15th Regiment - Connecticut Volunteer Infantry

"The Lyon Regiment"

North-South Skirmish Association, Inc.   Serving America's Civil War Heritage and the Art of Black Powder Shooting Since 1950

What is the North-South Skirmish Association ...

• Civil War History

• Uniformed Union and Confederate teams, representing actual historical units.

• Individual and team competition in musket, carbine, revolver, and artillery.

• Costume competition for members and families.

The North-South Skirmish Association (N-SSA) was formed in 1950 to commemorate the heroism of the men, of both sides, who fought in the American Civil War, 1861-1865. The N-SSA promotes the shooting of Civil War firearms and artillery and encourages the preservation and display of Civil War materials. The N-SSA works to accomplish these goals by conducting skirmishes; competitive, live firing of these Civil War firearms and artillery.

The New-England Region ...

The New England Region was formed in August, 1969.  The region is active with 16 Union and Confederate units.  The 15th CVI is one of those units.  Skirmishes are scheduled each year in Saratoga and Middletown, New York, Chaplin and Glastonbury, Connecticut and Hopkinton, Massachusetts.  In addition to the regional skirmishes hosted by each of the 13 Regions, the N-SSA hosts a National Skirmish in Winchester, Virginia in May and October of each year.

Original 15th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry - 15th CVI  ... "The Lyon Regiment"

Organized at New Haven August 25, 1862. Left State for Washington, D. C., August 28. Attached to Casey's Provisional Brigade, Military District of Washington, to October, 1862. 1st Brigade, Casey's Division, Military District Washington to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Army Corps Department of Virginia, to July, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Getty's Division, Portsmouth, Virginia, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, to January, 1864. District of the Albemarle, N. C., Dept. Virginia and North Carolina, to February, 1864. Defenses of New Berne, North Carolina, Dept. Virginia and North Carolina to January 1865. Sub-district of New Berne, Dept. of North Carolina, to March, 1865. 2nd Brigade 2nd Division, District of Beaufort, North Carolina, Dept. North Carolina, March 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, District of Beaufort and District of New Berne, to June, 1865.

SERVICE-Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., till September 17, 1862. At Arlington Heights, Virginia, till November 3. At Fairfax Seminary, Va., till December 1. March to Fredericksburg, Va., December 1-6. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Burnside's 2nd Campaign, "Mud March," January 20-24, 1863. Moved to Newport News, Va., February 6-9, thence to Suffolk March 13. Siege of Suffolk April 12-May 4. Edenton Road April 24. Providence Church Road, Nansemond River, May 3. Siege of Suffolk raised May 4. Reconnaissance to the Chickahominy June 9-17. Dix's Peninsula Campaign June 24-July 7. Expedition from White House to South Anna River July 1-7. Moved to Portsmouth, Va., and duty there till January, 1864. (Five Companies moved to South Mills September 20, 1863). Skirmish Harrellsville January 20, 1864. (Detachment). Moved to New Berne, North Carolina, and duty there till March, 1865. Expedition to near Kinston June 20-23, 1864. Southwest Creek June 22. Battle of Wise's Forks March 8-10, 1865. Occupation of Kinston March 14. Provost duty at Kinston and at New Berne till June. Mustered out June 27, 1865. Discharged at New Haven July 12, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 34 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 5 Officers and 142 Enlisted men by disease. Total 185.

Nathaniel Lyon  (1818-1861) 

Nathaniel Lyon was born July 14, 1818 in Ashford (now Eastford), Windham County, in northeastern Connecticut.  The house in which he was born no longer stands (only the chimney and fireplaces remain).  The site, including the original stone-walled livestock pens, is maintained in what is now the Natchaug State Forest in Eastford. Nathaniel Lyon was the first general officer killed in the U.S. Civil War and the first war hero of the North.  He died at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, 10 miles southwest of Springfield, in southwestern Missouri, on August 10, 1861.  Known as the Savior of Missouri, his actions kept Missouri from leaving the Union in the first year of the Civil War.

15th CVI - Present Day

The present day 15th CVI was recreated in 1962, joined the N-SSA in 1963 and was accepted in 1963, seniority number 117. The team to beat in the New England Region, the 15th has also been one of the top teams at the Nationals.  Two members of the original team, Ed and Ted Occhi, are still active shooters.

Left to right  ...  Ed, Tony, Ted, David, Bill, Scott, Tom, Doug, Paul & Kaley.  Taken at Chaplin August 2004.

'A' Team in action at Hopkinton May 2004

Tom, Ed, Charles, Dick, Doug, Ted, Bill & Tony - August 2006 - Middletown, NY

2009 Skirmish Schedule