quail, James & Laurie Rea, Tom Reddick, Gordon Rexrode, Delbert & Betty Rich, David Richards, Martin & Debra Riordan, Michael 21 Skirmish Line

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Robb, Kevin Rollette, Don Rowe, L R Ruggiero, Anthony Schmigel, Kken Scott, Greg Shank, Jared Shepherd, Bette Sheppard, Gary & Susan Sherman, JR Shirk, Michelle Smith, Jerry Smith, Lonnie Snair, Dale Snyder, Kent Sonner, Paul Sours, Donald Spaugy, Phil Spencer, Wayne Stedman, Dan Stedman, Will Stoneburner, Paul Sutorius, Craig Tammany Regiment Teetor, Gordon & Jean Thomas, John Thomas, Michael Travers, Butch Vecchioni, Ronald Wainwright, Ralph Wainwright, Ralph & Dorothy Ward, James Whipple, Michael Whitlock, David Wilder, West Wright, Edward

Private (Up to $99) 20th Georgia 27th NC Troops 67th NYVI 73rd New York Albee, Peter Anderson, Lars Anonymous( Babits, L & NM Baird, Sandra Baldwin, David Barber, Ray Barker III, Thomas Billings, Larry Burgess, Jim Byrd, Robert Chiarizia, Larry Cockade Rifles Collins, Franklin Crockett, Jr, O B Davy Crockett, Nancy Cutright, Thomas

Cutright, Tom Dawson, Michael De Francisci, Chris Ditto, Dan Dixon, Don Early, Gene Ed Thompson Elko, Anne Elko, Edward Elko, William Eye, Violet Fay, George Fetzer, Edwin First Rockbridge Artillery France, David Gamble, Alex Gen Sherman’s Bodyguard Graff, Dan Greketis, Maryanne Hahn, Charles Harris, Wilbert Hesnan, James Hines, Robert Hobbs, Anne Hogge, Dana Horne, Norman Howard, Robert Huron Rangers Jones, Thomas & Linda Keller, Paul Kershner, Larry King-Buker, Whitney Lakota, Dmytro Levy, Bruce Lewis, Fred Light, Stephen Lintner, Bob Magyar, James Maurer, Rosalie and Harzarik, David McLean, Alexander Mitchell, Stephanie Moore, Ken Morris, James Mowitt, Leslie Oliver, Bradford Peeler, Jeffrey Penney, Thomas Penney, Tom Peterson, John Preston Chews PYI Radio Covers Rambo, F. William Ramsey, Henry Ridgeway, James Roberts, Mike Rose, Linda Saloom, Joe Sawyer, Thomas Schell, Fred Shaw, Carl Sheffler, Samuel

Smith, Fred Snyder, Paul Stahl, Joseph Stecklein, George Swierczewski, John Sypher, Robert Taylor, Howard Tercenio, Gil & Lisa Travers, Jr, Edwin Turpin, William Vail, Greg Vail, Jake Van Kauwenbergh, Gary Ward, John Washington Blue Rifles Watson, Samuel & Barbara Weber, Paul Wiegand, Thomas Wingenbach, David Wolford, Ronald Wood, Derrick Wyman, George

SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED DONATIONS Note: Sponsor Level indicates that donor gave $1000.00 or more Bathrooms

Bologna, John Brown, Jr, John Frank Harris, Wilbert Heisy, Dennis Hovatter, Kent King-Buker, Whitney Laurion, Steven Lease, Jeff Nolte, Paul & Mabel Snyder, Kent Spencer, Wayne Taylor, Nick Travers, Jr, Edwin Wenchel, John Whipple, Michael Wilder, West Wood, James

Bathrooms - Sponsor level Anonymous (1) Dennis, Mark Hodgdon Powder Company Doc’s Place Rehab Zebelean, III, John Donated Shoot Fees 20th Georgia 27th NC Troops 67th NYVI 73rd New York Cockade Rifles

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First Rockbridge Artillery Huron Rangers Preston Chews Generator Brown, Jr, John Frank Hall, Jeff Hogge, Dana Ward, John

Generator - Sponsor Level Estok, John Miller, Bruce & Terri History Fund Babits, L & NM

In Memory: Alex “Buck” Gamble 110th OVI In Memory: Archie Simmons Byrd, Robert Eye, Violet Jones, Thomas & Linda Moyers, Joenn Rexrode, Delbert & Betty In Memory: Bear, the Skirmish Dog Forrest’s Escort In Memory: Bill Groah Hampton Legion In Memory: Cecil Pinner Stoneburner, Paul In Memory: Chip Howard Early, Gene In Memory: David Scanlan Baird, Sandra Booz, Barbara & Dave Horne, Mary Ann & Family Maurer, Rosalie and Harzarik, David Rose, Linda Sheppard, Gary & Susan Wainwright, Ralph & Dorothy In Memory: Edwin Tom Hobbs, III Hobbs, Anne In Memory: Francis Rehm Booz, Barbara & Dave In Memory: Jerry Nelson, 72nd NY Hodge, William In Memory: Jim Baird Booz, Barbara & Dave

