149th NYVI Syracuse NY

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149th NYVI Syracuse NY

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The 149th NY Volunteer Infantry is a member of the Northeast Region of the North-South Skirmish Association.

We promote the history of the 4th and most famous regiment raised in Onondaga County during the Civil War, also civil war history, and the N-SSA.

11/04/2026

The 1st American Civil War ?

Some consider the American Civil War (1861 – 1865) that we talk about so much to be America’s 2nd Civil War. What most of us call the Revolution might be considered the 1st Civil War. Case in point… Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina October 7th 1780.

A battle fought entirely by Americans on both sides of our revolution. The battle was fought by approx. 900 American Patriots vs approx. 1200 Americans who wished to remain loyal to Great Britian. It is believed the only British solider at this battle was British Major Patrick Ferguson, who let the American Loyalists.
The Patriots crept up the heavily wooded mountain, and took the Loyalist forces by surprise. The battle lasted just over an hour, and this battle along with the nearby battle of Camden that same summer (which is sort of depicted in the blockbuster movie The Patriot), was a great boost to the morale of the Patriots and was a contributing factor in the defeat of Lord Cornwallis.

Major Ferguson was killed in the battle, shot 7 or 8 times… during our tour of the battlefield, we learned he had invented a very interesting breechloading flintlock r***e, of which approximately 100 issued to an experimental light company deployed at the battle of Brandywine. The Feguson r***e was eventually deemed too expensive to produce, and too fragile for combat, and was not likely used at the Battle of Kings Mountain.

What do think… Merriam Webster defines a civil war “an armed conflict inside a single country between opposing groups of its own citizens, or between the government and organized non-state factions”.
Was the American Civil War (1861-1865) really our second civil war?

10/30/2026

163 years ago…. The largest formal night battle and a tale of compassion amongst enemies.

Oct 28-Oct 30 1863, the 149TH NY Volunteer Infantry was heavily engaged during the Battle of Wauhatchie in Tennessee. This is considered one of the largest formal night battles of the American Civil War. Confederate forces under Col. John Bratton launched a surprise attack which started around 10pm on Oct. 28th against Union Brig. Gen. John W. Geary. The 149th NYVI was deployed on the far-western flank of the Union infantry line, extending the defensive position. As the fierce midnight-to-morning firefight unfolded in the dark near the Roden farmstead and Wauhatchie depot, the men of the 149th NYVI held their ground alongside the 78th NY, 137th NY , 29th PA, 109th PA, and 111th PA helping repulse the Confederates and successfully keeping the supply lines open to the Union army in Chattanooga TN.

During the battle, Color Sgt. William C. Lilly, the 149th's hero of Gettysburg (who infamously mended the flag under fire), was shot through the thigh. It was cold and rainy the morning after the battle, when members of the 149th helped load Sgt. Lilly into an ambulance. They wrapped him in a blanket and hoped that the field hospital would be able to do something for him. Already in the ambulance there was a wounded confederate soldier. As the ambulance pulled away members of the 149th observed Sgt. Lilly exclaim to the cold and shivering wounded confederate “My friend, I guess I will have to share my blanket with you.” He then placed some of his blanket around this Confederate soldier. The ambulance was driven away, and that was the last time members of the 149th would see Color Sgt. Lilly again; sadly he succumbed to his wound on Nov. 1st or 2nd.

During the American Civil War, relationships between soldiers were complex and often blurred the line between enemy and friend. While men in Blue and Gray fought a terribly bloody conflict, they often shared moments of human connection. In the aftermath of battle, it was common for soldiers from both sides to help bury the opposing dead or offer a drink of water to a wounded enemy left on the field. This shared suffering created an unspoken respect, allowing former enemies to quickly look back on the war not with hatred, but with empathy and mutual feelings of survival.

Today, several teams in the North-South Skirmish Association honor regiments that were engaged at Wauhatchie

10/28/2026

I had to miss the Syracuse Show due to a work related conflict.
Many thanks to Sharon, Terry, and Henry, all of the 149th NYVI who decided to forge ahead and continue promoting the Northeast Region of the N-SSA in my absence.
They had a very successful show, resulting in new members and possibly a new sutler!

10/22/2026

NOT the typical 1842 Smoothbore

Part 30 of our series showing skirmishers and their different types of civil war muskets, carbines, smoothbores and revolvers seen on the skirmish line in the North South Skirmish Association. All of these arms are fired in competition using live am******on (not blanks).

