116 
!M!sLy 22 
THE BIFiE. 
The Team Personnel. 
“Who are the American team, where do they come from, how did 
they acquire their skill and prominence as riflemen,” and kindred 
questions, we hear on all bides as the interest in the ^at match 
grows closer. To answer these questions we have been at the pains 
of collating a brief biographical sketch of each, with a memorandum 
of his record at Crcedmoor in the matches there fought. It will be 
seen that they are in the main business men fiist and Amateur Shota 
by preference. There is not one professional shot among them. 
The majority date their induction to the rifle field as of very recent 
date. The same opportunity to take part in what is really a most 
entertaining sport is open to all, and we doubt not, that if they could 
be brought out, our counting rooms, our farms, our shops, our pro- 
fessions and every department of business would be found swarm- 
ing with good natural marksmen. 
HEXBY A. GILDERSLEEVE. 
Henry Alger Gildersleeve, the Captain of the Team, chosen by his 
fellow marksmen, equally as a mark of respect for the honorable 
bearing which he has uniformly sboum in the past, and as an earn- 
est that the team are fully confideut of his ability on the rifie field 
and in the reception room, to properly represent them. In appear- 
ance, he is a square-shouldered, solid set man, and when in uniform 
is said to be one of the most soldierly looking men in the ranks of 
the New York militia. His professional training has made him cau- 
tious in his way of treating subjects and he never allows himself to 
get excited. This habit of delay and consideration, even in trivial 
matters, has at times laid him open to the suspicion of “pipe lay- 
ing” In the minds of new acquaintances. On closer intimacy, how- 
ever, this coldness wears ofl and then his advice is very highly 
valued. 
He was bom in Dutchess County, N. Y., Aug. Ist, 1840, being the 
son of a farmer, the old gentleman still following that peaceful em- 
ployment. Our subject remained at the homestead until the break 
ing out of the great civil war, when like thousands upon thousands 
of other freemen in their own right, he went out as a soldier, pro- 
ceeding to PoQghkeepsie, near his home, and recmitiug a company 
of which he was elected captain, joined the 150ih RegL of N. Y. 
Volunteers, under Col. J. H Eeccham and young Capt. Gilder- 
sleeve left his native State to the cry of “On to Richmond!” This 
was in 1862. Until June, 1863, he and his regiment remained at 
Baltimore, and in the latter month were ordered to the army of the 
Potomac, of which Gen. Meade had jast taken command in place of 
Hooker. The battle of Gettysbnrg was fought by them, and on July 
27, Capt. Gildersleeve was detached from his command and sent 
north to Biker's Island, near New York, from which post be took 
companies of men to the front and to various other points where ad- 
ditional soldiers were needed. He rejoined bis regiment then form- 
ing part of the 20th Army Corps at Kenesaw Mountain; and until the 
end of the war he filled various posts of responsibility, being pro- 
vost marshal of different stations, and ae a member of the 20th 
corps remained with Gen. Sherman on his memorable “March to the 
Sea” through the heart of the confederacy. During his army expe- 
rience Mr. Gildersleeve was successively promoted to the positions 
of Major and Brevet-Lieut. Col. of U. S. Volunteers. At the end of 
the war, what remained of the 150th came home to Ponghkeepsie, 
and on June 12, 1865, Lieut. Col. Gildersleeve, with the rest of the 
command, was mustered from the service. He at once determined 
his choice of a life profession by entering Columbia College Law 
School in New York, and in two years thereafter was admitted to 
the bar. Since that event he has been very successful, gaining a 
lucrative position and line of business. In persoi^ habits he is 
very strict, smoking not at all, and during his entire^rmy experi- 
ence keeping clear of all drinking habits, and returmng home with- 
out a scratch or injury of any kind to his health . 