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In Memory: Jim Pittman for his service to the Deep South Region Gibson, Lawrence In Memory: John Lewis Maas Maas, Sarah In Memory: Karyle McMahon Sharrett III, John In Memory: Kenneth Spence Lisa & Bruce Horne, Mary Ann In Memory: Past team members and original 1st Regiment Engineers In Memory: Paul E. Faeth Greketis, Maryanne

In Memory: Sandy Baird Sharrett III, John Land acquisition/protection Funk, Laurence Marketing Miller, Bruce & Terri Memorial Park Travers, Butch Pistol Range PA System Skidmore, James

Range Fund Richards, Martin & Debra

Range Improvement Caire, Raphael Faeth, Paul Small Arms Committee Propst, Robert Small Arms Office Myers, Robert & Sharon

Tree trimming at Ft Shenandoah Sharrett III, John Young Skirmisher Sponsorship Chiswell’s Exiles Youth Fund Kapper, Francis

Editor Note -

If you use Amazon please link your Amazon Smile account to the N-SSA.

Campfollower’s Chatter By Juanita Leisch.

Editors Note: The Following is the first of a two-part feature which was first published in the January 1974 issue of the Skirmish Line.

UNDERGARMENTS. Crinoline and steel hoops were very much in vogue.

1)The crinoline slip was made of horsehair; it partially replaced the umpteen petticoats previously worn. Fig. 1 is a sketch of a cotton crinoline which came into use in 1858. By 1860 the cotton crinoline had been modified to be fuller in the back and flatter in front. Addition puffing was used near the waist to give further fullness (Fig. 2). The shape continued to grow fuller at back and flatter in front. By 1864 an invention has come into use – the steel hoop. These “cage crinolines” rather resembled venetian blinds. They consisted of steel wires hoops held together with cotton bias tape. The hoop in Fig. 3 had a removable horsehair flounce to give the dress a more informal yet elegant line.

Most “Campfollowers” wear a hoop skirt which can be purchased at bridal shops or bridal departments in large stores. They have four or five hoops of featherbone covered with cotton. (Older ones are covered with nylon net.) A cotton one is preferable as nylon net had not been invited by the Civil War Period.

They cost around $15 (Editor Note, all prices are from the 1970’s). Better still, of course, is an original.

2) The petticoats were worn over or under the hoop depending upon their size. Petticoats were made of cotton, muslin, silk, taffeta, homespun or wool. (Wool petticoats were worn under the crinoline in winter.)

Petticoats were not always white. During the Civil War, colored slips were very much in style. Occasionally, the skirt of the dress, or overskirt, was gathered or shirred up in places to reveal an underskirt, or petticoat, of a contrasting color.

All undergarments were very ornate. They were trimmed with flounces, shirring, lace, pleats and embroidery. Petticoats can occasionally be found in thrift shops, Salvation Army stores and more expensively antique shops.

3) Pantaloons were loose fitting pantlets of cotton, muslin or homespun. Their length varied from knee to ankle. Midcalf seems to be the usual at Ft. Shenandoah. If you do not wish to make these, they can be found at western tog shops where square dance costumes are sold. You may, however, watch out for nylon net. The cost: $5 to $7.

4) Stockings were of cotton or silk. Cotton Stockings (today called tights) are relatively easy to find. They cost anywhere from $3 to $5 a pair. Silk stockings are harder to find. They hide in antique shops and other people’ attics. Colors are difficult to define; generally. Any color is acceptable. The best type are those flowery stockings which were made of cotton and came into fashion just after fishnets went out.

Since pantaloons hide all the led down to the calf, you can get away with wearing those thin cotton knee socks.

5) During this period in history, the coresets job was to help the ladies maintain tiny waists. Because of this, they were shorter than previously in fashion history. They generally laced in the back. Fig. 4 shows such a corset. Corsets as stiff as these are extremely hard to locate today. Most elastic one can be purchased through the larger stores’ catalogs; however, they cost $10 to $12. Bras were not worn at all. Chemises, loose cotton, or muslin undergarments are preferable.

(To be concluded in the next Skirmish Line).

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How to Splice a Stock and Save a Musket A.M. Beck, Palmetto Guards

One of the many enduring legacies of the War Between the States is the tens of thousands of leftover muskets, rifles and carbines, both domestic and imports, that flooded arms markets almost to the turn of the 20th century. Although outdated, these arms had a particular sales appeal, they were really cheap. Carbines were an easy sell since they were handy in the woods and around the farm. Muskets and rifles on the other hand had much more civilian sales appeal once they had been shortened.

