Originally published in The Literary Chronicle and Weekly Review (J. Limbird) vol.1 #27 (20 Nov 1819).
The talent of marksmen appears to have been held in considerable estimation, from the most remote ages of antiquity, and to have rendered its possessors, although rude or unwarlike, formidable enemies, and superior to the boldest efforts of personal prowess. Little David, the Israelitish shepherd boy, proved himself an overmatch for the gigantic champion of the Philistine host; his dexterity, as a slinger, rescued his country from impending thraldom, and raised himself to the regal authority. By the same uncouth means of missile vengeance, many people, of a mere rural character, maintained their independence against the attacks of regular armies, or because useful auxiliaries to them. Achilles, the overthrower of armies, became a sacrifice to the unerring aim of the coward Paris, and our English hero, Richard Cœur de Lion, unsuspectingly fell beneath the shaft of an obscure archer.
The annihilation of the Roman army under Crassus, by the Parthians, at the battle of Carrhæ, was owing to the expertness of the Parthians, as marksmen, aided by a superior knowledge of the ground on which they fought; and never did the Romans sustain so signal a defeat, as this from the luxurious Asiatics, whom they were accustomed to despise. The battle of Carrhæ may be considered as an epoch in the art of war; inasmuch as it proved, that however resistless the career of victory must be, in the hands of an army of superior force and conduct, over its adversaries in close fight, yet that, by the distant annoyance, and secret and partial attacks of men accustomed to the use of missile weapons, although less warlike, they may be so hemmed in, harassed, and reduced, as to be finally overpowered. Froissart relates that the Romans distributed slingers in their armies, procuring their most expert marksmen from the Belearic Islands, (Majorca and Minorca.) Diodorus Siculus relates, that in besieging a town, these slingers wounded and drove the garrison from the walls, throwing with such exactness as rarely to miss their mark; this dexterity they acquired by constant exercise, being trained to it from their infancy; their mothers placed their daily food upon the top of a pole, and gave them no more than they beat down with stones from their slings. In later times, the peasants of Brittany, taking part with the English in a battle fought in that province; between some English troops and the army of Louis D' Espagne, effected the overthrow of the latter, by assaulting them unexpectedly with bullets and slings.
Lieut. Col. McLeroth, late of the 95th, or rifle regiment, relates the following anecdotes of the skill of sharp shooters, and the inefficacy of ordinary musketeers.
In an action of some importance, a mounted officer of the enemy was on the point of being made prisoner; one only way presented itself, by which he had a chance of escaping; this was along the front of our line, within musket range; he embraced this alternative; and, although the whole brigade fired at him, both man and horse escaped with impunity.
Another fact, from the same authority, is equally curious.
In order to cover themselves as much as possible from the enemy's aim, at the siege of York town, our soldiers had each three bags of sand, to lay on the parapet; two of these were placed with their ends at a little distance from each other, and the third crossed over the interval, leaving a small loop-hole for the soldiers to fire through: the American riflemen, however, were so expert, that on seeing a piece protruded through the hole, they levelled towards it, and penetrating the opening, frequently shot his men through the head.