Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-06-01
sh'rp shsetins-Camps Of Practice.

We have urged the establishment of shooting
grounds for practice for volunteers but as vel
little seems to have been done. In our State, we
r'gret TO say, there seems to be a deficiency OF
directing capacity somewhere; such, at least, is
| the conclusion to which we are led by the aspect
Of matters. We call general attention to the fol-
lowing extracts and statements as substantiating g
our position, as to the importance Of musket and
rifle practice.
Until recently, the musket has been 80
weapon, that II has been a common SAYING, that
Tor every man killed his psight IN lead is fired;
and although this In not to be taken literally the
number Of balls fred for each man killed has
often risen az high as seven hundred or eig bit
hundred Now this system Of things is entirely
changed, and old ideas must be wholly laid aside
Col Chesney, In writing on the probable effect
OF the new arms Of precision In warfare, says
(Chesney on Fire Arms, p 2s0,:-
- Besides more distant execution, and other
advantages claimed for The new arm especially
ior the Prussian pattern its advocates do not hes
tate 10 anrm that Its fire will be more formidable
tnan that OF grape shot; that the gunners would
De picked off at such distance as to make Il i'm
for them 70 serve the guns face of ht
infantry, and that twill, In consequence super
sede the use Of light artillery II s also allep ed
lnat personal conflicts, such as line against line
or column az ainst column, will cease altogether
and future battles be decided by THE effects of a
rapid and destructive fire, in the precision Of
wnlch, rather than on personal contact and ex-
'ensive combinations the result will depend"
AT the battle Of Ilstedt, remarkably hard
fought and scientific contest, the following re-
suits Were eobserved-(Chesney,p p. 277):
The enemy, saws the Danish Commander-in-
Cnlef, krogh, "under cover Of a bridge fred
with pointed balls (Spitzkug,ln) at a distance Of
one hundred and one hundred and fifty wards 1t
was In vain thata couple of guns threw shells at
snort range among the skirmishers; 1t was in vain
that body of cavalry made their several attacks;
u was In vain that the endeavor was made to
bring up the infantry from Oberstolk, which was
now In names, while fierce engagement was go
Ing on in Il from the house windows and The
w ffpro al
loss The brave General Schleppeyrell fell nor-
Iaily wounded during the attack; the chief of his
san, Lieut. Colonel BulOw, was severely wound
ed; the commander of his battery, Col Baggril-
sen, was made prisoner, and two OF his guns taken
by tue enemy. Several other officers were also
killed, among them Lieut. Carstensea, whilst en-
oeavorlng to rescue Capt. Baggensen, and about
seventy subalterns and privates; at least ninety
horses were killed or taken.n
Even the indomitable bravery Of GarbaldI and
his followers were unable to make good the de-
fence OF Rome against the Chassers de Vincenne.
armed with new rifles and thoroug hly instructed
In their use. The instructions which the Chas-
seurs de Vincennes receive is better devised than
the ordinary system, as they are trained to fire.
not at fixed and invariable objects but at unknown
distances, which they are taug ht to estimate and
regulate their sights accordingly. This course of
instruction Is extremely complete, and extends to
minuti1 which we cannot here describe Four
Teen thousand Chasseurs are thus made first rate
shots
Future battles will be decided by rihed cannon,
ana Dy snarp shooters with the improved fire
arms. Some have gone so far, as will be seen by
the first OF the above extracts. as to doubt II
columns 81 Infantry can, In future, be approached
sufficiently near to cross bayonets. Under these
circumstances, the proicie ency Of our men In the
use Of the improved firearms, becomes OF the
highest importance. AS Capt. Witch observes
ths beat nlWsk.t requires a mdrkSndn II has been
stated that IN India an entire corps Of advancing
SePoYs was destroyed by MIME rifles When
such results can be attained by a proficiency In
the use OF arms, are We justified In delaying for a
moment to keep our troops practisIngl We have
powder in abundar ce, and can afford TO use ii I'm
teaching our soldiers while the South is com
PEELED to husband every pound for actual service
Shall we throw away this opportunity
Those who are anxious 10 assist in the coming
struggle Will do well to all their efforts 10
having camp established at Philadelphia, and
to bringing about a regular practice at marks, at
all the camps in the State. reserve force should
be organizrd on the Ohio plan, and not only
drilled, but made marksmen Of as rapidly as pos
sible.-Phiia Bullet n.