After the war, Bannermann, W. Stokes Kirk and several other surplus houses turned out cut off muskets by the thousands. Many more were cut short in workshops across the country. A century and a half later, there are still a lot of cut down Civil War arms out there.

Who among us has not wandered through the sutlers at a national and discovered the musket we have always wanted, but with a major problem, it’s been Bannerman-ized. The good news is that the price is right. The bad news is that the stock has been cut off. Crap! If only somebody hadn’t screwed it up……

Bannermann-ized Springfield Joslyn. Definitely a rifle worth saving!

(Picture 1) A

These poor abused arms can be restored, and they are often great deals, costing about the price of the parts. They make excellent projects once the last round of skirmish season has gone down range.

Better yet, they can do good service on the line. The best shooting musket I ever fired started off as a derelict M-1861 that was in such bad shape it didn’t even look good hanging on a wall.

This article covers one of the more difficult steps in restoring a cut down musket, restoring the stock to full length. Pre-made forestocks are available from several sources, including Dunlap Woodcrafts, S&S Firearms and Lodgewood. Occasionally a broken original stock will turn up. They make excellent sources of repair wood. If you are an experienced woodworker it’s not hard to make a forestock, but if you can do that, you probably don’t need the instructions in this article.

Cleanup

Before getting started on the splice, you will need to clean your stock. It is very difficult to match new wood to the color and finish of a stock coated with 150 years of accumulated grime. Collectors cringe at the mention of cleaning, but you are building a shooter, not a museum piece. Go ahead and clean it.

This step is guaranteed to make a big mess. If possible, adjourn to the barn/shed/deck or other outdoor space. It might not be a bad idea to pick a time when your significant other will be away for a few hours.

You will need 000 or 0000 steel wool, a bottle of Windex, 409 or similar cleaner, a bowl for cleaning solution (old margarine tubs work very well), a roll of paper towels and lots of old newspapers.

Spread out newspapers over you work space. Mix a cleaning solution of 3-4 parts tap water and 1 part cleaner. (Editors Note: Just under boiling water works the best and the spray “Crud Cutter”) Dip steel wool pads in cleaning solution and rub down the stock. Don’t be aggressive, you want to remove accumulated dirt without affecting the wood underneath.

Lots of brown mud will come out of the stock. Wipe off accumulated sludge with paper towels as you clean. Once the stock is clean, wipe it down with paper towels and set it aside to dry overnight.

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Your stock will look worse and worse as it dries. You will swear that it’s ruined. Don’t panic.

Once completely dry, lightly wipe down the stock with dry 0000 steel wool to smooth any raised grain, then apply several coats of boiled linseed oil (do not use substitutes, they will not duplicate the original finish). At this point the stock will once again look good. You are likely to find cartouches and other marking that you didn’t know were there.

You are now ready to splice in the new forestock.

Supplies

If you are only going to splice one or two stocks, Acraglas bedding kits from Brownells include most of what you will need. Don’t get the gel epoxy version. Thick epoxy does not wick into the wood as well as thin, so makes a weaker joint.

If you also work on furniture, boats, cars, motorcycles, airplanes, etc., etc., it’s nice to have some laminating epoxy around the house. West Systems works well and is widely available. You will need resin, hardener (I like the slow hardener since it allows plenty of working time), PVA mold release, flocked cotton (finely ground cotton fibers), denatured alcohol for cleaning up, as well as mixing cups and syringes to measure the epoxy. All of this is available at boat supply stores, Aircraft Spruce and Specialty or other on line composite suppliers. Your friendly local veterinarian will often give you 1cc and 5cc syringes, which are the perfect size for mixing small batches of epoxy.

Epoxy supplies

(Picture 2)

In addition to the epoxy kit, you will need paper towels for cleanup, a selection of sandpaper, from 120 to 400 grit, a roll of low stick painters masking tape, boiled linseed oil and a wood stain that matches the original stock color. Some thin superglue (cyanoacrylate) can come in handy too.

A note on wood stains. There are two types, pigment and dye. The pigment types (like Minwax) are widely available, but they do not duplicate the original armory stain, which was a dye. For American made arms, the best match I have found is Behlen Solar Lux Hickory. Unless you have a very good woodworkers supply nearby, you will have to order it on line. Don’t take shortcuts here. An ‘almost’ match looks bad. In addition, pigment stains will change color as they rub off with the wear and tear of N-SSA service.