HU shooting experience, in which onr readers are most interested, 
really dates from the establUhmeot of Creedmoor. HU army ex- 
perience had not been in any way serviceable as regards sharp- 
shooting, and up to the opening of the spring of 1874 when the Irish 
match was to be prepared for, he had not fired twenty shots at long 
range, and had never hit a target at 800 yards or over. Upon set- 
tling in New York he had become connected with the 1st Division 
militia, and when the establishment of Creedmoor was agitated, he 
joined the movement as one of the incorporators, and has since held 
• rveral posts of much work and great responsibility in the National 
Rifle Association. At present he holds the post of Assistant Adju- 
tant on the staff of Gen. Shaler, having left Che Lieut. Colonelcy of 
the 12th Regt. to accept that position. 
His Creedmoor record dates from the spring meeting in 1873, 
when at 200 yards he stood 24lh man with a score of nine points in 
five shots. 
At the annual meeting in October, 1873, Col. Gildersleeve shot 
very liberally, being in almost every match. In the Judd match, 
200 yards, military rifle, he was seventh man with Id^points in a pos- 
sible 20, In the Sportsman match at 200 yards, any rifie, he was 
27th man with 13th points in five shots. In the regular First Di- 
vision match he was a member of the 12th Regimant team, and 
stood second man upon it, making 12 points at 200 and 16 points at 
500, or a total of 28 in a possible 40. With this he won sixth place 
on the prize list, taking a life membership with the National Rifle 
Association, being the first prize won by him at Creedmoor. In the 
Army and Navy match at 600 yards, he was second with 19 
points in a possible 28. At the All-comers’, 500 and 600 yards, nine 
rounds each, any rifle, he scored 22 and 17 respectively, or 39 in a 
possible 54 points. In the State Prize match he was the third man 
on the 12th Regiment team, making 11 at 200 and 13 at 500 yards, 
and in the Gatling match he rose to first man on his regimental 
team, with 22 in a possible 28 at 500 yards, military rifle. 
In other matches during 1873, his record U np to the average of 
the shooting then accomplished. In the Amateur Rifle Club 
matches at 500 yards, any rifle, he shot in the third and fifth 
matches, making 21 and 15 points in possible 2S'a. In the Turf, 
Field and Farm badge matches, he made 14 points in the third and 
15 in the fourth matches, out of a possible 20 each time. In the 
opening match for the Diamond badge, shot Nov. 15, 1873, Col. Gil. 
dersleeve stood sixth man with an aggregate of 46 in a possihU 84, 
Any rifle allowed. 
During the year 1874, Col. GildersleevcU naifle is met within 
almost every competition of any note. In the Directors’ match at 
200 yards, military rifle, he made 12 points’in a possible 20, standing 
second man, a rather suggestive commentary upon the shootin 
abilities of the Board. In the military short range match, similar 
conditions, he was more successful, making 14 points, bqt standing 
No. 17 on the list. In the military long range match at 500 yards. 
Col. Gildersleeve used a Sharps military rifle, and came out top 
man against 58 competitors, scoring 27 in a possible 28. Lieut. Ful- 
ton was second with a similar score, but had “ centre” for the last 
shot, while Gildersleeve's ••centre" was hU first shot, each making 
six successive bull's eyes. At the fall meeting of that year, he en- 
tered every match in which he was eligible. At the Judd match, 
200 yards, military rifle, he was 25th man. with a* score of 19 in a 
possible 29. In the Sportman's match, similar conditious, but any 
rifle, he made a bad mark, dropping down to 105th man. w ith a total 
of 15 in a poisible 28. In the military matches he came to the front 
again, shooting with his regimental team. In the First Division 
match, five shots at each distance, be made 13 at 200 and 18 at 509 
yards, winning the first individual prize of a $3*) medal and cash 
$25. In the New York State match he again led bU team with 14 
and IS points, making 32 in a possible 40. For this be received a 
doable prize, a liie membership in the National Riflo Association as 
the second best individual score in the whOie competition, .and a 
gilt Remington military rifle as the leading man in bU team. In a 
match confined to officers, he took third prize, an officer’s dress 
sword, with a score of 25 out 0140. In the Army and Navy match, 
seven shots at 500 yards, any military gun, in which the shooting 
was very fine, as Sharps guns w. r« admissible, he made 25 in a pos- 
sible 28, taking only fonrtli prize, a $30 silver medal and $10 cash. 
