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 American National
Rifle Team.

The Eighth regiment Third brigade, First division OF
the State National Guard, sent wing yesterday to
Creedmoor under Colonel G. d. Scott There were 2l5
members present The officers and appeared in
light marching order The troop supposed to
been supplied with days ralions, and the regua.
ton number Of rounds Of ball cartridge to shoot
tho ranges prescribed by the general inspector of
riao practice. Owing 10 the want OF tarsct slabs or
for some other reason tho targets required bv the
standing orders were not available. There ought to
have been twenty targets ready for tho men, whereas
they really used but sxeen-that is ten on tho new
range and six that the left OF the old range;
two additional ones tha. were away the
right OF tho line Isolated among tho first
class butts having been shot at because
OF the great break which II would have been necessary
10 make in tho line. In consequences OF this want Of
targets to accommodate all Of the men, the practice
was so much delayed that when tho train lett Greed
moor al halipast i've O'Clock. many Of those who had
been shooting their second scores and some who
were finishing their records Tor the marks
mans badge, did not complete their ar
ings Out OF the total number of officers,
non.commissioned officers and rank and Tile the
firing points, rs qualified in the third class 600 and
$50 YARDS. When the special train containing the
troops started from Croedmoor II was found that Cap
tain Barker the rcgmental OF rifle practice,
had remained behind with tho records OF the
practice, and MAYOR Holland the brigade inspector
OF rifle practice, who directed tho frngs,
knew nothing about the number OF men who had quail
flied In the second 1rst classes Under these
cumstances II would be useless to print the scores 1t
the duty OF the brigade inspector OF rifle practice
to have secured on the ground all the details OF the
shooting anu also that OF Captain Barker to accompany
his regiment home from the practice ground.
Major Holland, in response TO question, said that
nc thing VIII not work ell until all the officers
capable Of acting as instructors OF rifle practice"
The officers have good opportunity OF learning
how 10 tho r,nc well II they shoot at the
time and place their men they neglect their
duties To the commands and there is other way lud
down for them 10 acquire a knowledge OF musketry
practice The why TO remedy this drawback Is Tor
division and brigade inspectors to realize TIE fact that
their duties embrace great many more matters than
merely riding horse on parade days or consolidating
reports OF practice when the troops whom they should
instruct before the Two smart non
commissioned officers tho proper parties to collect
and nsodate reports The TACT 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 the regulation
rlhe he should know tho theory and practice Of bals
tics and be well posted geometry tho nature and
position OF gunpowdor, and tho figure, specific gravity,
well tue KIND oil alloy best adapted for proJectes
should he familiar TO him. With these preliminary
studies and good knowledge OF military matters IN
general, embracing elementary tactics and military
administration, the rine inspector and instructor
would be useful officer Ho should establish classes
Tor the theoretical and practical study OF
kerry Tho brigade Inspectors, under the su-
perntondencc Of their division super0rs, should
carry these schools for officers only; and
the regimenal Instructions should do tho same Tor
tho comm stoned officers OF the corps which
they are attached Thon, with something OF a solid
basis 10 start from, we might expect 10 sec the reg
ments attending Creednoor make some progress in
the right direction, ana woild not, as was the
yesterday, witness tho men work without making
much headwny.