If you have gotten this far, it’s probably safe to assume that you already have an assortment of woodworking tools, chisels, exacto knives, sanding block, wood rasps, steel wool pads, a Dremel grinder, saws and so on.

26 Skirmish Line Spring 2021

Decisions, decisions…

You will need to make a few decisions before getting started.

Where do you want to splice, under the middle band or the bottom? You always want to save as much original wood as possible. Replacement forestocks are made to splice at the lower band. Don’t be afraid to cut off the bottom part of the replacement if you can splice at the middle band.

You can just glue the new forestock to the original stock with no reinforcement (a butt splice), but that produces a weak joint. Sooner or later it will break. The splice should be reinforced. There are two ways to do that, dowels and splints. Dowels won’t show in the barrel channel, but a splint will fit where there is no room for dowels, such as under the middle band. Do you want to splice at the band shoulder, or just in front of the band spring inletting? Splicing at the band shoulder is less visible when the bands are off. Buy leaving a little of the spring inlet at the joint you get an excellent guide for cutting the new band spring inlet.

Splices at the band spring cut and band shoulder

(Picture 3)

(Picture 4) Cutting a dowel hole guide

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Making the cut

The first step is to cut off the original stock at the band. If you are not cutting at the band shoulder, mark your cut with painter’s tape. It is easy to follow the cut line when it’s marked by a tape edge.

Table saws make a nice flat cut, but invariably chip out either the barrel or ramrod channel. Band saws on low speed can produce a clean cut if you are careful and cut slowly. A hand hack hacksaw will work as well as a band saw, but the cut won’t be as flat. Use a fine tooth blade, 32 teeth per inch (TPI) minimum. While cutting, be very careful to not force the saw. Use minimum cutting pressure and let the blade do the work. If the stock chips at the barrel or ramrod channel, save the chip and glue it back using thin superglue.

For dowel reinforcement, cut a 1/2 inch wide slice from the old forestock. Use this as a guide to drill the dowel holes. Drill dowel holes in the guide, then use that to locate the holes in both the original stock and the replacement forestock. A drill press is very handy for this, but if you work carefully, it can be done by hand.

Next place the new forestock on the barrel and be sure the barrel fits tight into the channel. If the barrel won’t fit down on the replacement forestock, open up the channel by sanding with 180 grit paper wrapped around a large diameter dowel. Coat the barrel with linseed oil and fit it to the stock.

When the parts are separated, it is easy to see where the wood is hitting the barrel and needs to be sanded.

Drop the barrel into the butt stock and use it as a guide to test fit the new forestock. You want the mating wood faces to match with as little gap as possible. Sand the mating faces as necessary to get a good fit. Next check alignment of the ramrod hole and barrel channel. The ramrod and barrel channels must line up exactly.

If you are using dowel reinforcement, drill the dowel holes. If the dowel holes are causing misalignment, open them up a little at a time until the ramrod and barrel channels come into line.

Don’t worry about making the dowel fit loose. Epoxy works well to fill the gaps.

For splint reinforcement, cut a slot in the barrel bed of the replacement forestock for the splint and make a splint to fit. Don’t cut the splint slot in the original stock yet. You will do that after the pieces are glued together. The cutoff piece of forestock is an excellent source of splint wood.

Splint inlet

(Picture 5)

Gluing

Start by applying mold release to the barrel and any other parts that you don’t want epoxy stuck to.

One coat is plenty as long as you cover everything, two is good insurance. Once dry, the release agent peels off very easily, be careful not to nick the coating. The release is water soluble, which makes cleanup easy.

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Next, place the barrel in the original stock. Fasten at the breech and just behind the splice with several tight wraps of painters tape.

Mix your epoxy according to the directions. 3-5cc will be more than enough. Larger batches harden faster in the mixing cup. The Behlen stain is compatible with epoxy, so you can add a couple drops to match the epoxy color to the original stock. A little stain goes a long way, don’t overdo it! Once the epoxy is thoroughly mixed, add in some cotton flox. The mixture should be thick, but not look dry.

If you are making a dowel joint, apply some epoxy in the dowel holes and insert the dowels into the stock. If you are making a splint joint, the splint will be installed later.

Apply epoxy to the mating surfaces of the original stock and the new forestock, then mate the parts.

Be sure the ramrod channel lines up exactly, then wrap with painters tape to hold everything in place.

Wipe any excess epoxy off the joint. You want the joint filled, but no epoxy build up on the stock.

Stock glued and taped in place

(Picture 6)

Set the stock aside overnight to allow the epoxy to cure completely. In the morning, remove the tape and gently lift the barrel out of the stock. The barrel should offer some resistance at first, and then pop out as the PVA releases. Mold release will peel off the barrel easily. Remove it from the stock with a damp paper towel.

