St. Louis, MO: NCWAA School of the Piece

St. Louis, MO: NCWAA School of the Piece

NCWAA Chairman Ethan Barnett instructs drill at the school of the piece at Jefferson Barracks in 2011.

A School of the Piece, a muzzle-loading artillery safety qualification program for re-enactors and living historians, will be held May 18-19 at Jefferson Barracks County Park in south St. Louis County, Missouri. The program is presented by the National Civil War Artillery Association and the Sons of Veterans Reserve of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. A registration fee of $20 per participant seeking qualification should be prepaid. This fee includes a two-year membership in the NCWAA. The school will continue to Sunday only if all participants do not complete instruction on Saturday.

NCWAA staff members will instruct and qualify. Cannoneers successfully completing the course will be issued a qualification card valid for two years.

Crews and guns from all muzzle-loading periods (Civil War and earlier) and serving under all flags are welcome and encouraged to attend. Turners who regularly serve artillery are urged to attend, and those who do not regularly serve artillery but who wish to extend their knowledge are also encouraged to participate.

Interested individuals and units should contact Lt. Col. Jack Grothe, SVR, at (314) 631-7492,  or Capt. Randy Baehr, Turner Brigade, at (314) 962-4690,  for registration materials. Click here for a registration form, or here for an event flyer with maps. We have met our minimum registration to hold the school, so registrations will be accepted up to the start of the school. Checks for the $20 registration fee should be made payable to “HQ 4th Military District, SVR” and should be submitted with registration forms.

Period camping will be permitted on site. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the location of the school within the park has been changed to an area near the main visitors’ center. Signs will be posted with directions. Water, straw, firewood, and indoor sanitary facilities will be provided free. Motels are located nearby for those participants who do not want to camp. A variety of restaurants are available nearby for evening dining.

Due to the limitations of the event insurance, we ask that no other firearms be brought to the school other than muzzle-loading artillery.

Saturday lunch will be offered to School participants courtesy of the Ladies’ Union Aid Society. They will provide a sack lunch including a deli sandwich, sides and a drink for $5. Order and pay for your lunch at check-in for delivery to you on-site at lunch time.