Not tryin to stir up the hornet's nest agin', with this post..
But there are a few researching historians that belong to this forum, that might be interested in this documentation. Basically, it brings the revisionist argument back to 1812. Sure many historians won't be satisfied until we document Rifleman back to at least 1780. However, I have a lead on a letter written to Geo. Washington that predates the war and speak to the return of his personal "rifle"...during a conflict.
Anyrate...
From William Duane's "Origin of the Rifle Corps" in A Handbook for Riflemen (1812)
"2 - ORIGIN OF THE RIFLE CORPS
Rifle corps called also Sharp-shooters and Tirailleurs, sometimes Chasseurs a pied, and Yagers, and also Voltigeurs, and Eclaireurs, according to the service upon which they are employed; owe their rise and importance to the American revolution. They were the creation of accidents, but of accidents, proceeding from natural circumstances, and became important from actual experiment, before they were adopted into military establishments.
In the war of the American revolution, the use of rifle men was demonstrated and, soon improved upon by those European officers, who had, by being allies or enemies of America in the contest, witnessed the effect of the desultory and direct fire with smooth barrels at Bunker's hill, with rifle barrels at Saratoga, and in all the subsequent actions of the revolutionary war.
The habits of life of the American farmer and the early necessity of self defence against the rude men of the wilderness and the beasts of the forests ; gave the rifle gun or grooved carabine, a preference over the plain fusil or gun ; it was found more certain in its execution than the smooth bore of the fowling piece, and firelock by those who were always armed.
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But there are a few researching historians that belong to this forum, that might be interested in this documentation. Basically, it brings the revisionist argument back to 1812. Sure many historians won't be satisfied until we document Rifleman back to at least 1780. However, I have a lead on a letter written to Geo. Washington that predates the war and speak to the return of his personal "rifle"...during a conflict.
Anyrate...
From William Duane's "Origin of the Rifle Corps" in A Handbook for Riflemen (1812)
"2 - ORIGIN OF THE RIFLE CORPS
Rifle corps called also Sharp-shooters and Tirailleurs, sometimes Chasseurs a pied, and Yagers, and also Voltigeurs, and Eclaireurs, according to the service upon which they are employed; owe their rise and importance to the American revolution. They were the creation of accidents, but of accidents, proceeding from natural circumstances, and became important from actual experiment, before they were adopted into military establishments.
In the war of the American revolution, the use of rifle men was demonstrated and, soon improved upon by those European officers, who had, by being allies or enemies of America in the contest, witnessed the effect of the desultory and direct fire with smooth barrels at Bunker's hill, with rifle barrels at Saratoga, and in all the subsequent actions of the revolutionary war.
The habits of life of the American farmer and the early necessity of self defence against the rude men of the wilderness and the beasts of the forests ; gave the rifle gun or grooved carabine, a preference over the plain fusil or gun ; it was found more certain in its execution than the smooth bore of the fowling piece, and firelock by those who were always armed.
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