The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-06
The Rife and Bayonet.


n Twenty years ago II still a current pro-
verb that the true weapon OF the British soldier was The
thstha, the soldier had then no other weapon TO rely
upon. He carried nusket, but he could not trust To
this instrument for sending bullet TO ITS mark AS
machine propeng balls with anything like accuracy
OF direction range the old relock almost useless
indeed the reader may recollect perhaps the testimony
given before committee by sergeant d, the Guards
who said that If n took aim at all with his
musket tho bullet might perhaps hit the target, but
that 1t could not possibly 90 so oy force oil aaus,
shooting avowediy confined to one or two regi.
men,s in the army, which were equipped with special
weapons and specially instructed In the art OF using
them Gradually however, and in some degree from the
influence OF French example began 70 think that the
difference between musketeer ana rineman was ms
tinction which unwse to maintain and that every
soldier who carried musket might as well have the best
weapon procurabc and be Taught TO turn to the best
account At first the old principle so far prevailed that
conented ourselves with increasing the strength OF
tho select regiments Of the army and making each oil Inc
rife corps equivalent to four ordinary battaons
But in the end this distinction dropped altogether
and every soldier in the line became in all but costume
rineman When tho bayonct was the soldiers weapon
natural that he should hasten to employ H.; In
other words that he should get quickly possible 10
close quarters with the enemy, and decide the con
test by u charge. These tactics too, were always
belleved-at any rate by oursclves,o be peculiarly
suitable to national qualities, and peculiarly
conducive to success U, is at close quarter, tina.
army superior in that kind Of practice was likely 70
DO superior altogether The troops who were best at the
bayonet would probably have tho bost OF the day IL
often experienced officers said that bayonets
were actually crossed but still bayonct charge de-
cidcd the affair; for when IL was made with obvious
resolution by soldiers fitted for their work, tho
opposing line broke and tarned before the shock OF the
collision These the tactics now thought TO he super
seeded by the practice Of musketry The bayonet
no longer the special weapon OF the British soldier Ho
now carries rite which will deal death nj thousand
yards and the fact is carefully impressed upon his
mind IL natural, therefore, 70 suppose that no WIN
- pom his arm, and try long range shooting, in-
II closing instinctvey with his enemy as IN times
His famous rhc Is OF 40 use TO him II no Is 10
like the old musket and neglect IL for the bayo-
20 however wc must ask whether a change OF tao
.iuns rng long range shooting for bayonet charges
necessary incident Of the Improvement OF
a. % are assured by military authorities that
atilcs.~ be decided by actual COLLISION - beiore
whatever may be done by rifles and cannon before the
I'm shock Not only is this Colonel McAnrdos OPINION
bu, intimated by Sir Charles Russell in tho late
del Sir Charles appealed to tho experience Of the
American war to show that rne snooting-though the
Americans have natural aptitude for the artdid not
decide battles but, the contrary led 10 extraord
nary carnage without any proportionate results Fed
from long distances till both sides were SO
weakened as bo unequal 70 tho shock OF
personal conflict and tho battle was drawn, though
each army had pain the price OF victory No serious
affair IL said, decided by fine shooting, and wo
are the conclusion that the old fashioned tactics
of the bayonet would have been cectus than the
new sciencc Colonel McMurdo, indeed, IL not UMPIRE
pared revert ut to the old system Of forming
rilemon selec, He does no, pretend Ia de-
precate OF long ana extraordinary pecs on
in skilled hands but these and THIS practe may DC
left he thinks to picked regiments The great body OF
army the 'main ba'tle used 10 be called VIII
have little need OF such weapons such discipline The
real conflict viii SIN be decided at close qusrtersf not
by handtohand gghtn al any rate by voieys Delivered
such short ranges call Tor extraordinary skill