Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-07
Comparison between Northern and SoHth.
eru marksmen. III

Comparison between Northern and SOuth-
..f eru Marksmen. III
A correspondent of the Worcester (Mass)
Spy having asserted that the Southerners
were superior to the Northeners as marks
men, ard suggested that premiums be offered
in every town for craftsmanship on the COM
ing 4th of July, Rev. 7. W. Higginson rejoins
as follows: A3 .'
Agreeing entirely with your correspon.
dent of yesterday, as to the Importance of
rifle practice, wish to say word in justice
to Northern marksmen. Perhaps it would
have been more strictly accurate if he had
drawn his distinction between Eastern and
Western men, rather than between Northern
and Southern. The hunters of the North
west are as good shots as those of the South
west, while both surpass in some degree,
those of the sesbosrd States. Nevertheless,
the rife shooting of the Maine and New
York forests, is probably not surpassed on
this continent, though have seen 1t equaled
in both localities by that Of men who had
scarcely touched a rifle till they went into
the wood.
hhis fact was well established in Kansas,
where, indeed, the Northern men proved
decidedly superior to their opponents, not
only in courage and endurance, but as
marksmen also. At OssaWotamie, John
Brown and twenty+seyen others defended
log hut against two hundred Southern men,
killing thirty-three and wounding forty
nine sighty'two in all, according to the
pIo-slaYery statement-and then retreated
in broad day, their ammunition being ex-
hausted, with the loss of but one man, who
was shot while swimming O creek. Captain
Montgomery told me that in all his daring
exploits, he himself had lost but one man;
| and, although a native Kentuckian, he did
| not consider the habits of a slaye-holding
community at all fitted to create good sol
| diers. a.--. .-
The writer had several opportunities in
| Kansas 10 examine windows and loopholes
at which many, shots had been fred by
| Southern companies, and was always sur
| prised TO find the shooting no better. Al
most ell had aimed too high, as inexperi-
1 enced hands are said usually TO do.
Those Kansas campaigns were very in
structive and the final superiority of the
free State forces was unquestionable. j
Iemember that General Lane spoke with
warm admiration of the military talent aud
daring eViDeed by several of our Worcester
emierants, who had led the most pacific lives
till they went thither. The saying used 70
| be that Massachusetts, men needed once 70 bt
shot at before they could be convinced that
the enemy was in earnest; after which they
became the braVest Of the brave. On the
other hand / remember how the Lieutenant
Of ore Of Buforts South Carolina companies
febuked his men, as they were ,boastfully
reciting their deeds, on returning down the
Missouri, in the same boat with me. "Boys,
SAID he cOolly, "you had better shut mp
Whenever we came in sight of the enemy
you always took vote whether 10 fight o.
run, and you always voted 10 run"
Ii S not well to underrate the courage an(
daring of portion Of the Southern army
But their general prestige Of superiorit,
was aispeed by the s,, Kansas San contest sS = an
result will follow again.
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