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Written by: David Minshall
The first of four competitions for places on the team to represent the United States in the International Match at Dublin set for June 1875, took place at Creedmoor Range on 24 April 1875. The match commenced at 11am., with the entry of twenty contestants. Each was to fire 15 shots at each distance, 800, 900 and 1,000 yards.
Col. Bodine was absent, having sent word that pressing business engagements would prevent him from entering. He had previously decided to stand upon his last year’s score, so was not be required to practice regularly. Gen. Shaler exercised a general supervision over the competitors.
A “chopping” wind that blew during the day increased in violence in the afternoon. Fortunately, the contestants completed their forty-five rounds ten minutes before the storm came on in all its violence. Dakin came out ahead, with a score of 146 out of a possible 180 points, and thus demonstrated his ability to maintain his average scores. The other members fell considerably below their average scores of the previous season, Capt. Henry Fulton scoring third and Col. Gildersleeve fourth in the list of competitors.
The aggregate scores of those who took part in this first competition were: Gen. T.S. Dakin 146, Gen. J.R. Hawley 143, Capt. H. Fulton 135, Col. H.A. Gildersleeve 130, R.C. Coleman 123, Capt. L.C. Bruce 122, H.S. Jewell 121, A.V. Canfield, Jr. 120, G.W. Yale 120, L.M. Ballard 117, J.S. Latimer 109, E.H. Sanford 107, P.G. Sanford 100, G. Crouch 100, J.S. Conlin 98, A.J. Roux 90, J.E. Whitley 88, E.H. Raymond 86, L. Backer 77, J. Holland 84.
The second of the four trials competitions was set for 28 April
