With great regret, Al, shown above moving the Ordnance Rifle, passed away at the end of March, 2008. A perfect gentleman, he learnt many of us the art of Artillery, but will be greatly missed because of the person he was.
The 10th Mass Battery is comprised mainly of people from New England, most from eastern Massachusetts. Some members of the 9th Massachusetts Battery formed the 10th Massachusetts Battery in 1964 (passed inspection at the Spring Nationals, 1964) to compete in the N-SSA (seniority number 119). The 10th competes in New England Region events and at the National Championships held each spring and fall at the home of the N-SSA, Fort Shenandoah, in Winchester, Virginia.
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Scenes from the '99 season 100th Skirmish |
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An active team, the 10th is always a contender at the Regional skirmishes. At the 116th Nationals, members took individual medals, the gold in A-3 Revolver and finished 2nd and 7th in Cannon. Though competitive on the firing line, the 10th also enjoys the sport. We meet before and after practices and for dinner on Saturday evenings at skirmishes in informal gatherings. The Battery includes females and junior shooters.
At the 101st Nationals, the 10th Mass captured the Gold Medal in Class A-2 Revolver, and competed with two mortar crews, two carbine teams, one cannon crew and two musket teams. For the 100th Nationals, we fielded one Revolver team, three Mortar crews, three Carbine teams, two cannon crews (and one at the Night Match) and three Musket teams. At this skirmish we had 5 junior skirmishers on the line.
At the 99th Nationals, we fielded two Musket teams, three Carbine teams, two Revolver teams, two Mortar teams and one Cannon team, with the B Musket team winning a Gold medal. At the 98th Nationals, we fielded two Musket, two Carbine, two Revolver, one Henry team, two Mortar teams and a Cannon team, capturing a four place in class in Musket and second in rifled cannon in the first appearance with a new gun.
If you would like to see the history of the Tenth Massachusetts Battery, see the Tenth Massachusetts Battery Association page. If you would like more information on the North-South Skirmish Association, and Fort Shenandoah, visit their page.
More on what you could expect at a Skirmish...
Some of the shooters on the 10th have participated in
other competitive shooting sports, some came into it from the historical point
of view, but most gain a new view on the Civil War and the black powder arms
of the era. It seems the serious shooters are helping the historical buffs on
the techniques of shooting, while learning a great deal on the War and what
those who fought it endured in return. Men and women shoot, the minimum age
to compete being 15, and come from all backgrounds. The veteran members of the
Battery are very quick to share their knowledge with new shooters.
Although not a reenactment organization, the 10th Mass Battery has turned out
for parades and special events, such as the Marlborough, MA Labor Day Parade,
and for dedications of a Civil War nature. Some of the members enjoy this side
of things; some are strictly shooters. Some of us also participate in non-N-SSA
cannon matches
held around New England.
Many times a trip to the Nationals will include a side
trip to Gettysburg, Harper's Ferry, Antetiam or some other site which has historical significance. Some members
attend Civil War roundtables, or reenactments. When the group gets together
and retires to a spot for dinner, many times the talk will drift to history.
For more information on what's happening in the Winchester/ Frederick
County area check out this web page; there was much Civil
War activity in the Winchester area, because it was the northern end of the
Shenendoah Valley, and many battles were fought there. Kernstown is just south of Winchester, and
two major battles were fought there.
If you would like more information on
THE 10th MASS BATTERY, N-SSA, you can email walmag@rcn.com.
For more information on the 10th Massachusetts Battery in the Civil War, Civil War Artillery, Civil War information, and related links, go to cwartillery.com
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