Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-08-08
ARMY SHARP SHOOTERS.
Competitive craftsmanship at Fort
Smelling.

Competitive Workmanship at Fort
Smelling.
An event of much interest to the
army and all interested in rifle prac-
tice will be the annual competition of
selected marksmen at Fort Smelling,
Minnesota, this month.
There are seven regiments serving
within the limits of the Department
Of Dakota, Gen. Terry commanding
There are ten companies in each regi
ment Of infantry and twelve in every
regiment Of cavalry Each company
annually sends to Fort Smelling one
enlisted man-selected by reason of
his skill in craftsmanship. In addi-
ton two commissioned officers from
each regiment are sent there. Includ-
ing the representatives from regiment
al bands and expert shots belonging
to the general staff Of the army, there
is thus concentrated at Fort Smelling
a battalion Of sharp shooters the
picked men Of their respective organ
izations.
Under the supervision of proper
range officers, practice begins about
August Sd at distances varying from
200 to 600 yards, and the competition
continues for about two weeks, at the
end Of which time the twelve best
shots are selected and constitute what
is known as the Department Team for
the Department of Dakota.
The Department of Dakota is sub
division of the Military Division of
the Missouri-Major General Scho-
field commanding. Gen. Schofeld's
command includes also the Depart
ment of the Platte, the Department
of Texas, and the Department of the
Missouri. From each of these four
departments a team Of twelve selected
experts in rifle practice is made up.
These forty eight men begin contest
at Fort Smelling in September and
the twelve best shots so determined,
make up the Division team. Later
on the team for the Division of the
Pacific, Gen. Pope's command, and
the team from the Division Of the At
lantic, General Hancock's command,
meet, and from these thirty-six men
is made up the army team for the
year.
Great interest is taken in these COM
petitions by the entire army, and the
War Department has adopted a very
liberal policy in the matter of prizes
for superior craftsmanship. These
tangible proofs of skill comprise med
ais, both gold and silver, sharpshoot-
er's crosses, marksman's pins and
buttons.
The buttons are neat devices repre-
senting target. They are about
seven-eighths Of an inch square, nick
el plated, and are worn in pins on the
coat collar.
It takes three years to earn marks
mans pin. The pin is about two
inches long and third of an inch
wide, made of silver, and is worn on
the left breast Of the uniform coat or
blouse.
To such as are fortunate enough to
attain the score of sharpshooter-
80 per cent. at all ranges up to 1000
yards-a handsome Maltese silver
cross is given. This is also worn on
the left breast, and taken in connec-
ton with the pin, make nice appear
ance.
Fifteen years ago the officers and
men of the army paid little or no at
tention to rifle practice, but within
the last four years daily practice,
April to October, with the rife has
been made mandatory, and we now
have the finest army of marksmen in
the world
Officers and men are trained in
shooting off-hand up to 200 yards,
kneeling OR sitting up to 800 yards,
and lying down at ranges up to and
including 1000 yards. They are also
practiced in what is known as skir-
mish drill. This necessitates firing at
unknown distances over unfamiliar
ground, the marksman being required
to run, halt, and about, run again, for
ward or back as the order may be;
halt again, about again, and SO on un-
til in all not less than ten halts have
been made. At no time does the skir-
misher approach to nearer than 200
yards to the target. Generally about