In the Gatling match, similar except a restriction to New York 
State model weapons, be took in prize, standing third on his team, 
which Was declared the victorious one. In the All-comers' match 
he is again in the prize list, taking third place, a $60 gold medal, 
with 22 and 26 out of 28 at 500 and 60 1 yards, respectively. Lathe 
Bennett long range match, in which the Irish, Americans and 
Canadians competed, under conditions similar to those of the Intcr- 
uational match. Col. G. made 143 points, taking a prize of $10. In 
the aggregate prize list. Col. G. took first prize, a $45 field glass, 
with 81 points in a possible 108, in the military shoot. In four of 
the Turf, Field atid Farm matches of the year, five shots at 200 
yards, his score stood 14, 15, 16 and 15. In the Diamond badge com- 
petition daring 1870, he klood 6th man once, with 36 points out of 
a possible 54. at 500 and 800 yards; next he stood fourth man with 
74 points in a possible.84, at 500, 800 and 10 0 yards. Again he was 
sixth man with a total of Qt ; then ninth man, total of 50. With the 
beginnfng of practice for places on the American team of Ur5, Cul. 
Gildersleeve's long range experience really begins. Out of a pos- 
sible 200 points at 800, 900 and 1000 yards, his four best scores out of 
the six competitive tests were 128. 131, 123 and 149, or less than an 
average of “ centres.” In the practice shoots of the team his totals 
were 131, 140, 142aDd 153 out of a possible 180 In the final test, on 
the 25th of September, Col. G. came out fourth man on the American 
team, w ith a score 155. His shooting during the present season has 
been folly recorded in the the Ron and Gun, and is familiar to our 
readers. In the coming match he will shoot a Sharps sporting rifle, 
at in his judgment the best. 
G. W. YALE. 
George Wooster Yale, another memoer of last year’s team, is a 
dowi right Yankee, hailing from the Nutmeg State, having been 
bom in New Haven some fifty odd years ago. He learned the trade 
of a blacksmith, and in 1845 entered the gun works of Eli Whitney 
near that city, remaining there two years. From that time Mr 
Yale’s life has been spent in the gun interest, making and shooting. 
He is thoroughly posted on all the improvements which have been 
made in small bore arms for the past thirty years, and has seen the 
growth of the breech-loading principle from its nnpretentions be- 
ginnings, to the superb Sharps shooting rifles, which he is now en- 
gaged in making. Upon leaving the Whitney works, he travelled 
into the depths of Yankeedom, working for several (years at Rob- 
bins, Kendall & Lawrence’s Gun works at Windsor, Vt. When the 
Sharps Rifle Company was started, in 1852, he became associated 
with it, and has remained attached to it ever since. His value as a 
superintending head to the rifle trade has been recogni zed in tempt- 
irg offers from other gun interests, but he has rejected them all, 
somewhat to his own pecuniary disadvantage. During the war, 
when the merits of the Sharps gun was recognized in very flattering 
terms, his company tamed out immense numbers, and Mr. Yale 
was kept busy for seme time, appearing before ordnance boards and 
commissioners, showing the working and merits of the weapon. 
Since the war the company have neglected to pnsb their rifle, and it 
has been apparently supplanted by more pretentions but really less 
meritorious arms. Under severe tests, however, it has always sns- 
tained its reputation, and as a military or sporting arm is to-day the 
acknowledged leading weapon. Mr. Yale has never been connected 
dither with the regular or volunteer army, though, like most coun- 
trymen, he has done some hunting, turkey and squirrel shooting. 
Since Creedmoor has been epened he has been there ofi'aud on, gen- 
erally travelling all night, shooting all day, and off home again to 
Hartford daring the next night to answer questions and generally 
look after the interests of his company. In appearance Mr. Yale is 
rather short, with a slight stoop. He has the peculiar Yankee drawl 
in his speech, and much of the down-east wit, and being able to 
look as far into a grindstone as any other man. He has kept pace 
with the new notions, always inventive enough to get over diffi- 
culties, and while somewhat neglectiul of inner points or fancy 
touches, he thoroughly understands the problem of rifle shooting 
in all its variations. 
