The North-South Skirmish Association (N-SSA) is a historical and competitive organization whose goal is to maintain the knowledge of the unique firearms used during the American Civil War. Formed in 1950 to commemorate the men who fought on both sides during the war, the association is based mainly in the eastern United States, and there are related associations in the western United States The N-SSA is headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, and has skirmish locations all over the eastern United States, with a heavy preponderance of activities in the Midwest and Northeastern United States.