TARGET PRACTICE.
In the United States, as in the Armies of other Countries, no instruction of any importance was given the soldier in the use of his arms, before the introduc tion of the rifle-musket. The old smooth-bore in fact, in its method of sighting, actually stood as the exponent of the inaccurate firing of the weapons of its day; with no reztr sight the front sight alone did not permit of any accurate aim; yet sufficient perhaps for the very limited precision of the aim itself. When the rille-musket was generally issued in 1854, it was recog„nized that the Army re quired careful instruction in its use before the capabilities of the arm could be properly developed; General Scott therefore published in General Orders in De ceit-11)er cif that year, for the information and guidance of the troops, a letter from the Chief of Ordnance, in which that officer stated, that as all the sights were marked for ranges of zoo, 300, 400, 500, Goo and 70o yards, he would suggest that the practice be held at those distances, five shots to be fired at zoo yards, seven at 300 yards, nine each at 40o and 5oo, and to each at Goo and 70o yards. Other practice was recommended at intermediate distances for which it was sug gested that the slide on the sight might be adjusted, or in case of slight differ ence, by the soldier taking a finer or coarser sight. That it was presumed that targets would be employed, is evident from the letter, though as to their size, shape and any details of construction the order is silent. No method of instruc tion was prescribed, every detail being left to the discretion of the company offi cer, who, in the general lack of knowledge on the subject, was no better informed than the War Department. As might have been presumed under these circum stances, very little instruction of any nature was imparted, and it soon became evident that further measures were necessary. Fifteen months later, or in March, 1856, the General-in-Chief issued a circular stating that from the representations made to him of the lack of skill on the part of most of the men then in the ranks, and with a view to their improvement in firing with ball cartridge, he proposed ordering a more general practice in that important branch of military instruction.
Officers were therefore required to communicate to him at an early day, their views on the subject, and to state whether in their opinion the practice should be weekly, monthly, or quarterly; what number of rounds per man should be al lowed under ordinary circumstances at each practice; under what regulation should the practice be conducted and what inducements to acquire skill should be held out, together with such further suggestions as their knowledge and expe rience should enable them to furnish.
The replies to this circular, from their great dissimilarity, slight comprehen sion of the subject, and paucity of practical suggestions, did not afford sufficient material upon which a system of instruction could be based, and no further prog ress was immediately made.
In October, 1857, Captain Henry Beth, loth Infantry, was directed to draw up a system of "Target Practice with Small-arms." Captain Heth was furnished with the replies received under General Scott's Circular of the preceding year, and with the different foreign publications on the subject. The system which he submitted was adopted by the Secretary of War on March t, 1858. In his pre face, Captain Heth states that his system is chiefly a translation from the French "Instruction provisoire sur le Tir," which, in fact, he would have recommended with little or no change if schools similar to the French Schools of Musketry had existed in our service. He also used the reports on the subject that had been rendered by Major T. Williams, 4th Artillery, and Brevet .Major Fitz-John Por ter, Adjutant-General's Department, and further acknowledged valuable aid and assistance from Lieut.lian McAllister, Ordnance Department.