If you are making a splint joint, cut the rest of the splint inletting, then fit the splint and glue it in place with epoxy. If the splint fits snugly, you do not have to add flox to the epoxy mix. If there are gaps, use flox in the mix to fill them. (Picture 7) Installing a splint splice Finishing

The first step in finishing is to fit up the barrel bands and nose cap. Most replacement forstocks are very close to the final shape, so it won’t take much sanding to get the parts to fit. If you have to take off a lot of wood, use a wood rasp (a very coarse file). Rasps leave a rough surface, so don’t be tempted to rasp down to the final shape. Leave enough that you can get to final shape using a sanding block with finer and finer steps of sandpaper, (120 to 220 to 400 works well). A file wrapped with sandpaper works very well as a sanding block. Finish sand with 400 grit to smooth up the wood and remove any scratches or tool marks.

If your musket has band springs, they are installed next. Band spring fit and positioning is probably the most critical part of installing a new forestock. Measure a lot and cut a little. On M-1861s and 64s, the band spring pin is very close under the barrel channel. I’ve seen more than one original stock where the band spring pins break out into the barrel channel. Measure the band spring pin diameter and use a drill 1 to 2 thousandths undersize. MSC Industrial Supply is an excelled source for band spring drills. They have pretty much whatever size drill you will need, and they do not require a large minimum order. You really want a drill press for this step. Once the holes are drilled, cut the spring inlets with hand tools. It doesn’t take much of a slip with a power tool to screw up these tight cuts.

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Band spring inlet

(Picture 8)

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Once the bands, springs and nose cap have been fitted, it is time to apply stain. The amount of stain used through the war varied quite a bit. Late war stocks tend to have much less than earlier arms.

Start with just a little stain in the barrel channel and add more coats until you get a good match. It’s easy to darken the wood with another coat. It’s difficult to remove a little stain when the wood turns out too dark. Once the barrel channel color matches the original stock, stain the rest of the new wood.

Let the stain dry overnight. In the morning wipe down the stained area with a 0000 steel wool pad to smooth the grain, then start applying boiled linseed oil. Several coats will be required. Once the color and finish of the new wood match the rest of the stock, you can put your musket back together and head for the range.

Joslyn after repairs

(Picture 9)

(Picture 10) H&P M1816 after repairs

Got a skirmishing project that you want to share?

Send it to skirmishline@n-ssa.net. Please include detailed pictures and save it as a word document. - ED

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NEWS FROM THE TrOOPS Company A Third Virginia “Dismal Swamp Rangers” Memorial day 2021

Pictured above: Members of the Dismal Swamp Rangers and local reanactors

The Dismal Swamp Rangers have participated in the Memorial Day Services at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth, Virginia for 20 years. The service started in 1996 with the dedication of a stone from Drydock #1 at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, also in Portsmouth. Drydock #1 is where the USS Merrimack was converted to the CSS Virginia which became famous for its battle with the USS Monitor in Hampton Roads.

The Rangers fire a musket salute at the end of the service and in years passed also supplied the Color Guard and in recent years have employed the services of local reenactors and historians. The service is always held on the Sunday evening of Memorial Day weekend just before dusk. Past speakers have been local historians, politicians and members of the local Sons of Confederate Veteran Camps.

Editors Note - Has your team done any outreach that we should know about? Send a email with a short write up and a picture to skirmishline@n-ssa.net.

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Deep South Region Skirmish Results March 12-14, 2021 By: Steve Sheldon

The 20th Georgia hosted the second skirmish of the 2021 Deep South season at our traditional haunt, Brierfield Ironworks State Park. The weather was picture-perfect this year, with the beginnings of spring in Dixie bringing us partly sunny skies, brisk mornings, and shirtsleeve days all weekend long.

20th Georgia monument at Chickamauga Battlefield. Credit: Waymarking.com Shooters arrived Friday around noon to discover that the 20th Georgia had the field ready to go for individual shooting.

The field was soon filled with smoke as shooters took up positions on the line. Holes were poked in paper targets until evening. Having Friday afternoon to get some individual shooting done is almost a requirement if you want to get 4 or more guns done in a weekend.

15-year-old Lethrenn Sheldon doing some Carbine action during Individuals.

Saturday morning things got off to an early start with the Can’t Miss ‘Em revolver match. There were a whopping six teams of smoke wagons laying down fire on targets! When the cylinders stopped spinning Forrest’s Escort A team came in first place, with the 4th Louisiana Delta Rifles coming in second, followed by the 14th Mississippi coming in third place.

Forrest’s Escort B team took 1st place in the B team competition.

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Robert Harrison of the 48th VA drove 12 hours to smoke this target!

The last pigeon didn’t stand a chance as it takes a double shot from the 44th Georgia!

