The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-28

Remarkable Shooting By Col. Berdan,
One hundred and forty five sharp shoot
ers for Bcrdan's regiment having made the
requied string in the presence Of the Judges
in various parts Of Michigan, the Adiutant
General has ordered them to rendezvous al
Detroit. The town of Marshall furnishes
thirty-.the greatest number from one
place. Their thirty strings average SO
inches, that is the average distance Of each
mans ten shots from the centre Of the tar
get, ct distance Of two hundred Yards,
was 33 inches, or three and three tenths
inches to each shot.
The New York Evening Post thus des.
cribes trial at Weehawken in which Col.
Berdan himself made some astounding
shots.
The "man-targct," christened jeff Da-
Wis, was set a distance of little more than
two hundred yards. COL Berdan inaugur-
atcd the firing. In an easy, business like
way he loaded his rife, an ordinary target
piece and approached the "rest" The
wind blew quite heavily.
He proceeded in the work with the ut
most steadiness. Balancing his rife for a
moment, he fired at the head of the figure.
The hole made by the bullet was observed
by the aid Of tclescope-the check, near
the nose.
Again the Colonel loaded and quickly
fired at the head, hitting it Just over the
frontespiece of the cap, which was painted
upon it.
The third shot was fired "Put his eye
out" remarked the Colonel. The ball had
struck near enough to that organ to des-
troy its use had it been a real one.
Thu f,,,r<I ob,>t La <l~o e. ~
''T'll try natures rest" said the Colonel
and proceeded to knoll near by, threw
himself at its side, accommodated his per-
son to its shape and took aim, hut the per.
cussion cap only exploded. ''Davis is safe
this time," he remarked EVEN try him
again." Another cap was provided, and the
image was struck just below the front piece
Of the cap.
The sixth shot hit about two inches low.
er than the fifth. .---~--
Loading again, the Colonel made ready
to fire. where will you have this shot?''
inquired he Of one standing near by. "In
the end OF the nose," was the answer
Between the eyes," suggested another
At this moment the rifle was discharged
you spoke too late," quietly remarked the
Colonel, "he has another nostril." A gen.
tleman was called to witness the effect of
the shot, and afterwards orr reporter
It was as the Colonel had said. The nose
had an additional aperture.
"Where shall put the next ?" the Colo
mel inquired Of the gentleman at whose re-
quest he had spoiled the nose of the image.
Try his right eye" was the an swer. No
sooner said than it was done. The ball
entered the lower part of the eye. The
effect of this shot was carefully noted by
several persons through the glass.
"We will hit him once more, and now in
the center of the forehead" This shot,
the tenth, was the finest Of the whole. It
took effect midway between the front piece
If the cap and the root of the nose, and
directly over that organ. The distances
were almost mechanically accurate.
Col. Berdan, his friends and the pre-
sentatives of the press present, than pro-
ceeded to the field and gave the the target a
particular examination. 1t had previously
been fred at, but the holes made had been
filled up, so that the effects of the recent
shots were evident. The accuracy of this
firing was never excelled. Col. Berdan,
with char acteristic modesty, however, said
but little about it, but arranged for the
trial Of his men.
Forty-eight shots were fired at the target
by the members Of the Company-all but
four of which could be classed mortal"
They were within few inches of each
other, and generally struck the region of
the head or limbs. During the progress Of
this work the Colonel exhibited his pleasure.
Said he on one occrsion, 'These are picked
men. cannot tell how many kegs of
powder we have wasted in getting them
They are artists. If you wished to get up
a concert, would you engage hodcarriers to
make your music? This war with the re-
bells is simply great concert, and we are
going to teach Davis, Beaur egard and Com
pany to appreciate Hail Columbia and Yam
kee Doodle"