Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-08-16
THE SHARP SHOOTERS.

Canon, August 5, 1861.
Mr. Editor IL noticed in your paper last
week some remarks in regard to the Regi-
ment Of Sharp Shooters to be raised by Mr.
Berdan Of New York | wish to enquire il
there is any plan proposed. or any recruiting
officer appointed to raise a company as soon
as possible in this State 20 join such Rcgi-
mcnt. II you can give any information in re-
gard to the subject, you will obligc many who
are anxious TO join such company.
Respectfully, &c,
f. FIsHER.
Edmund Weston, Jr., Of West Randolph,
has been appointed to take command Of the
company, and recruiting offices will be mme-
diatcly opened in this State. An official an
nouncement will soon be made as to where
enlistments can be made. Two companies
have already been mustered into service in
New York, aud some fifteen more have been
offered The New York Times Of the 7th
says
some idea ofthe rgidity ofthc test may be gathered
from the ffct that man u admitted who docs not
shoot 6ll feet distance. ten ro'pccure shots af
aCef7gc OF fire ischc from ne buff eyr That is the
aggregate distance uf the whole ten shots
coed hiy inches. Not man is accepted under any ci-
cNlusiHUcrH WHO Nurics hururCNutN from the mark
Remarkable though II may seem many " the ucn ex-
coed ihi, proficiency Col Bordan himself has, on q
windy day, with strange 0e, put ten balls within an
average distance uf inch aud tenth each rom
the bull eye GO feet At 100 feet the Colonel made
a string OF 22 inchrs Sergeant Major Brown. under
more unfavorabie circumstances, made string oi 50
iachcs little more than three inches each ba NJ a
distance of 100 yards, with strange rifle. In testing
the applicants az Albany about two-thirds were found
untitled. and indeed the general average " ineomnctent
applicants is more than that lhc American rinemen
prove generally superior especially the huuters Of New
Enylaud aud the West
The uniform Of the SharpshooteIs will be greer in SUM
aud gfcy at other 10 assmiatc nearly
idea OF Z1uaye and iaycock uniforms, as aiordng too
splendid target for marksmen They will be armed
With tie most improved Springfield rife with plain sii-
pin sight at the muzze aud notch 81. .ht, the globe
sight at the hreech fnr long range, dark day
night shooting II was at first intended 10 arm then,
wh the Northern target rife, but IL iond 'hai there
were not enough Ia the cauntry. tn Beidan has in
vented bail which is superior the old Springfield rifle
ha IL viii cafy with great accuracy distance of 900
feet II il giuoved aud cunical ball, aud is almost
tain for horse Ht the distance of three hths NJ mile -
Each man may take his own rife II hc wishes
lhu design " hc Col mel s t0 have the regimen de-
achcd IN squads the field of bae To do duty pick
ing of niiuers aud guuucis the European plan, hs
executed they certainly would hc II taken. Il is the
fret regiment ofrhcs t,tr formed worthy ofthc unme
that subjected each member 20 the rife shooting test
The shooting Yesterday was most astonishing Col.
Bcrddn shot dulrn times al the head ~ target man,
distance uf6 go feet using the target ride aud
stances the Colonel stated where he would ht-uamiug
The eye, the nose the mouth-aud he hit them, too
The priyatcs then successvely shot. aud not man
missed hitting the body somewhsrc, while most " the
fit The region ofthe heart was perforated like a
sCiNc,