During the first year at Creedmoor, 1873, Mr. Yale did not shoot 
very extensively. In the Amateur Rifle Club matches at 500 yards, 
any rifle, he was at three competitions, 3d, 9th, and 7th man, with 
scores of 24, 20, and 21, out of a possible 28. In the Turf, Field 
and Farm badge matches, he was 20th and 23d man, with scores of 
13 and 12, in possible 20'8. showing that as an off shoulder shot bis 
skill had departed since the days when be had distinguished him- 
self at 40 rod shooting, at the Fall meeting of 1873. he came out 
S9th man in the Judd match 200 yards, with but 11 points in a possi- 
ble 20, Military weapon. In the “Sportsman’s” match, same dis- 
tance, bat any rifle, he made 11 poinu, coming out 63d man. At 
the^All-comera match, any rifle, 500 and 600 yards he made 26 and 19 
respectively, or 45 in a possible 54, holding 6th place and winning 
his first Creedmoor prize of $5 Other sharpshooter’s champion 
ship, 800 and 1000 yards, 7 shots each, he was 7th man with totals of 
24 and 7, or 31 in a possible of $10. This shows how incapable 
Creedmoor then was of showing long range shooting, three of them 
above Yale, at that shoot being Canadians. In the Diamond badge 
match, Mr. Yale made but 66 in a possible 84, other 3 ranges 500, 
800, and 1,000 yards, standing 7th match. In 1874, Mr. Yale is first 
seen in the Military long range match 50o yards, 7 rounds being 
22d man, with a score of 18 in a possible 28. In the Bennet iiatcli 
an exact reproduction of the International in are its conditions Mr. 
Yale was 24th man with a score of 127 out of the possible 180. In 
the Diamond Badge matches of the year, 7 shot at 500, 800 and 1000, 
he made 47 and 56, out of the possible 84. In the Tujf, Field and 
Farm match at 200 yards he made but one score of 13. At one of 
his contests for the Remington Diamond Badge he stootl second on 
a score of 76, and entered his famous protest against the muzzle 
loading peculiarity of Lt. Fulton, which led that remarkable decis- 
ion of the board of directors, that a thing was both legal and illegal, 
at one and the same time. In the two contests of 1874 for the 
Amutenr Badge, won by Col. Bodine, at 500 yards, 7 rounds, Mr. 
Yale stood 5th with 24 points and 2d with 26 points. Mr. Yale shot 
in 6 of the 7 competitions for the long range Amateur Club badge 
making out of the possible 60 (5 shots at 800, 900, 100 1 yards) t6, 31, 
23 (two ranges only) 48, 37, and 43. In the competitions for place 
on the American team of 1S74, Mr. Yale won the 6th place on the 
preliminary arraignments with scores of 156, 149, 129, and 127, out 
of possible 200'8. In the 6 rehearsals of the team and ^e^cr^•e out 
of possible 160 Yale made 119, 131, 144, 150, 139 and 143 on the day 
of the International match being but little molested by questioners 
and having had a good night sleep, be surpassed every score that he 
had previously made, making a ran of 162 points and ocenpying 
second place. During the present season, he is again devoting him- 
self to shooting and business combined and irregoluar scores are the 
result. They will be found in our columns from week to week. 
R. C, COLEMAN. 
Roswell Carpenter Coleman is the new man on the team, even if 
Gen Hawley should go abroad. Mr. Coleman would be the only 
fresh blood which the great interest in rifle shooting caused by the 
coDtest of September last, has injected into the old team and re- 
serve. and he Is emphatically a product of that fight, as he himself 
says. If that match had not been fought, he would probably never 
have handled a rifle. 
