Chapter 2: The Sixties
At the regional meeting held March 6, 1960, "Harry Wagner and Al Hardin made
a report on the planned invitational skirmish at Lakehurst." The Spring National was held
at Fort Lee on May 21 and 22 in 1961. No significant results were reported on the
acquisition of a permanent range in Gettysburg. Fred Huffman reported that he was
negotiating a skirmish at West Point for Spring of '61. Items of general discussion
included cheating at skirmishes. There was evidence of buck shot used at a skirmish. An
electronic timing device and drinking on the firing line were hot topics of discussion. The
region decided to hold three regional meeting per year.
The October 30, 1960 meeting brought on a discussion on the proposed
invitational skirmish at Indiantown Gap. It appeared that the logistics of securing target
material and preparation of the target material for skirmishes caused some concern for a
few members in the Region. This single line indicated that the membership was heading
in a new direction concerning target material. The minutes reflected this feeling and it
states "Includes a deviation from the traditional method of target handling."
It must have been a long meeting based on the number of topics entertained.
"Drinking, esp. on firing line" made a reappearance at the October meeting. The
membership suggested the following items: Every organization should have a man trained
in first aid; the Region should practice marching in battalion; we should send men to the
New Jersey Teachers convention in Atlantic City for show purposes; the Region should
not participate in reenactments for any profit making concern; and we should demand
seats for all of our families at Bull Run.
Centennial of the Civil War was in full swing. Interest in the Civil War and our
heritage was growing. Soldiers returned from the Wars. Babies and small children were
everywhere. Elvis Presley wiggled his hips and Rock and Roll was here to stay. Life
magazine saw the interest in the Civil War growing. In the March 17, 1961 issue, the
First Pennsylvania Artillery, N-SSA, made the cover of Life Magazine. The cover
showed the First Pennsylvania Artillery with four artillery pieces and thirty four members.
Later this unit would split into Knap's Battery and Clark's Battery of the N-SSA.
In 1961, the Region gave G. Walmsley $30.00 towards expenses to represent the
Region at the National Board meeting of the N-SSA.
The Region on July 12, 1961, took a tough stand on members that break the rules.
The Region said, "... that the Mid-Atlantic Region not allow any person to be reinstated
after being dropped by any organization for disciplinary reasons and that the N-SSA be
requested to take similar action." The question of "legality" of women marching with an
organization was raised. The group had trouble defining the word participation so no
resolution was reached. In early days it appeared the N-SSA teams participated at
reenactments. Bull Run was mentioned in the minutes but does not say if Bull Run was
a skirmish or reenactment. In light of the previous statement a report was given on the
Manassas reenactment at this meeting. There was a short discussion on the shoot at
Indiantown Gap. In July of 1961, there were 19 member organizations and 9
probationary groups. It was estimated that the region consisted of 397 men.