The New York herald., 1875-09-11
CREEDMOOR.
EXTRA RIFLE PRACTICE OF THE SECOND
BRIGADE-RAIN sPoILs THE SHOOTING.

EA4AAA RIFLE fhACIlCE OF AhE SEOOND
BRIGADE-RAIN sPons THE SHOOTING.
A portion OF the troops belonging to the Second
brigade, First division NG.SNY., went yesterday to
Creedmoor for extra rife practice The force out pur-
ported bo the right wing Of the Second brigade but
was, In reality, composed OF men belonging to both
wings and centre. The men had nearly all been out
before for ball practice, and two former OCCASIONS
when detachmens from this brigade appeared before
the butts they met with the misfortune yester
day-very wet weather. The majority Of the men had
already shot the regulation number OF rounds and
failed to qualify competitors for the right OF wearing
the Marksmans Badge
The regiments that had detachments out e:-The
Fifth, ninety eight men from various companies, under
Captain Lamb, Captain Bruer acting as inspector of
rife practice; the Eleventh. forty-eight men, belonging
to several companies under the command of Captain
Baldendecker Captain Brinds acting inspector OF
rifle practice the Eighty fourth thirty men, attached
TO different companies, in charge of Captain Mckinley
Captain Ackerman being inspector of rifle practice; the
Ninety sixth thirty-fo men, under the orders of
Captain Rodenbcrg who also acted inspector Of rife
practice.
The several detachments left Hunters Point on the
thirty-hve minutes past nine O'Clock A. NJ train for
Creedmoor, where they arrived in good time to begin
shooting at about halfpast ten O'Clock before the 100
yards bus This distance and the 5O yards were shot
over by half-past twelve O'Clock at which hour the
men were allowed to fall out of formation 60
tons. At this time the weather, which had been
cesslvely sutry and hot in the morning took
sudden change Banks of leaden colored clouds began
TO close overhead from the northwest the thermometer
fell rapidly, and the air became all at
chill and damp large drops Of ram were
shots along the skirmish line of an ad-
vancing army; sullen peas OF distant thunder
heard at intervals and soon arerward rain began to
come down in torrents. This a little before three
o'clock. The men, who had fred few shots at the 800
yards range, were Obliged to leave the firing points
and seek refuge under the rereshment booth near by
The number Of men in the different regiments who
had qualified by making fifty per cent OF their possible
highest at the two shorter to enable them shoot
at he two larger distributed among the different
corps out as follows:-The Filth regiment, fortytwo
men; the Eleventh, fortyeight; the Eighty fourth,
| nineteen; Ninety-sixth fifteen men.
This can by no means be taken as n criterion OF the
mems proficiency who made the required percentage Of
| hits to enable them 10 contest for the Marksman's
Badge. They had nearly all been unsuccessful at tho
ranges before and until after concluding the fir
ings at 400 yards (Which was done because of the
ran) it would have been impossible TO predict how
many of them could have made the required fifty per
cent Of the possible scores yesterday much less to
what portion of them might have succeeded to qualify
In the Marksman's Badge match. AT all
events, the percentage of successful marks
that the practice was altogether worthless excepting
for tho purpose of allowing tho RNkward squad in
bastics to burn an extra twentyefthrty rounds of am
munon per at the expense of the State and with
questionable benefit to themselves.
Colene Unbokant of the Eleventh regiment acted
Field officer of the day; Colonel W. +. Van Wyck,
Brigade Inspector of rifle practice directed the frngs;
MAJOR Earle of the General Staf, Second Brigade, APP
peared on special duty Surgeon Cook of the Eleventh
regiment acted medical STAG Officer and the Rev. Will
liam H. Buttner Lutheran) Chaplain, the mems
spiritual welfare The reverend gentleman appeared
in full military UNIFORM wearing belted sword and
captains shoulder straps, with silver embrod-
cred them between the bars 1t appears that Mr..
Buttner this most singular garb for Christian
clergyman at the bidding OF his commanding officer,
Colonel Charles Spencer, whose love of rigorous uni
forms is well known.
During the day good order preserved the field,
and the men seemed desrous of making good scores.
The united detachments returned to New York the
4:47 p NJ. train from Crcedmoor in drenching ram,
aud without having completed the practice