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Mike Maroney, Bob Kelley, and Bruce Stevens getting ready.

After the revolver match the field was quickly reconfigured for individual shooting once again. Shooters rushed to finish all their guns before the lunch break. Then they rushed the snack shack! After lunch, team competitions began with smoothbore shooting. Seven smoothbore teams took to the field. When all was said and done Forrest’s Escort A team took first, the 4th Louisiana Delta Rifles took second, and the 14th Mississippi taking third.

Smoothbore shooters sending smoke and flame down range!

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More smoothbore action!

After the smoothbore match came the carbine match. Seven teams took to the field, including two B teams. Forrest’s Escort A team took first place, with the 3rd Georgia taking second, followed by the 14th Mississippi taking third.

The 3rd Georgia earning their second-place awards in Carbine!

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picture-perfect field set up for Carbine.

More teams vying for top billing in Carbine!

Teams broke for the evening to find grub where they might, with an admonishment to remember to set their clocks forward an hour that evening due to the time change. No one wanted to be an hour late for the Musket Match!

Sunday morning began with Opening Ceremonies on the 25-yard line. Troops stood to attention for the respective Union and Confederate anthems, uncovered for the invocation, and stood at ease for announcements. Then they were dismissed to get ready for the final match of the weekend.

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A

Shooters lined up for Opening Ceremonies.

Shooters picked up their muskets, and 8 teams found their places on the firing line before the sun had even broken over the tree tops. When the last of the tiles broke on the 100 yard line, the results found Forrest’s Escort A team in first place, followed by the 3rd Georgia in second, followed by the 4th Louisiana Delta Rifles in 3rd. The Forrest’s Escort B team took first place in the B team competition.

With the Musket Match concluded, teams pitched in with cleaning up the debris, and then packed their gear, said their goodbyes, and headed home, putting another Deep South skirmish into the history books.

The next Deep South Skirmish will be April 23-25, at Brierfield Ironworks State Park, hosted by the 14th Mississippi.

Team Event Results Smoothbore

Carbine

Musket

Revolver

1

Forrest’s Escort A

Forrest’s Escort A

Forrest’s Escort A

Forrest’s Escort A

2nd

4th Louisiana

3rd Georgia

3rd Georgia

4th Louisiana

3rd

14th Mississippi

14th Mississippi

4th Louisiana

14th Mississippi

st

Individual Event Results Revolver

25 Yard

1st

Lannie Harrison

42

Lannie Harrison

41

Lannie Harrison

83

2nd

Steve Wells

40

Jim Koch

33

Jim Koch

71

Smoothbore

25 Yard

1

Larry Kershner

48X

Larry Kershner

47

Larry Kershner

95X

2nd

Greg Scott

46

Jim Koch

46X

Jim Koch

88X

3rd

John Hamilton

45X

Steve Sheldon

46

Steve Sheldon

88

st

50 Yard

Aggregate

50 Yard

Aggregate

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Carbine

50 Yard

1st

Jim Koch

2nd

Eddie Lawley

3rd

Michael Maroney

Musket

50 Yard

1st

Wade James

46

Larry Kershner

47XXX

Larry Kershner

89XXX

2nd

Steve Sheldon

43

Charlie Bondurant

45

Steve Sheldon

87

3rd

Jim Koch

42

Steve Sheldon

44

Lannie Harrison

84

Charlie Bondurant

133

100 Yard 47XX

Aggregate

Charlie Bondurant

44

Charlie Bondurant

88X

45

Eddie Lawley

39

Eddie Lawley

79

45

Michael Maroney

37

Lannie Harrison

68

100 Yard

Aggregate

Musket / Carbine Agg 1st Breechloader

50 Yard

100 Yard

1

Eddie Lawley

43X

2nd

Kenny Carmichael

42

1st

Steve Sheldon

285

2nd

Jim Koch

282

3rd

Lannie Harrison

235

st

Kenny Carmichael

Aggregate 40

Grand Agg

Senior Skirmisher: Charlie Bondurant

Do you have a Skirmish Report that you want to share?

Send it to skirmishline@n-ssa.net. Please send it in a word document and all pictures at least 300 DPI (and give credit to the photographer). - ED.

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1st US Artillery, K Battery A Family Affair

By Robert Yott

In April of 1971, John Denver released what many considered his signature song Take Me Home, Country Roads. This song would forever trigger wonderful memories of my youth.

My father was a practical man, he had to be; he was supporting a wife and seven kids. This meant cutting corners everywhere which included vacations and recreation. Here he combined a few of his hobbies and interests; gun collecting, competition shooting, history and vacationing with his family.

