Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-05-23
Northern and Southern Marksmen

A correspondent of the Worcester Spy
having asserted that the Southerners were
superior to the Northerners as marksmen.
and suggested IA very good recommenda.
ton, by the way, that premiums be offered
in every town for craftsmanship on the
coming Fourth Of July, Rev. T. w. IIig.
ginson rejoins as follows:
Agreeing entirely with your corresnon.
dent Of yesterday as to the importance Of
rifle practice, wish 10 say word in iustice
to Northern marksnen. Perhaps il would
have been more strictly accurate if he had
drawn his distinction between Eastern and
Western men, rather than between North.
ern and Southern. The hunters of the
Northeast are as good shots as those of the
Southwest, while both surpass. in some de.
gree, those of the seaboard States Never.
theless, the rifle shooting of the Maine and
New Y ork forests Is probably not surpassed
on tnls continent, though | have seen il
e9uaiIed in both localities by that of men
VINO had scarcely touched rife till they
went into the wood
his TACT was well established in Kansas.
where, indeed, the Northern men proved
decidedly superior to their opponents. moi
only IN courage and endurance, but as marks.
men also AT Ossawatomie. John Brown
ana twenty-seyen Others defended log hut
against two hundred Southern men. killing
thirty-three and wounding forty-nine-eiphty
two IN all, according to the Pro-Slayer,
stateinent-and then retreated in broad day
their ammunition being exhausted. with tho
loss OF but one man, who was shot while
swimming a creek. Captain MONTGOMERY
told me that in all his daring exploits. he
himself had lost but one man, and although
a native Kentuckian, said he did not con.
slder the habits of slaveholdina cnmmuni.
" at all iltted to create good soldiers.
The writer had several opportunities Ia
examine windows and loopholes at which
many shot, had been fred by Southern com
panles, and was always surprised to find the
shooting no better. Almost all had aimed
too high, as inexperienced hands are saiC
usually to do. '''''
Those Kansas compaigns were very in
structive; and the final superiority of tn,
free state forces was unquestionable. re
member that General Lane spoke with warn
admiration of the military talent and darips
evnced by several Of our Worcester emf
grants who had led the most pacific lives til
they went thither. The saying used to be
that Massachusetts men. needed once to be
shot at, before they could be convinced thai
the enemy was in earnest after which they
became the bravest of the brave. On the
other hand remember how the lieutenant
OF one OF Bniords South Carolina compan
les .rebuked his men, as they were boastfully
rreiccltlng their deeds on returning down tn,
Missouri, in the same boat with me. BOYS.
said he coolly, you had better shut up
Whenever we came in sight of the enemy
you always took vote whether to fight O
run, and you always voted to run"
It is not well to underrate the courag,
and daring of a portion of the Southern
army. But their general prestige of su
periority was dispelled by the Kansas con
test; and after the war has fairly begun. tn,
same result will follow again.