The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-03
QUICK WITH A PISTOL.
Capt. Hall On What Cavalry Might Do
With Revolvers,

Win hevolverS.
Wandering around Kingfsher in Okla
homa, the curious visitor notices in front
OF one OF the cavalry camps space encir-
cled with narrow path made by the
tramping of hoois, and wonders why this
circus-like ring should be there and moth
ing like it about the other camps. A ques.
ton, says the Kansas City Times, discovers
that Capt Hall, who commands the troop,
is pistol enthusiast, and requires his men
to practice snap shooting at tull speed reg
ularly.
Capt Hall is very interesting person.
atty. lie is Missourian, but has been
so long in the service that 'if asked from
whence he came" the answer would be
the army rather than Howard County, Mo.
In physique and nature he is almost the
ideal of a beau sabreur, allowing for the
contradiction that he entertains an antipa-
thy TO the saber. lie is rather tall and
apparently slender, but so firmly knit that
his strength is much beyond the ordinary.
In arguing for the abandonment of the
saber and the substitution of the revolver
he has TO advance against the protests OF
many old officers, who stick to the ancient
weapon OF the mounted soldier.
81 began TO consider the superiority OF
the modern pistol over the saber," he said
last week in his quiet way" some years
ago. The conviction that il is the best
possible weapon for cavalry was forced on
me as l studied the way TO get at the
highest possible efficiency for my troop.
With modern revolver fairly good shot
can deliver five destructive fires while the
best swordsman makes single destructive
STROKE. The swordsinan must be within q
few feet Of his adversary, while the re-
volveris accurate at long distances. Against
infantry armed with improved repeating
rifles the saber is at great disadvantage.
Under the conditions that confront the
cavalry in practical service here in the
United States, il is hardly more suitable
weapon than a tomahawk.
81 wish TO see tho saber discarded be.
cause rs long as II is retained the training
necessary to develop rapid and accurate use
OF the better weapon is next to impossible.
To secure the full benefit OF the revolver
in actual warfare, every individual SOL
der must be able to deliver fire with
certainty at full speed and in all positions.
This is a difficult art, rs anybody will see
who tries il. There is generally but one
instant in the act Of firing when the object
is covered, and that instant must DO used.
While speaking OF that ! may add another
advantage Of the revolver. The soldier
can use Il against an enemy approaching
from any direction except behind him ON
the left flank and skllful horseman and
trained shot can cover himself even there.
10 return, the training in both horseman-
Al IA Of N l..
thorough. Few men can discharge a
heavy army pistol with regular effect. The
recoil will cause an Oyershot, or haste will
cause understanding. II the forcfngcr Is
thrown too far over the trigger the pistol
will be pulled in the act Of firing 10 the
right, or II docs not catch the trigger
firmly enough the bullet often goes to the
left The man who is a dead shot with a
target pistol, or with a larger caliber, in
deliberate shooting may be the worst
bungler in snap shooting on horsebacl,
with such an arm as We must have in
service.
sin banding a revolver tho motion
should DO upward The object should be-
covered by raising the barrel TO the line Of
eight, not by lifting Il up and throwing IL
down. IL Is rs absurd 20 raise pistol
lANAi AillUN ~ uUNu on an
object rs 30 do the same thing on game
with shotgun. Ono who follows that
awkward style loses time and accuracy.
II he had TO defend his life against a really
quick shot he would lose II almost GER
tainly."
Capt Hall thon showed the correct
method OF handling the weapon. Taking
hammer pistol without cartridges he
/ asuW.V...l
pidity, the thumb catching the hammer
aud the weight OF the pistol cooking II In
the downward motion. The whole was
done with simple wrist movement, very
much In contrast with the elaborate
swinPings Of the ordinary amateur
Sin the Southwest" he resumed, ~
knew Billy the Kid, aud rather cultivated
his acquaintance for tho purpose Of getting
at the secret Of his killing 10 many mon
without getting shot in return. lie was
not very brave man, and not at all a mus.
cular one. Ills secret was an unriyalled
quickness in handling the revolver. There
WIS not n waste movement about his STYLE.
Almost quicker than the eye could follow
his hand would travel 10 his right side (by
the way. tell your Eastern friends when
they start for tho plains 90 never wear a
IANAtA hil AlAN i'AA rANN NNAtnH AAAtN
shoot Il with the left hand) draw the pis.
tol and fire ! can getat and use one with
tolcrablo quickness, but have made test
with him frequently. and he always WIS
able 10 fire two accurate shots before
could pull the trigger once. lie killed his
men by picking quarrel and insulting
them. He wotf1 wait until his adversary
started 10 draw his pistol, and then like
lightning get his own and shoot. Thus lac
always had a plea Of seli-dciensc. THU
OF the cool confidence in his skill whicL
would justify man in pursuing such a
course. Yet he could do Il and not bo a
brave man either. lie was really playing
n game In which lac was certain 20 win. II
was a sure thing.
Precisely tic same sort OF confidence Is
what | would like 10 have my men 10
have. OF course, not ono soldier In n
thousand could approach Billy's dcxtofity,
but all could be sure OF hitting n man at a
distance Of over fifty yards, no matter
whether the horses were quiet or on a
RIM ar pfuupiuU nhnut ~ laffaa tViii 10