Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-08-01
ATTENTION VERMONTERs /!

ATTENTION VERMONIERS!
Hiram Berdan, of New York. a famous RI
fe shot, a gentleman of education and of
zeal in the cause of the Union, who has trav-
elled extensively in Europe, and spent much
time in practicing with the rifle among the
sharp-shooters of the Swiss Cantons, conceiv-
ed the idea Of raising company Of sharp
shooters, and rendering them to the Govern
ment, whose mission it should be to hover
around the field of battle and pick off the
officers of the enemy. On laying his plan
before the War Department he met with
warm encouragement, and Gen. Scott re-
garded it with so much favor that he express
sed an earnest desire that an entire Regi-
ment should be raised. Accordingly the
War Department has accepted the services
otone Regiment Of sharp-shooterS and 90
days dating from the 10Th of June last, are
given in which to raise it. It was determined
to call upon each of the loyal States to fur
nish one company each, consisting Of from
seyenty-fve to one hundred men. w. S
Rowland of New York was detailed to visit
all the Governors of the loyal States, which
he has done, with the exception Of one or
two. He called upon Gov, Fairbanks last
week, and has now gone to Maine. The fol-
lowing States have responded to the call, viz;
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa,
Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, New York,
Rhode Island, Massachusetts,, New hamp-
shire. 1t is understood the Governor of Yer
mont regards the move with much favor, and
desires to have our State, which abounds
in sharp-shooters, represented in this Regi-
ment. We may therefore expect some ac-
ton adapted to the exigency will soon he
taken by the Executive.
The sharp-shooters are to be formed into
Regiment, at the suggestion Of the authori-
ties at Washington, not, however, with the
most distant idea that they will ever perform
active service as regiment, but simply for
the purpose Of discipline and preliminary
practice, uniformity Of signals, and other
matters Of training and organization, and
will be detailed for action as Independent
companies or detachments, to be used on
TANKS of regiments, and to be devoted to
sharp-Sh0oting, and nothing else.
No man IS to be mustered in who cannot,
when firing at distance of POO yards, put
ten consecutive shots into target, the ave-
rage distance not to exceed five inches from
the centre Of the bulls eye to the centre OF
the bali, The company will elect their o0i-
GERS, and the captain will appoint the non
commissioned officers, and as we have stated,
the Regiment has been accepted for special
service, at the earnest solicitation Of Lieut..
Gen. Scott, such corps being rendered ne
cessary by reason OF the guerrilla system Of
warfare adopted by the opposing force.
1t is recommended that the States contrib
uting sharp-shooters, raise subscriptions, So
that the men shall receive an addition to their
pay as United States soldiers,
We thus call attention to this bject be-
cause We should regret to have Vermont the
only loyal State unrepresented in so impor-
tant an arm Of the military service. 1t VIII,
no doubt, be the crack corps Of the army
What say the sharp-ahOoters Of the Green
Mountains ? Can they turn out company
OF seyenty-hve or one hundred men Each
man is at liberty to take his own rifle, if lie
chooses, the Government compensating him
therefor. Men are wanted who have been
accustomed to sight the eyes Of their game,
and split bullets oh a knile-bIade