Many a Fridays a steady stream of us kids would tramp like ants from the kitchen door to the homemade camper and back again. We carried out clothes, bedding, dishes, coolers, uniforms, musket, carbine, ammo box, LOWEX box (which stood for Low Explosives), etc. We were packing up for a new adventure in another county and even another state. On the road my sisters often led us in song, “Found a Peanut”, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”, and of course “Country Roads” to pass the time.

On the longer trips, I would crawl up into the cubby above the truck cab in the camper my dad built, fighting hard to stay awake. If it was a particularly a long trip I would inevitably fall asleep and dreams of adventure only a young lad could dream.

In one particular dream I remember hearing faint, martial music despite garbled voices and equipment being jostled about. The melody grew louder and a distinct cadence accented the steps of marchers as their feet dropped in sync to the drum beat. A Fife and Drum Corps! I quickly opened my eyes and realized where we were, Virginia!

I rushed to the door and looking out, I saw soldiers, real soldiers marching down the roads! I was mesmerized by the tapestry of colorful flags, uniforms and weapons passing by our campsite.

The sound of fife and drums as these soldiers marched by stirred the soul and transported me back to a time which seemed oh, so long ago.

Pictured above Receiving their colors From Left to Right: Fred Bliss, Ernie Yott, David Yott, and Ernie Yott

My father Ronald Yott had joined Battery G of the 1st US Light Artillery in 1970. This unit was one of many which shot competition using Civil War era firearms. The Battery was about to fold however, due to the loss of its original members. In June of 1971, twelve members of Battery G met at future Wyoming County historian Ray Barber’s place in Java, New York to discuss their outfit’s demise. My dad, his brother Ernie and my other Uncle Leo Johns, all from Orangeville, were in attendance. They decided to form a new unit which would continue to fulfil their interests while providing travelling and recreation for the families.

A research committee was appointed and upon their recommendation that November the 1st US Artillery, Battery K (1st US) was resurrected. Officers

elected for 1972 were as follows; Commander, Ray “Skip” Nunweiler; Deputy Commander, Richard Freer; Adjutant, Mac Crotty; Ordnance Sergeants, Harold Baker and Mark Richards; and Quartermaster Sergeant, Ron Yott. Other original members were Ernie Yott, Leo Johns, Rodney Nye, Wayne Waite, and Les Lowe, Jr. Fred Bliss of Warsaw would join in July and Ray Barber was not eligible to 40 Skirmish Line Spring 2021

Pictured above:Team Picture circa 1974 From Left to Right - Ronald W. Yott, Ernie Yott, Dick Swanson, Fred Bliss, Dick Freer, Leo Johns, Dave Yott, Mac Crotty

transfer until that September, as he was Regional Commander. Many of the uniforms were made by wives and mothers of the members and all leather accoutrements i.e. cartridge and cap boxes and belts were made by my Uncle Ernie.

With the By-Laws and a Constitution drawn up the 1st US was approved for membership in the North-South Skirmish Association (N-SSA). They would stand inspection at the Spring Nationals in Fort Shenandoah, just outside Winchester, Virginia in May of 1972. They received their charter that August when their six month probation period was over. A Battery Guidon was purchased from Mary Baker and the Crotty family donated a battle flag with lance and eagle. The flag was presented to the

unit at Strykersville’s annual Memorial Day observance hosted by the Legion’s Six Star Post.

Practice shoots in the early days were held primarily at Ray’s. Our family’s weekends were soon consumed with traveling throughout the northeast region with my dad and his teammates attending shooting matches called skirmishes. The 1st US shot against units with names like the First New York Dragoons, the 19th Independent Battery, the 44th New York Infantry, and the 8th Heavy Artillery.

Even the Confederate were represented by such units as the 14th Virginia Cavalry, the C.S.S. Virginia Landing Party and Terry’ Texas Rangers.

But our summers consisted of more than just skirmishes at some far away Rod and Gun Club, there were also parades which helped to promote their organization. The earliest ones were held in Tonawanda and Cuba. On July 4th the 1st US marched in Warsaw’s parade; winning $15 for best marching unit. They also gave musket demonstrations every half hour for most of the afternoon and were awarded two cases of beer for their efforts. That year they marched in their first of many parades at the Wyoming County Fair in Pike. To help defray personal costs, the 1st US held its first Horse Show at the Java Rod and Gun Club in July. Their efforts were rewarded with a $237.87 profit.

Another one was held in September.

The unit shot in their first national shoot in Virginia in October and they adopted the Sheridan Corps Badge at this time. Shortly thereafter the unit held their first Dinner Dance at the VFW in Arcade. Regional Commander Ray Barber and some of his staff were also in attendance. Awards were handed out to several of the members for their marksmanship. The unit closed out 1972 with a profit of $332.73. High aspirations were held for the future and with good reason. Their first year was a unquestionable success!

