Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-24
The RifIe---Its Influence
In American History
D. Virgins

CASTLE with savoes of musketry on
the sands of little island in the Ba-
hamas, tine faint Of gunpOwder has
chung to the pages of the story of our
history. The investigation of some of
the clouds Of smoke may prove inter
esting.
1t was the crash of a cannon fired
from the leading vessel that annOunc-
ed to the expedition that the end Of
the voyage was reached. And it was
the thunder of the arquebuses that
filled the hearts of the gentle inhabi,
tants of the island with awe, and caus-
ed them to pray to the Good of thun-
der, ~ as they christened the weapons,
not to slay them.
Its pretty safe to affirm that if the
Conquistadores had depended on cold
steel we wouldn' be here today, for
the sudden death dealt by the fire
tubes of the strangers was a potent
charm to the Indians. They decided
that the holders of such fearful wea
pons were gods, belief that was soon
shattered.
Passing from the Spanish gold seek
ers to the English home seekers of
Massachusetts and Virginia, we still
find the gun their main dependence
for food and protection against saw
age beasts and men. The Pilgrim is
invariably pictured as going to church
with his fusil over his arm, but
when ye scribe sneakes his winchester
out of doors on the Sabbath he is new
er asked what the text was,
The rifle as we know it did not ap-
pear in any great numbers in America
ltill the dawn of the 18th century, the
first crude model being brought from
Germany, and subsequently improved
till the frOntiersman was satisfied to
trust his life to it in any danger. The
most noted of the arms OF those days
was the Deckard rifle, made by Ju-
Illus Deekard in a little shop in Penn
sylvania
The first forcibe injection Of
American shooting into national af
fairs came in the colonial wars with
France. The bOrderers on both sides
appear to have used the twisted gun
as il was called, with deadly effect OF
their antagonists, and the eageness Of
the European troops to charge the
buckskin clad men became noticeable
by its absence.
Perhaps the most noted body Of mer
in the French aud Indian War was the
corps commanded by James Rogers, ant
known as Rogers Rangers; their fame
as fighting men was second to none il
North America. Their operations were
principally on the northern New YOrh
frontier, and the French held them il
great fear. A favorte exercise among
riflemen of that day was the splitting
knife at fifty PAGES; the execution
done by such shots is better imagined
than described.
And then came the Revolution.
This struggle impressed upon th,
civilized world the fact that back
Iwoodsman equipped with his rifle wa
a good person to avoid when seeking
trouble. Man for man, he was far tn,
superior of the flower of European
soldiery.
Morgans Rifles, a Virginia regiment
was composed exclusively Of dead shot
and on the craftsmanship of one o
them an fisherman by the name o.
Tim Murphy, rests a large amount O
, the credit for the victory at Saratoga
! | will explain the statement this way
The battle Of Saratoga is recognize,
by all historians as the turning poin
in the struggle for independence, an'
, the loss of General Frazer was tn,
fatal stroke to the British arms.
Frazer, a Scotchman, was the direct
! ing genius Of the expedition, Aid t,
BurgOyne, he was the man who mad,
the plans for the great march, and at
u. tended to every detail. His was th
guiding spirit, for he appears to havu
been the only officer Of ability>in tn,
whole command.
During the fighting Frazer was di
D.. recting the movements Of his mel
T. from an exposed position when he wa
. niticed by Benedict Arnold ArnOl,
/ seems OF have known Frazer befor
+ the war, and to have recognized tn
q fact that upon Frazer depended tn
/ fate -5G the day. Riding under the trc
. in which Murphy and another wer
@ sniping the enemy, Arnold told the bii
- lrishman to bring down the officer b.
/. pointed out.
g Murphy used a heavy doubled bar
n relied rifle Of English manu'a:tur,
f With this weapon he shot Frazer at
Q lrange of four hundred yards, inflictiu
/ a mortal wound. Deprived Of thei
leader, the British surrendered am
$ American success was assured. SO {
i Murphy is the credit that our boys d
b not lie in unknown graves by the Can
t adians. "Somewherc in France. ~
j In those days ammunition was scare
s and expensive, musket balls were use
? as small coins and that eminent hi
torian Edgar w. Nye, says it was
frequent and joyous sight TO see tn
New England peasant making chang
with the red brother at thirty yards.
The Father Of his Country was
magnificent shot, and one Of his rifle
lis still treasured heirloom in th
Eastern States today. He is said {
have been able TO hold out musket a
y an ordinary man would q pistol am
: shoot well with the heavy arm.
The rifle, J may state here, was dis
: tineuished from the musket iu thos
day, By the fact that it was furnishe
. with grooves cut in the interior Of th
barrel, thus giving q twisting motto
to the bullet. Thi. gave it the grea