New-York daily tribune., 1863-12-31
VOLUNTEER RIFLE COMPANIES


The rifle is an American weapon; one in the
use of which we have maintained an easy supe.
riority to all other nations. The war has kept
us in practice lately, and has offered better
school Of instruction than can he found else.
where but it is still desirable to increase the mum.
Der of good marksmen, and to provide for per.
manent organizations To that end, rife prac.
tice may proftably be introduced in the militia;
for the militia properly trained will alwsysb b
tho nucleus Of an efficient volunteer serYies.
An effort is now making in that direction IN
Ncw-Jersey. Col. W. S. Rowland, ON officer d
experience, has undertaken the formation Of
Volunteer Rife Companies.
The system in some respects is similar to thai
which is adopted in the militia. The men art
enrolled in companies, battalions, and reg.
ments, are armed with rifles Of the Governmental
gauge, and fall at once within the military divi
sions of the State. They arc drilled in the or
dinary tactics, but more especially in Light
infantry movements, and it is in the attainment
OF the requisites of that important branch Of the
service that all similarity between the rife VOL
unteer service and the militia ceases. Under
the proposed plan, when the recruit has mas
tered the rudiments Of military science, he goes
through q course of musketry instruction, 10
which he il carefully taught the theory Of the
fight Of projectles, all the positions that insure
good practice in firing, the mechanism Of the
rifle and how it gets ont of order, to judge dis.
tanccs with accuracy, and to aim quickly and
correctly at all ranges then, after fir
inc few rounds Of blank ammunition
to steady himself under the recoil, be
passes at once from theory to practice,
and fires at every distance from 100 to 1000
yards, on range properly fttedup with cast.
iron targets and markers butts, his score being
carefully marked in registers prepared for that
purpose. When he has proved his thorough
efficiency, not only as an individual marksman,
but also in file, volley and skirmishing, he re.
turns TO the ranks to complete his drill. Con.
nected with this simple, practicable plan Of at
once doubling the soldiers value, is the system
of yearly cncampments, and Of meetings where
prizes are distributed to the most efficient marks
men; Q system which l,..s proved sei! sacCeSSfNl
IN England.
Organizations on such plan may, if it seem
desirable. be left distinct for the militia, and SO
may attract numbers Of young men who arc
ayerse to the restraint of formal enrolment,
but who will readily acquire proficiency in using
the rifle, aud, in emergencies, may be sent
promptly into the field. 1t is needless to add
that such troops would be incomparably superior
to ordinary militia, practically unfamiliar with
their weapon. If there were hundred thousand
of them to-day at the cali of the Government
the Rebellion would be some mcnths nearer
is end
The Government has rather tardily and re.
luetantly used the State Militia, because the
troops composing it haze not been supposed fit
10 De put at once into action. 1t was danger.
GUS to hazard c,mpAign or battle on their
steadiness aud efficiency, and their want of ex-
perenoe in using the rifle and musket was one
main reason Of their inferiority. When that eG.
perence is supplied, rs il may be, by such
system as is suggested, we shall have done
much 10 augment the military strength Of the
Nation. We trust to see Col. Rowland's plan,
or some other us good or better, generally
adopted and put in operation.
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