The origin of the 149th New York Volunteer Infantry was probably pretty much the same as that of many other teams in the NSSA.

A skirmish team often begins as the result of the growing pains of a "parent team". With growth from a smaller to a larger membership, team members may no longer exhibit common goals and objectives regarding shooting, historical authenticity, or self government. There comes a time when idle talk between some members about differing views becomes planning for a new team which will surely do things better.

That's how the 149th New York Volunteer Infantry began one late Sunday afternoon in 1971 at a rest stop on the way home from a late summer skirmish.

A few members of the 2nd New York Volunteer Cavalry happened to meet at the rest stop. The members had been with the 2nd since the unit had stood inspection at Fort Shenandoah in 1966, and had seen it emerge from years of struggling to field eight shooters, to a point where the unit was fielding more then two musket teams. A few new members had joined the 2nd, bringing family and friends to swell its ranks. However, with the influx of new people came differing opinions over goals, objectives and how the unit was to be run. A split was inevitable, and it occurred in a friendly fashion as a result from the 2nd at the end of the 1971 shooting season to form a new team.

The departing group spent the Fall and Winter of 1971 creating their new skirmishing organization. Among other things, the decided that they wanted to be infantry because they felt that cavalry had never seemed appropriate for a musket team (no carbine teams in those days). Since the core members of the new team were primarily from Onondaga County in Central New York State, they examined the history of the five Onondaga County Civil War Infantry Regiments to choose one for the new team's namesake. Of the five, the history of the 149th New York Voluntary Infantry made it stand out. If had the distinction of serving both with the XII and the XX Corps with Sherman in the West and South. In it's first battle at Chancellorsville, it helped stem the panic caused by Stonewall Jackson's flank march while suffering its heaviest casualties of the War. At Gettysburg, it helped hold Culp's Hill on July 2 and 3, thereby contributing to Lee's decision to commit to Pickett's fateful charge. During Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, the 149th fought at Lookout Mountain, and Peach Tree Creek. It was also among the first units to enter Atlanta, where it laid claim to the house that had been Hood's headquarters.

Further historical research convinced the group that the choice of the 149th as their new team's namesake was the best one. Not only was the 149th a representative unit of the Union Army, but it was also distinctive in its own way. Company "A" was Jewish, Company "B" was German, and Company "C" was Irish. The Unit was therefore a perfect example of the Nineteenth Century United States as a "melting pot", and also represented the ethnic heritage of most of the members of the team.

Once the name of the team was chosen, an effort was made to recreate it flags. Fortunately, an old photo was found showing the original 149th Volunteer Infantry Regiment commander, Colonel Henry Barnum, holding the unit's National Colors. The picture gave an accurate guide to recreating the 149th's flag complete with its inscription "Presented by the Officers and Men of the Salt Springs", a tribute to Onondaga County's primary industry of salt production centered around its major City of Syracuse. Historical records also described the regiment's State Colors in detail. Though the State Colors were thought to be lost, a member of the new team happened to discover the original flag, still in very good shape, in the State Capitol in Albany. He was able to take a photo, and the flag was carefully reproduced to include the unique inscription "Donated by the Jewish Ladies of Syracuse".

The founding members of the new 149th received encouragement from many friends on other teams in the Northeast Region, especially those from another "new" team, the 137th New York Volunteer Infantry from the Binghamton, New York area. Coincidentally, the original 137th and 149th were brigaded together, and served as sister regiments throughout the Civil War. The new 137th displayed the same warm friendship towards the 149th as had its original namesake.

The newly formed 149th made its presence known in the Central New York area be giving historical presentations at VFW and American Legion Posts. Its members honed their skills in public speaking and in passing the tin cup. As a result of the presentations, they learned that the Central New York area was rich in untapped sources of Civil War history and heritage. One member will never forget his feeling of awe when one elderly gentleman approached him after one presentation to say that his father had served in the Civil War with the 149th.

The new team stood inspection at the 1972 Spring Nationals, and made every effort to be historically authentic. The members outfitted themselves in wool jackets and pants, trousers tucked in socks, brogans, haversacks, and canteens. They looked like they had just stepped out of a band box, with new uniforms and authentic flags. They were complemented on the number of three-band Enfields and Springfields they carried, since Remington Zouave rifles were the most commonly used in the NSSA at the time. Their authenticity brought them to the attention of the 12th Georgia Infantry who had noticed the white star XII corps badge on the kepis, and felt the need to remind them of the 149th's still-remembered participation in Sherman's March to the Sea.

The 149th has seen change in its 26 years. Its flags, uniforms, and equipment show evidence of wear, and the faces don't look as pretty as the used to, (excepting, of course, the faces of the few female shooters we've had join in recent years). Formerly young and innocent faces with little experience have become weathered brows telling skirmishing tales, while new young and innocent faces have come on the scene to listen to those tales with awe and reverence.

Just as with other NSSA units, the history of the 149th has not been without incident. The unit achieved the status of a "parent team" itself in 1990 when its membership grew quite large, and the inevitable diverging of its members goals and objectives occurred. A group left the team, wishing to become not only a cavalry regiment, which was bad enough, but also a Confederate Regiment! History had come full circle, and the some.

Carrying on 26 years of tradition, the 149th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment continues to be an active participant in, and a host team for regional skirmished in the North East Region. It also continues to compete each Spring and Fall at the NSSA National Skirmishes. While not always placing in Regional and National skirmishes, the unit has on average done very well, most recently taking medals in carbine, mortar, and musket at the 1998 Spring Nationals. It also continues its tradition of marching in two parades each Memorial Day, representing our organization with pride and honor, while at the same time paying tribute to all soldiers who have given their lives for our country.

Since it inception, the 149th has beat its drums, shown its colors, and make its presence known on the skirmish line and around many a campfire. It will continue to do so for may more years in the future.