This skirmisher is our friend Alan. Alan is the commander of Laurel Brigade ANV and he is Allegheny’s regional recruiting officer.

At the Fall 2026 Nationals, we noticed Alan was competing in team smoothbore with a French model 1842, not the much more common US Springfield model 1842.

Alan’s musket is 69 caliber and was Manufactured at the Manufacture Royale (later Nationale or Impériale) de Mutzig, which was a state arms factory located in Alsace. These were also made at Châtellerault, Saint-Étienne, and Tulle. Approximately 25,000 of them were purchased by the US Government. The French Model 1842 was rated by the U.S. Ordnance Department as 3rd class; serviceable but substandard arm. They often used this classification for foreign made smoothbore muskets.

A fascinating piece of history, and an interesting departure from the common US Model 1842. I think this was the only one I’ve ever seen on the skirmish line. As an added bonus Alan was scoring lots of hits with it!

Check back for future episodes where we will show more skirmishers and the small arms they use in competition.

10/17/2026

Members of Northeast Region (Dragoons, 72nd NYVI and 149th NYVI) staffing the visitors tent at the Nationals. Many thanks to our friends in Central Virgina , particularly the 48th VA and Palmetto Sharpshooters who bore the brunt of this effort! We also had some random skirmishers just walking by stop and help out! Skirmishers help skirmishers!

10/14/2026

The winners of the costume contest out for a stroll in Sutlers row.

10/12/2026

Part 29 of our Skirmisher and their small arms series.
For this episode, we will focus more on the skirmisher.

This Skirmisher is Carl S. with the 2nd New Jersey Volunteers.

Carl is the very first Skirmisher to earn a 70 year membership award. Carl started skirmishing as a teenager in 1956, and has been an active and dedicated member ever since!

In recognition of a lifetime spent on the skirmish line and his dedication to preserving the history of the American Civil War and honoring the efforts of those who fought in it, Carl was presented with a 70 Year medal and a commemorative plaque.

Congratulations to Carl S, and congrats to the 2nd NJ volunteers and the Middle Atlantic Region, as none of us would make it far without the support from our team-mates and friends!

10/08/2026

Northeast Region N-SSA... SMALL REGION - BIG RESULTS! Despite it's small size, the region did very well in the 154th Nationals. So far, the medal count for our region is at 17 medals, as follows:

1st NY Dragoons:
1st place Team Revolver, A-1
1st place Team Carbine A-2
1st place Team Breechloader A-2
6th place Team Musket, A-1
Individuals: Frank, Smoothbore 91-2x 2nd place

Big Congrats to the Dragoons! 3 1st place team medals in 1 Nationals!!!!

9th New York Cavalry
Sam S. Earned 1st place Expert class in 100yd Musket with an amazing score of 98-2X! and he received 2nd place Musket Aggregate. Way to go Sam!

Terry's Texas Rangers:
2nd Place Team Smoothbore A-3
5th Place Team Carbine A-3
9th Place Team Musket A-3

149th NY Volunteer Infantry:
1st place Team Musket, A-3
3rd place Team Breechloader A-3
7th place Team Carbine, A-3
Jim S earned individual medals, 2nd place Carbine Aggregate, 7th place Carbine 50 yards
Chris K. earned individual medals, 2nd place smoothbore aggregate and 4th place smoothbore, 25 yards, striker class.

10/06/2026

Check out all those white wooden hanging blocks in Sunday’s musket match. Stretched across the firing line as far as the eye can see!

Fort Shenandoah is the home of the North South Skirmish Association and is largest and longest continuous live-fire line in North America.

Most of those blocks were destroyed moments later! The 149th NYVI did our part and converted every one of those evil little blocks on the A frame of position 12 to harmless toothpicks. 😁

10/05/2026

About half of the 149th NYVI attended the Fall Nationals in Wi******er VA. We represented Central NY and honored the historical regiment by placing 1st Place in A-3 Musket! We also medaled 3rd Place in A-3 Breechloader, and medaled 7th place in A-3 Carbine.
Also pictured here with us is our friend Ed from Terry's Rangers who filled out the 8th position on our team.

Address

480 Chalybeate Springs Road
Wi******er, VA
22603

Website

http://www.n-ssa.org/

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