The year 1973 began with members practicing Manual of Arms. They wanted to look sharp for they were invited back to Tonawanda by the VFW to participate in their Memorial Day parade on May 27. It was on this day the Battery had been presented with their National Colors. On Memorial Day itself, the Battery participated in the observance held in Strykersville. Due to rain, the ceremony was held in the basement of the Legion Post. From this point on the 1st US would pay their respect to our country’s fallen in numerous communities over Memorial Day weekend. They often traveled to 2-3 local cemeteries in a day to participate in their memorial services.

On July 1, the National Colors once again flew over Fort Erie in Ontario. What a thrill to travel across the Peace Bridge into Canada! This was to honor the outnumbered American forces that occupied the fort during the War of 1812 and held out against the British attacks. The Battery posted guards throughout the fort that day and gave firing demonstrations to the public. The unit was treated with great cordiality and for the next several years we would return to Fort Erie for the weekend.

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We made camp out on the beautiful spacious lawns surrounding the fort. For the youngsters brave enough, the fort officials allowed them to sleep in the old barracks!

In July of 1974 the Battery was invited to act as the Honor Guard for Governor Malcom Wilson as he attended the Wellman Homestead Dedication in Friendship. Another highlight that summer was the NRA’s invite to Camp Perry in Ohio and to give demonstrations that year. This was considered quite an honor as even N-SSA National Commander Richard Corrigan was there, explaining to the public what these men were doing and why.

Later in July, the 1st US hosted their first skirmish at the Whitesville Rod and Gun. Nineteen teams were signed up and my dad requisitioned us kids as “volunteers”. My mom made my brothers and I blue blouses (to match the uniforms) and arm bands with “Runner” embroidered on them. And run we did! My father assured us our work was important no matter how insignificant it seemed and to this day I still think it was. This event was unique as the men boasted it was the only event where 100 yard targets were placed using canoes!

In the summer of 1977 the men decided they could not be an artillery unit without an artillery piece. A six-member cannon team was formed and the winter of 77-78 consisted of raising funds for the hardware, wheels, and the barrel which I believe came from Cook Arsenal. Money was raised the usual way, by selling raffle tickets.

In June of 1978, the cannon team showed promise when they placed 3 out of 7 at its first shoot at Round Lake. Unfortunately, they only scored 9 points at the Fall Nationals and placed 11 out of 13 pieces. By the Spring Nationals the next year however, the cannon team made a comeback by winning 1 out of 13 in the Smoothbore Class B with a score of 37!

This is how my fascination with the Civil War began. By the age of nine, I was able to recite the Gettysburg Address. I had met Sutler John in Virginia. I would go to every campsite selling his N-SSA bumper stickers for 50 cents. In return, he would let me choose an item off his table for my efforts! I boasted to my classmates I spent the summer looking for cannonballs and brought one in for show and tell as proof. If any doubt still existed they were dispelled when my father and Uncle Ernie came to our school dressed in full Federal artillery uniform with red piping and sword and standing behind a table loaded with muskets, carbine, bayonets other Civil War artifacts for Mr. Maimone’s history class.

The 1st US could not have been a success without the support of the ladies. My mother, aunts and many of the other ladies not only made uniforms for the men but they made their own dresses and Vivandière outfits. These ladies would bolster the ranks in parades, serve meals and promote the organization in countless ways. Without them, the success of the unit would have been much later in coming.

The 1st US was truly a family affair. In the early days, the kids addressed adults as aunt or uncle whether they were blood or not. Nobody ever went hungry or had to sleep out in the rain (we won’t mention any campfire tales here). Besides my father and two uncles, other family members had taken their place on the skirmish line. In 1973, my grandfather Ernest Yott, Sr. joined the outfit and was married at the Fisher Skirmish in Palmyra wearing full regalia. My cousin Dave stood next to his father Ernie Yott in 1974 and Dave’s brother Dewey joined in ’79. My cousin Mike Johns stood alongside his father Leo in ’75 and my great uncle Chap Simoneit joined the team in 1990. I took my place in line for a few years in the 90’s. Heck, even my sister Kathy met her future husband (a Reb) at a skirmish! As the years progressed, wives and daughters traded in their hoop skirts and ball gowns for muskets, carbines and pistols.

The 1st US were more than just a bunch of gun enthusiasts, they were ambassadors, educators, white collar, blue collar, veterans and active duty. They promoted family, history, marksmanship, and patriotism and I was so very fortunate to have this organization a big part of my life growing up.

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Email: nancyc@stny.rr.com Mailing address: Nancy Crockett, 918 W. Lockhart St., Sayre, Pa. 18840

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The Magazine of the North-South Skirmish Associtiation, Inc.