GDG- Re: Hello - to change the subject - I have a question on artillery f...

Sun Jun 17 08:42:05 CDT 2007

It isn't just a matter of the use of black powder.  Since it is target competition, live rounds (solid shot for the artillery) is used. Charlie Smithgall, longtime artillery officer for the N-SSA was artillery advisor for The Movie.  The sound effects you hear during the artillery barrage before Picketts Charge was recorded at Ft. Shenandoah so, at least, the sound would be as authentica as possible. 

The N-SSA website is http://www.n-ssa.org/.    This is their most recent press release:

>>
CIVIL WAR HERITAGE PRESERVATION
The North-South Skirmish Association held its 115th National Competition May 18-20, 2007 at Fort Shenandoah near Winchester, Virginia.  Member units competed in live-fire matches with original or authentic reproduction Civil War period muskets, carbines, breech loading rifles, revolvers, mortars and cannons.  It is the largest Civil War event of its kind in the country. 
After having their incredible streak of eight straight musket championships broken at last fall’s 114th national competition, the indomitable 110th Ohio Volunteer Infantry won the musket match again at the 115th.  They started their new win streak in style with an amazing time of 318.0 seconds for the five event match, besting the second place finishers by 95 seconds.  A total of 230 eight member teams participated in this N-SSA signature competition.  In the carbine team matches, the 110th OVI bested 168 other companies and won the gold again.  The 66th North Carolina Infantry won the revolver competition and Forrest’s Escort Company won the smoothbore musket match.  The breech loading rifle competition was won by the 2nd Maryland (CSA) Artillery.  In the artillery competitions, 31 guns participated in the cannon matches.  The winners included the Dixie Artillery in the smoothbore class; the 3rd U. S. Artillery (Smithgall’s Battery) in the rifled class and the 3rd U. S. Artillery 
(gun #1) in the howitzer class.  Completing the artillery competition was the 5th Virginia Infantry (gun #1) holding off 37 other competitors to win the mortar match. 
The N-SSA has 4,000 individuals that make up its more than 200 member units.  Each represents a Civil War unit or regiment and proudly wears the uniform they wore over 145 years ago. 
The 116th National Competition is scheduled for October 5-7, 2007 at Fort Shenandoah.  For more information about the N-SSA, contact Public Information Officer, Bruce Miller, at (248) 258-9007 or spartan70 at sbcglobal.net or visit our web site at www.n-ssa.org.<<
In addition to Nationals, there are regional skirmishes as well. In any event, I've been there and I'd highly recommend it, not just for the artillery competition but the competitions for rifles, muskets and carbines.  You get some idea of what the "continual roar of musketry", looked, smelled and sounded like (ear protection is mandatory for competitors and advised for observers).
Regards,
Margaret

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Ron Chaplin" <ronchaplin at gmail.com> 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> Tim, 
> 
> When do these NSS-A shoots occur? I've been to several re-enactments and 
> have heard cannon fired with a quarter charge. I am always awed. Hearing 
> those guns fire makes me understand how their crews loved them and how they 
> fought like heck to prevent them from being taken. I would love to see and 
> hear cannon shooting live rounds. 
> It must be awesome to watch 600 rifles fire live ammunition. I recall 
> reading attackers advancing as if in a hail storm. 
> 
> Best, 
> 
> Ron Chaplin 
> Iselin, NJ 
> 
> 
> On 6/16/07, Tpcabtmakr at aol.com wrote: 
> > 
> > Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> > 
> > 
> > If you ever get the opportunity, go to the NSS-A shoots at 
> > Fort Shennadoah 
> > out side winchester Va. to see the artillery competition . I have been 
> > around 
> > re-enacting for close to 30 years, and have witnessed many incredible 
> > sights, but to see those 12 lb. napoleons and 10 lb Parrots and 3 inch 
> > ordnance 
> > rifles live fire at 200 yards , some with the precision of a modern rife 
> > is 
> > really a sight to behold. you can pick a gun and follow the ball as it 
> > flies down 
> > range into the target . Unlike the bang that you would typically hear at 
> > a 
> > re-enactment, these guns CRACK when fired, and as been reported in one of 
> > the 
> > last e-mails the cannons do jump up and the recoil pushes then several 
> > feet 
> > back , and many of these gun crews are deadly accurate, if they are 
> > having a 
> > good day it almost seems that they can put those rounds wherever they 
> > want . 
> > The rifle and carbine shoots are just as impressive. To hear upwards of 
> > 600 
> > rifles on the line firing live rounds with all the noise of the bullets 
> > screaming down range, hearing the thud of the bullets hitting the trees in 
> > the 
> > backstop as well as the ricochet of the bullets off the trees and rocks 
> > gives 
> > you a dose of reality of what a civil war battle must have really been 
> > like. I 
> > am always amazed after I go and watch the shoots and think, How did those 
> > men 
> > ever march into a hail of lead like that? It is a very 
> > sobering experience! 
> > 
> > Tim Pritchard 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > ************************************** See what's free at 
> > http://www.aol.com. 
> > 
> > 
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