The Indianapolis journal., 1898-05-29
WHY AMERICAN GuNNERs WIN.
An Old Confederate Naval Fighter
Explains Their Success.
Baltimore American.


Baltimore American. ,o,. r,s
Mr.. John w. Reynolds, of 1891 Edmond
son avenue, a North Carolinian by olrtn
and formerly master at arms on the ceie-
brated Confederate ram Albemarie oe-
clares that the recent exhibition or Amer
lean naval gunnery at Matanzas is not the
first example of the natural skill OF the
blue jackets. Americans are naturally
born marksmen," said Mr.. Reynolds.
fact which history has long since demon
strated. Perhaps one of the most striking
explanations for their success is found IN
their superb courage. That invests them
with coolness and possession two
special qualities which are absolutely es-
Il have had large experience in heavy
contests with naval guns. When It is re-
membered that l was aboard the Albemarle
during the days of her career in 1864, 1t VIII
readily be understood what l have seen.
That boat. perhaps, engaged in the hercest
naval nav battles which have been fought IN IN
memorable conflict in Albemarle sound is a
sufficient illustration as to the character OF
her fights. That was an instance in which
the three qualities of courage, coolnesS, and
expert gunnery were vitally essential. The
situation was one of life and death. 1t was
slightest touch of confusion or wild excite
ment the most trivial inaccuracy in the
matter of craftsmanship, would have cost
a heavy loss in every detail.
LAS it was. there was displayed perfec-
ton of bravery and splendid dexterity IN
gunnery which proved the excellence OF
Confederate In fact, the general proWeSS
which that battle called forth demonstrated
to the world that the combined puissance
of an amcable American Nation would con-
stitute power utterly invinciDle. 1t clearly
disclosed that a union of Northern and
Southern forces, endowed with, their in
trepid pluck, and self-controled coolneSs
and calmness in battle would qualify the
Nation beyond the peradventure of doubt
Il understand the striking differences be-
tween gunnery to-day and what 1t was a
generation back. AT the same time, know
equally well that exactly the same qualities
which made a good gunner then contribute
to the same end now. A good American
knows no such thing as fear. The word
that reason, his nerves never become nut
tered with an excited anxiety. There is
nothing which more quickly destroys accu-
rate and deadly gunnery than either ner-
VouSness or excitement
There may not be much of the close
range firing in this contest such as we
In the first place, don't believe the Span
iards will suffer us to approach too close
to their boats. Nor do | apprehend much
only source of peril, if there be any at all
of consequence, will be found in the Spanish
torpedo boats. Their action in {, battle IT. is is
natural treachery of heart. They are boats
which seldom attempt to perpetrate their
havoc except under the cover Of darkness
or fog. Seldom will they be seen to charge
a boat under the clear sight OF unclouded
conditions. They will rather wait for dark
ness, for fog, or until a heavy curtain OF
smoke obscures and hides their maneuvers,
and then they will attempt to steal up and
strike some covert and stealthy blow. There
fore they need watching.
americans to-day and Americans of
thirty years ago are very largely, the same.
Our present age gunners, on board our
fleets, are compelled to handle large guns
and more complicated machinery. But the
same qualities which made the gunner of
the past are equally requisite for the gunner
of the present. And those qualities are con-
spicuous on every ship
''The condition has arisen in which I made
a prediction. and 1t is a prediction which
was made thirtyfour years ago, based on
experience not on mere speculation. have
stood in the midst of a storm of shot and
shell in which Americans alone were the
hurlers of the thunderbolts. 1 said then
that the world contained no race of men
whose capacity for victorious fighting could
parallel the United States. What l said
then 1 am now prepared to reiterate. Time
will soon show that when the American
guns are trained on the Spanish enemy and
American blood begins her united fight the
ultimate issue, with it's train of events, will
be a speedy triumph of the stars and
stripes Spain can never stand under our
American dash"