Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-07-22
The first and Lat Guns.

The First and Last Guns.
The first gun fired was at Fort Sum
ter and the last was fired at Macon
Some interesting stories have been
published lately about the firing of
the last gun, and the statement has
been published that it has been done
at Columbus, Ga. The facts were as
eertained recently from Mr.. ID. E.
King. the commercial agent of the
Missouri Pacific Railroad, at Albany,
Ga. Mr.. King said:
II was in the Federal Army, and be-
longed to the First Ohio Cavalry. in
Gen. Wilson's command. We reached
Columbus, Ga, on April l., 1865, and
stayed there three days, after which
we marched to Macon.
while on the march we We're fired
on frequently by scouts or bush
whackers, and the advance guard,
after some little accommodating, would
return the shots and advance. l was
an orderly under Gen. Alexander, who
had charge of the advance forces, and
when we were within seven or eight
miles of Macon we We're met BY a
party of gentlemen, citizens from
Macon. who asked us not TO enter the
city, as an armistice had been de-
clared.
Il went myself to Gen Wilson and
notified him of what the delegation of
citizens said; he went forward and had
a talk with them. l was there and
overheard everything that was said.
Gen. Wilson said that he had not been
officially notified of the armistice, and
that he intended to esta blish his head
quarters in Macon that night.
HE told the citizens that he would
not allow his soldiers to disturb any
thing or anybody, but that his entrance
to the city would be peaceable. He was
informed that the Confederates had
forces stationed across the river from
Macon and beyond the railroad where
he would enter.
1--WE proceeded to the city. and after
entering it we could see the Confeder-
ate camp to our right. While march
ing through tine the streets, three shots
directed at our column came from the
COnfederates5 without effect, and we
proceeded on the march. This was the
last gun fired do not remember the
date we entered Macon, but it was be-
tweed the goth and 3Oth of April, 1865. :"
Atlanta Constitution.
Superior sharpshooting by Indian Troops.
Colonel Daniel W. Benhams report
of small arms practice in the Depart
ment of the Platte for the target year
1892 has been submitted.
The interest in Colonel Benham' s
report must center in that portion
showing the degree of efficiency ac-
quired by the Indian companies. Since
IF1f
included in the regimental figure of
merit, they are not classified in the re-
port with other troops. BY appended
figures it may be plainly seen. how.
ever. that they are abundantly able to
cope with the pale-face soldiers, and
that the figures of merit of the depart
ment would have been decidedly i'm
proved by their classification
Company |, Eighth Infantry. under
the instruction of Capt. p. f. Ray,
has six sharpshooters and sixteen
marksmen qualified. The company
has also seven first-class men, making
total of twenty-nine men classified
out of company of fifty-fve men, who
made 25.7l per cent at company
skirmish firing, 44.O6 per cent
at company volley firing, a col
lective figure of merit of 34.ss. and in
divldual figure of merit of 111.O3, and
a general figure of merit of r. %. The
twenty-five men not classified made
fairly good scores up to and including
600 yards. That the achievements Of
Capt. Rays company may be compared
with the records of other organizations
in the departments-there are nine or
CARNATIONS without a single sharp
shooter and thirty -six that have less
than his company. In the general
figure OF merit, 1895, this company
leads more than half the other organ
CARNATIONS. The other Indian organ
izations, Companies J. Second. Six
teenth, and Twenty-frst, and Troop
l., Sixth cavalry, did mot make the
necessary scores to advance them be
yond 600 yards, and they therefore
confined their practice 10 short and
mid ranges.
1t must be remembered that this is
new. experience of the red men with
the Springfield rife and that he is
totally ignorant of the adjustment Of
the sights. Omaha Morning World
Herald.