A Little Known Slice of Americana / N-SSA Spring Nationals
at Ft. Shenandoah
NSSA is an acronym for several organizations; but the N-SSA of which I
speak is the North-South Skirmish Association, an organization comprised of
individuals and families with a love of the history and artifacts of the
American Civil War, competitive black powder shooting with original or closely
vetted reproduction Civil War era firearms, camaraderie, intense competition,
cookouts and gatherings around a campfire, and shopping for gun parts, uniforms
and accouterments from quality vendors of appropriate wares.
Civil War re-enactors reprise battle scenarios but for obvious safety
considerations, do not use live ammunition. Uniformed skirmishers shoot in
timed team competitions at breakable clay or ceramic targets at distances of 50
yards and 100 yards using live rounds. Safety
is of paramount importance and inspectors walk the line during every event. The
Holy Grail for the team competitions is 1st place in the musket
match.
Spectators are welcome to
attend matches and watch the spectacle. Sunday mornings before the musket
rounds begin, the teams march in formation on the range in opening ceremonies
replete with color guard, an invocation, and the playing of the National Anthem
for the Federals and Dixie to honor the Confederates.
Ft. Shenandoah, the N-SSA
National Range, is situated in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Frederick
County, Virginia. Each team has an assigned campsite. Some teams have
constructed permanent cabins or shelters; others have parked trailers or
campers that haven’t been moved for decades. Still others bring their RVs, or
pop-up campers or tents to set up for the event. There are also activities scheduled for
children and costume competitions for civilians. And I do believe some skirmishers come to Ft.
Shenandoah merely to eat their fill of the infamous “sliders” that can
apparently only be found at the fort.
For a first time visitor to
Ft. Shenandoah, one of the most striking features of the landscape must be the
vast numbers of travel trailers that I’ve no doubt date to at least the early
1950s. It is well worth a visit to Ft.
Shenandoah for a spring or Fall Nationals to experience this fascinating
sub-culture of Americana. I’d never heard of the N-SSA or any similar
organization until I met my husband, who has been a member since the
1970s. We can hear the sounds of the
muskets firing from our front porch.
The N-SSA has teams
throughout 13 Regions that include territories as far north as New York/ Massachusetts,
west as Wisconsin, south as Louisiana / Mississippi, and southwest as
Texas. The various regions host smaller
skirmishes between the 2 Nationals. Most
skirmishers make their own rounds. This requires molding lead into the right
size bullets and creating cartridges with the appropriate amount of powder and
filler and the right lube for the right gun. I’ve come to learn there is a
science to this hobby.
For me, I’ll stick to
socializing and bringing the broccoli salad to the team dinner.
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