Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-08-15
THE SHARP SHOOTERS.
TARGET PRACTICE OF COL. Borden.

TARGET PRACTICE OF COL. Borden.
The Post gives the following account of the
target shooting of Col Berdan, at Weehowken,
on Tuesday afternoon;
The firing commenced at four o'clock, in the
presence of large number of spcctators.-
Previous to that hour Col. Berdan appeared,
and commenced swedging the balls in a 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" christcned jeff Davis, was
set up at a distance of little more than two
hundred yards. Col Berdan inaugurated the
firing. In an easy business-like way he loaded
his rifle an ordinary target piece, with telc-
scope sight, and approached the crest" The
visitors crowded around him in every direction,
excepting, Of course, that occupied by the muz-
gle OF the rifle. a sense Of personal danger
preserved a small opening there. The wind
blew quite heavily
1t will be conceded that these circumstances
were not particularly conducive to careful and
unerring aim. But Col. l'crtan is man of
wonderful nerve. The crowd did not at all dis
turb him. lie proceeded in the work with the
utmost seadiness. Balancing his rifle for a
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 Of the
telcscopc--the cheek, near the nose.
Again the Colonel loaded and and quickly
fired at the head, hitting it Just over the from
tspiece 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 it been a real one.
The fourth shot hit the face.
"I'll try natures rest" said the Colonel and
he proceeded to knoll near by, and throwing
himself at its SIDE accommodated his person to
its shape and took aim, but the percussion cap
only exploded. 'DaWs is safe this time" he
remarked. "Wel try him again" Another
cap was provided, and the image was struck
just below the front piece of the cap. The aim
was quite as accurate as that he had previously
obtained.
The sixth shot hit about two inches lower
than the fifth.
The seventh hit the top of the head.
Loading again, the Colonel made ready to fire.
"Where will YOU have this shot P" he inquir-
ed of one standing by. ain the end of the
nose" was the answer. "Detween the eyes"
suggested another. At this moment the rifle
was discharged. "You spoke too late" quietly
remarked the Colonel, "he has another nostril."
A gentleman was called 10 witness the effect of
the shot, and afterwards our reporter. 1t was
as the Colonel had said. The nose had an ad-
ditonal aperture.
"Where shall put the next ?" the Col.
inquired of the gentleman at whose request he
had spoiled the nose of the image. "1ry his
right eye" was the answer. 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.
"Will you tell me w3ere to hit him again ?"
once more asked the Colonel of the person who
had called the two shots. That individual de-
cned lie was satisfied that the Colonel could
hit anything, and it was not worth while to fire
it the image, whose face was riddled. ave
will hit him once and now in the centre of the
forehead" This shot, the,tenth was the finest
of the whole. 1t took effect midway between
the front piece of the cap AMI the root of the
nose, and directly over that organ. The dis
tanccs were almost mathematicaly accurate.
Col Berdan said he would go on if any one
desired him to do so. But it was universally
agraed that he had fired enough, that he had
even improved upon his great reputation, and
to proceed further would be simply waste OF
time.
Colonel Berdan, his friends and the repre-.
sentatives of the press present then proceeded
to the field and gave the target particular ex.
animation. 1t had been previously fired at, but
the holes made had been filed up, so that the
effects of the recent shots were evident. Tho
accuracy Of this firing was never cxcelled.-
Col. Berdan, with his Characteristic modesty
however, said little about it, but arranged fol-
the trial Of his men.
Forty eight shots were fred at the target b,
the members of his company-all but four O
which would be C assed "mortal." They wcr,
within few inches of each other and general
ly struck the region of the head or limbs
During the progress of this work the Colone
exhibited the greatest pleasure. Said he OF
one occasion, "'Ihese are picked men. Icanno
tell how many kegs Of powder we have waste,
in getting them. They are artists. If yol
wished to get up concert, would you cngng,
hod-carriers TO make your music? This wa,
with the rebels is simply grand concert, an,
we are going to teach Davis, Beauregard ant
Company 10 appreciate Hail Columbia an,
Yankee Doodle"