Evening star., 1942-09-24
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory. Field
And Study
BIZ Thomas X. Henry.

And Study
By Thomas r. Henry.
The worlds first breech- loading rife
now is in the collection OF the Smith
sonian Institution.
1t was the personal weapon OF Maj.
Patrick Ferguson of the list Highland
ers, and was used against Colonial troops
at the battle of Kings Mountain, North
Carolina, in 1880. Several hundred
of his troops probably carried similar
arms.
But Maj. Ferguson was the inventor
Of the piece. His own gun, beautifully
made, comes close to the original Of an
invention that revolutionized ordnance.
1t did not pass into general use for at
least quarter century after Kings
Mountain. Armies notoriously are con-
servative. In those days they were
especially slow to accept new ideas and
few years later were protesting over
the poor craftsmanship of Napoleon in
not sticking to conventional methods of
warfare.
When the United States Government
accepted a breech- loading rifle in 1872
1t is unlikely that the inventor ever had
heard of the unfortunate Maj. Ferguson.
The Scotch major was a favorite of
Lord CORVALLIS. He presented the rifle
to fellow British officer, grandfather
OF Gen. Watts de Peyster of Civil War
lame, who presented it to the Smith
sonian. The rifle has a 31-inch barrel
rif1ed with eight grooves. One great ad-
vantage. especially stressed by the In
ventor, was that it could be equipped
with bayonet without hampering the.
loading operations and used both as a
nr1ng and stabbing weapon ut the same
time.
Maj. Ferguson long had an unsavory
reputation In American history and his
name is coupled with that OF Tarleton.
This was largely unjust, Gen. de Peyster
nelo, and he cited letter in the Fergu-
son family archives to show that once he
deliberately spared the life of George
washington when the American COM
mander was at his mercy.
writing to relative in England. Mat
ferguson said: I'VE had not lain long
when rebel ofncer, remarkable bv a
huzzar dress, passed toward our army
Wlthln 100 yards Of our right flank, not
percelvlng U.S. He was followed by an
otner dressed in dark green and blue.
mounted on good bay horse, with a
remarkable high cooked hat. I ordered
tnree good shots to steal near to them
ana fire at them, but the idea disguised
me and recalled the order.
The huzzar in returning made a cir
cult but the other passed within 100
yards OF us. upon which advanced from
the woods toward him. Upon my calling
ne stopped, but after looking at me
proceeded. again drew his attention
ana made signs to him to stop, levelling
my piece at him. but he slowly continued
his way.
"As I was in that distance which in
the quickest firing could have put half
dozen balls In or about him before he
was out OF my reach, I had only to de-
termine; but 1t was not pleasant to fire
at the back OF an unof1ending individual
who was acquitting himself very cody
OF his duty, SO let him alone.
The day after had been telling the
story to some wounded officers who Law
IN the same room with me, when one of
our surgeons who had been dressing the
wounded rebel officers came in and told
us that Gen. Washington was all the
morning with the light troops and only
attended by huzzar officer in huzzar
dress and he himself dressed and mount
ed in every way as above described.
am not sorry did not know at the time
who it was"
Maj. Ferguson was reputed to be the
best shot OF his day in Great Britain.
He could draw pistol out of the holster
with his left hand, throw 1t in the air,
catch 1t as 1t fell, and shoot the head
of bird nearby.
He was commissioned an officer at the
age Of IA, and saw service In France and
Germany. His next military experience
was as q member of an expedition to
put down an Indian insurrection in
Tobago in the West Indies. His right
arm was shattered at the battle of
Brandywine, when he is supposed to have
spared the life of Washington AL
legedly, he was not in favor with Sir
William Howe, who welcomed the oppor-
tunity to disband his riflemen and to
return to military stores the remarkable
weapons with which they were armed.
Upon his recovery, however, Maj. Fergu-
sons command was restored.