Mr Coleman was born at Goshen, Orange Co., New York, in De- 
cember, 1840, but left that place and removed to N. Y. city, while 
yet a little fellow, residing in the metropolis until 1860; during this 
time he went the way of all New York boys, attending the pnblic 
school and pushing on Into the City college. At the age of 20, how- 
ever, he was impatient to be np and doing and returned to Goshen 
to the study of law there. In this atmosphere of law, for Orange Co. 
and Goshen, has served as the nursery of many great legal 
minds, Mr. Colman acquired bis craft and npou the completion 
of his studies settled down in the town of his birth to practice and 
build for himself a home. Being of a sanguine and active tempera- 
ment, lithe and vigorous of body, living in a healthy county he was 
ready aid quick at all manly sports and in conjunction with other 
young men in his neighborhood indulged freely in base ball prac- 
tice^he responsible post of •‘pitcher.” being assigned to Mr. C. As 
this American sport bad pass^'d almost wholly into professional and 
hence somewhat questionable hands, Mr. Coleman and friends 
dropped it, and were ready to embrace any other out of door sport to 
flU ap their days of sport and afternoons when professional duties 
were over. The International Rifle shoot came off at Creedmoor; 
like all other Americans, the Goshen men read, were interested, and 
asked one another, if this be so fine a spurt why not try it here. 
Beginning at short range a few small rifles were procured 
and the Leather Stocking Rifle Club was organized. Two hun- 
dred yards was l^e extent of their endeavors, and during 
the past winter they got much amusement from their newly adopted 
pastime. Some time after New Year's, Mr. Coleman, in view of the 
organization of the team of 1875, and aiming at something more pre- 
tentious than shoulder shooting, stepped down to New York and 
purchased a Remington long range rifle, aud with it 150 cariridges. 
It was admired as a piece of club property, the only one of the kind 
among them, and a range nearly up to 800 yards was meusurL-d 
across the meadows. With the first shot, Mr. Coleman almost took 
his jaw off and twisted the rifie sights into uncertainty in the recoil 
by trying the back posiflon. After this he carefully recoguizi^ tho 
fact that loug range and shoulder shooting were distinct systems of 
marksmanship. When the week for the first competition for piacca 
on tne 1375 team had come, ^Ir. Coleman had a majority of his car- 
tridges unburnt aud had not yet succeeded in hitting anything even 
at 800 yards. He, however, entered his name boldly at the head of 
the list of applicants for positions, aud on the day before the shoot 
he went quietly down to the range at Creedmoor aud put in a few 
shots at 800 and 900 yards, hitting the targets a few times aud “get- 
ting the hang of the thing.” Darkness coming on he took no prac- 
tice at loOO yards, and with this amount of practical rifle knowledge 
he came down the next morning to compete against the invincibles. 
Though he had but little knowledge of rifle manipulation, he had a 
clear eye, a steady hand, and these carried him along. Remember- 
ing his experience of the day before he shot passably well at 800 and 
900 yards, making 47 aud 51 points respectively. Recess was then 
taken, and the older riflemen welcomed him as a brother and 
thought they had at last captured one of the long talked of •‘re- 
serve fund of American rifle talent,” but Mr. Coleman had never yet 
fired a shot at 1000 yards, and he ate his lunch, thinking of the grand 
collapse of all his glory which was to come. With sight twisted out 
of uniformity with those of any other rifle on the ground, he coulu 
not ask assistance. He went up, and firing made a “miss.” Here, 
thenv was the end of all his efforts. His motto was “Excelsior,” 
and up again went the Vernier, and on the second shot a center re- 
warded him. He managed to get through his 1000-yard score, mak- 
ing 25 points with six misses and not a single bull. He was con- 
solingly told that he needed a little practice at 1000 yards, aud went 
home satisfied with a total of 1*28 points. It was then for the first 
time known at Goshen that he was trying for a place on the repre- 
sentative team. The comment of the elder Mr. Coleman to his son, 
who was discoursing wisely of **buirs eyes,” etc., deserves to be 
perpetuated.^ “Yes, yes, boy ; but you bad better have shot your best 
