Thought for a moment that someone took the article from the Oct. 2006 issue of the NRA's "American Rifleman" and posted it as their own, but now I see that this was the researcher's pre-publication draft.
fyi
I was reading about that in "Undaunted Courage". He accidentally shot a woman with it.
Very cool. Thanks!
Wow!!!
Am a Lewis and Clark nut &c.&c., and this page is awesome. How in the *hell* do I save a webpage for offline viewing to include all the photos?
One thing to note, in the black powder age, a rifle could only be fired a few times before gunking up to the point of needing a cleaning patch run through it, making the idea of a repeating rifle problematical at best. An air arm clearly had no such limitation.
Interesting!
pimg...from the article:
"For one example:
Private Whitehouse noted in his expedition journal entry of August 30, 1804 when Captain Lewis demonstrated his airgun to the Yankton Sioux in the Calumet Bluff area along the Missouri River, apparently on the Nebraska side:
"Captain Lewis took his Air Gun and shot her off, and by the Interpreter told them there was medicine in her, and that she could do very great execution. They all stood amazed at the curiosity; Captain Lewis discharged the Air Gun several times, and the Indians ran hastily to see the holes that the Balls had made which was discharged from it. at finding the balls had entered the Tree, they shouted a loud at the sight and the Execution that was done suprized them exceedingly."
[authors comment] The Indians would not have been able to comprehend the gun shooting again and again and again without reloading - and without flash or smoke.. This would have been terrifying for the "execution" that it might do!.
And repeated dmonstration throughout the 'Discovery Journey', which was remarkably peaceful, give credence to the "peace through supior firepower' school of thought.
I recall reading that the only proven artifact remaining from the Lewis and Clark expedition is a stuffed beaver in a college museum. Now, it would appear, there are two.
It's staggering to think what this gun must be worth. Just as a wild guess, I would say ten million dollars if sold at auction.
Three cheers for Dr. Beeman for his intention to donate it to a museum. The Army War College may deserve a copy, but this gun really belongs in a place of honor in the Smithsonian.
-ccm
ping
I learn something new every day on Free Republic! The use of replaceable air cartridges for the gun is an amazingly advanced idea for that time. Fascinating article!
What a wonderful article on a forgotten piece of American history and, even more dazzling, a brilliant piece of historical detective work.
A long read but even the technical parts are absolutely fascinating.
Thanks for posting - a long read for a slow Sunday AM.
Lots of clever figures and other graphics, well worth the time. The fonts are a bit of a pain tho....
I'm a bit on the skeptical side about this story, but here it is, could be pingworthy. :')
Camping and Lewis and Clark
Miami Herald | Dave Barry
Posted on 08/20/2006 12:07:27 PM EDT by nuconvert
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1686921/posts
Ping, good read here.
OT - that would take care of your 'bushy-tailed varmints'.
