Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1898-05-20
WHY AMERICAN GUN
NERS WIN.
The Old Confederate Naval
Fighter Explains Their
Success.

1
Mr.. John w. Reynolds, of I ,S3l
Edmonson avenue, North Car
Gilman by birth and formerly
: Master at arms on the celebrated
Confederate ram Albemarle, de
clares that the recent exhibition
of American naval gunnery al
| Matanzas is not the first exam
pie of the natural skill OF the
bluejackets.
"Americans are natural born
marksman," said Mr.. Reynolds
a fact which history has long
since demonstrated Perhaps
one of the most striking expla-
nation for their success IS found
il their superb courage. That
invests them with coolness and
self possession, two special quail,
tiles which are absolutely essen
tial.
I have had large experience
in heavy contests with naval
guns. When it is remem bered
that l was. aboard the Albemarle
during the days of her career
in 1904, it will be readily un>
derstood what I haye seen. That
boat, perhaps, engaged in the
hercest naval battles which
have been fought III the last half
century. Reference to the
memorable conflict in Abe
marie Sound is a sufficient il
lustration as to the character of
her fights. That was an in
stance in which the three qual>
tiles of courage, GOODNESS and
expert gunnery were virtually es
sential. The situation was one
of life and death. 1t was one of
which the least trepidition, the
slightest touch Of confusion or
wild excitement, the most triv-
ial inacuracy in the matter of
Workmanship, would have Gauss
ed a heavy loss in every detail.
LAS it was, there was display
ed a perfection of bravery and
splendid dexterity in gunnery
which proved the excellence of
American Workmanship, both
Federal and Confederate; in fact
the general prowess which that
battle called forth demonstrated
to the world that the combined
puissan &C of all anicable Amer
lean nation would constitute a
power utterly inviucible. 1t
clearly disclosed that union of
Northern and Southern forces,
endowed with their intrepid
pluck, and self possessed cool
ness, and calmness in battle,
would qualify the nation beyond
the peradventure of doubt to
successfully combat the best ma
vy7afloat.
II understand the striking
differences between gunnery
today and what it was gener~
alton back. At the same time I
know equally we'll 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 timidity is to
him an unfamiliar term. For
that reason his. nerves become
tluttered with an excited anXi-
ETY.. There is nothing which
more quickly destroys accurate
and deadly gunnery than either
nervousness or excitement.
There may not be much OF
the close range firing in this
contest such as we endured DUR
in the days of the civil war. In
the first place l do not believe
the Spaniards will suffer us to
approach too close to their boats.
Nor do Iapprehend much danger
from the play of Spanish guns
Our only source of peril, if
there be any at all of conse,
quence, will be found in the
Spanish torpedo boats. Their
action in battle is strickingly i'll
harmony with thc Spaniard's
natural treache1y of heart. They
are boats which seldom attempt
to perpetrate their havoc except
under the cover of darkness
OF fog or until heavy curtain
of smoke obscures and hides
their manouvres, and then they
will attempt to steal up and
strike some covert and stealthy
blow. Therefore they need
watching.
"Americans of today and
Americans of thirty years ago are
very largely the same. Our
present age gunners on board
our fleets, are compelled to han
die large guns and more compli
Gated machinery. But the same
qualities which made the guns
ners of the past are equally req
uisite for the gunner of the
present. And those qualities
are conspicuous on every ship.
The condition has arisen in
which 1 made prediction, and