The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-07
THE RIFLE.
National Guard Ball Practice
at CreedmOOr.
PREPARING FOR THE CONTEST
Dudley Selph and the AoseeicaN National
Rifle Team.

Tho Eighth regiment Third brigade, First division OF
the State National Guard, sent wing yesterday to
Crcedmoor under Colonel G. d. Scott. There 215
members present. The officers and men appeared In
light marching order The troop were supposed TO have
been supplied with days raIions, and the regula'
ton number of rounds OF bail cartridge to shoot
tho ranges prescribed by the general inspector of
rife practice. Owing 10 the want OF tarset slabs or
for some other reason tho targets required bv the
standing orders wore not available. There ought to
have been twenty targets ready for men, whereas
they really used but sixteen-tbat ton on tho new
range and six that ON left OF the old range;
two additional tina: away on the
right Of tho line isolated among tho first
class bntts having been shot at because
OF the grent break which would have been necessary
10 make in the iine In consequences Of This want OF
targets TO accommodate all Of the men, tue practice
was SO much delayed that whom tho train LETT Creed
moor halt past i've O'Clock, many OF those who had
been shooting their second scores, and some who
were anishing their records for the marks
mans badge, did not complete their Mr.
ings. Out OF tho total number of oiBcers
non.comMissioned oficers and rank and Tile at the
firing points, lis qualified In the third class 600 and
15o YARDS. When the special train containing the
troops started from Croedmoor II found Cap
tain Barker the regmenal instructor OF rifle practice
had remained behind with the records OF the
practice, and MAJOR Holland, the brigade inspector
OF rifle practice, who directed tho frings.
knew nothing about tne number Of men who had quail
flied In the second FIRST classes Under these
cumstances II would be useless to print the 1t
was the duty OF the brigade Inspector OF rifle practice
to have secured the ground Ill the details OF the
shooting ana also that Of Captain Barker to accompany
his regiment home from the practice ground.
Major Holland in response TO a question, said that
tno thing Will not work veil until all the officers
capable of acting as Instructors Of rifle practice"
The officers have good opportunity OF learning
how 10 use tho rac well. II they shoot at the same
time and place az their mon they must neglect their
duties to the commands and there Is other way uid
down for them TO acquire a knowledge OF musketry
practice The way to remedy this drawback is Tor
division and brigade inspectors to realize the fact that
their duties embrace great many more matters than
merely riding horse parade days consolidating
reports OF practice when the troops whom they should
Instruct are before the butts. Two threo
commissioned officers tho proper parties collect
and consolidate reports. The OF being merely good
shot Is only one qualification for an Inspector or
instructor; he should be thoroughly acquainted with
the mechanism and nomenclature Of tho regulation
rhe he should know tho theory and practice Of bas
ucs, and be well posted IN geometry tho nature and
position oil gunpowdcr, ana tho hgure specific gravity,
should he familiar to him. With these preliminary
studies and good knowledge OF military matters Ia
geherat, embracing elementary tactics aud military
administration tile rifle inspector and instructor
Tor the theoretical and practical study OF mus
kerry Tho brigade inspectors, under the su.
perntcndenco Of their division superi0rs, should
carry on these schools for officers only; and
the regimeDtal instructions should do tho TOR
tho commissioned officers of the corps 10 which
they attached. Then, with something OF a solid
basis TO start from might expect see the regi-
ments attending Crecdmoor make some progress in
the right direction, ana woald not, the case
yesterday witness tho men work without making
much headwny