Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-08-15
THE SHARP SHOOTERS.
TARGET PRACTICE OF COL. BERDAs

kawken, on Tuesday afternoon -
The firing commenced at o'clock. in the
presence of large number of spectators.-
Previous to that hour Colonel Berdan ap-
peared, and commenced swedging the balls
in mould, thus giving them regular form
and exact size, so as to fit the bore of the
piece, and receive the necessary impress
from the spiral twist of the rifle.
The man target christened JEFF. Davis.
was set up at distance of a little more than
two hundred yards. Col. Berdan Inaugural
ted the firing. In an easy, business-like way
he loaded his rifle, an ordinary target piece,
with telescope sight, and approached the
rest The visitors crowded around him in
every direction, excepting, OF course, that
occupied by the muzzle Of the rifle. A sense
of personal danger preserved small open
ing there. Th' wind bluw quite heavily.
1t will be conceded that these circumstan-
ces were not particularly conducive TO care
ful and unerring aim. But Col Berdan is a
man of wonderful nerve. The crowd did not
at all disturb him. He proceeded in the
work with the utmost steadiness. Balancing
his rife for moment, he fired at the head Of
the figure. When the smoke cleared away,
the hole made by the bullet was observed by
the aid ofthe chesapeake cheek, near the
nose.
Again the Colonel loaded and quickly
fred at the head, hitting it Just over the
fronts piece OF the cap which was painted
upon it.
The third shot was fred Put his eye
out remarked the Colonel. The ball had
struck near enough TO that organ to destroy
Its use had II been a real one.
The fourth shot hit the face.
iii try natures rest said the Colonel.
and he proceeded 10 a knoll near by, and
throwing himself at its side. accommodated
his person to its shape and took aim. but the
percussion cap only exploded. Davis Is
safe this time. he remarked. Wen try him
again Another cap was provided, and the
image was struck Just below the frontpiece
Of the cap. The aim was quite a accurate
as that he had previously obtained.
be sixth shot hit about two inches lower
than the fifth.
The seventh hi, the top Of the head
LOaIiu- again, the Colonel made ready TO
fire.
Where viii you have this shot he in
quired Of one standing by. In the end Of the
nose was the answer. Between the eyes.
suggested another At this moment the rife
was discharged. You spoke too late quiet
ly remarked the Colonel, he has another
nostrL' i gentleman vas called to witness
the effect Of the shot, and atterwarl, our re-
porter. It was as the Colonel had said. The
nose had an additional aperture.
Where shall I put the next shot 2 the
Col inquired Of the gentleman al whose re-
quest he had spoiled the nose Of the image
Try his right eye was the answer. No
sooner said than II was done. The ball en-
te-c! the lower part OF the eye. TIE 'etiecr
OF tins aAot was carefully noted by several
persons through the glass.
VIII you tell me where 10 hi. him again:
once more asked the Colonel Of the person
VINO mad called the last two shots That IL
dIyldual declined. lie was satisfied that the
Colonel could hat anything. and It was not
necessary 10 fire al the image. whose face was
rddled. We will lit him once and now in
the center OF the forehead. This shot, the
tenth, was the finest If the win IT, Il took
effect midway between the front piece Of the
cap and the root Of the nose, AID directly
over that organ The distances were almost
automatically accurate.
Col BerdaD SAID he would 70 on ]. any
one desired him TO 10 50. But 1t was uuiver-
say agreed lGa- he had fired euough-that
le had even improved auoA bis great repu-
r-..on, and 10 .--a--.. farther would boz slul-
ply vase d.. ra.e.
Colonel b-r.5sa. ...- 4..-lls AMI the retse-
-.a.tl.y,5 ~. ...a .g--~ Dse-eu. -4.a p-9--eI-
o.- I'D .... field ..4. -a,e t.esai2a. d Ial,ic-
uaar examination. /. AaI lecu previously
uro al, og lice holes made had been .il.eI
up. 50 that the effects OF the recent shots
were ev,Jen. Inc a--uraey OF this firing
was never eNee.leL Col Berdan. with hi.
characteristic lIodesty, however, said little
about 1t, but arranged Tor the trial Of his
men.
Forty-eight shots were fired at the target
by the members OF his company. all but tour
OF which would be cla.,ea mortal They
were within lew inches Of each o.her. an.
generally struck tAe region ai HE mead or
limbs. DARING the pso-tr-- OF the WORK ;he
Colonel eX4y.,eI the creates, pleasure
SAID h. on one occasion. .These are picked
men. / cannot tell bow many kegs OF pow
der we have wasted in getting them. They
are artists. II You wished to g, up 4 con
cert would you engage hod-carriers TO make
music This war with the rebels is simply
a grand concert, and We are going TO teach
Davis, Beaure Lard and Company to appre-
ciate Hail Columbia and Yankee Doodle