SPORTS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
A9
SHOOTING THE BREEZE
Berdan’s sharpshooters
D
uring the War
Between the States,
our first units
of special forces were
formed. Founded by Col.
Hiram Berdan, the First
and Second U.S.
Sharpshooters were
assembled primar-
ily for scout and
sniper applica-
tions against the
Confederacy.
These were the
first United States sol-
diers to wear green uni-
forms in place of the con-
tinental blue. Unlike the
regular infantry whose
uniforms were designed
to attract attention, Ber-
dan’s men needed to
blend in with the land-
scape. Even the buttons
on their coats were made
out of black Goodyear
rubber instead of brass so
as to not betray them by
sunlight reflection. Reg-
ular infantry were armed
with the 1861 Spring-
field musket, while these
“sharpshooters” were sup-
plied with the 1859 Sharps
breechloading rifle made
in Hartford, Connecticut.
These rifles used
.52-caliber bullets in
paper cartridges, which
were inserted into the
breech and as the shooter
closed the action, the
breech block neatly sliced
off the rear of the paper
cartridge, exposing the
powder to the chamber.
After priming with a per-
cussion cap, one was
ready to fire. While not
nearly as quick of a reload
as the later self-contained
metallic cartridges, these
were a major improve-
ment over any muzzle-
loading design. This fire-
power proved to be a
force multiplier should
they need to engage mul-
tiple targets as they were
nearly always outnum-
bered and behind enemy
lines.
In 1861, training and
qualifications were held.
All men in the out-
fit had to be able
to place 10 con-
secutive shots, all
fired from the off-
hand position into
a bullseye 200
yards away. Their
group could measure no
larger than 10 inches
wide, or to say it another
way, their hits could land
no farther than five inches
away from dead center of
a 10-inch bullseye or they
did not make the cut.
Now I’m not sure I
know many modern day
riflemen who could do that
even with our contemporary
equipment, much less black-
powder rifl es with open
sights. In my experience we
have come to rely upon our
bench rests and bipods just
a little too much these days.
If you’re up for a challenge,
this is defi nitely worthy. See
if you can keep 10 shots in
10 inches at 200 yards fi ring
off hand.
Any way we can improve
our marksmanship skills is a
worthy endeavor. You may
never need to employ your
skills as Berdan’s sharp-
shooters did, but you never
know what kind of opportu-
nity you’ll get in the woods.
Are you going to be qualifi ed
enough to make those tough
shots? Practice up. Could
you make the cut in the Ber-
dan challenge?
Are you a history buff ?
Write to us at shootingthe-
breezebme@gmail.com!
Dale Valade is a local
country gent with a love
for the outdoors, han-
dloading, hunting and
shooting.
Contributed photo
Bailey McCracken dominated in the girl’s cutting competition in Hermiston. She’s pictured here at a previous barrel racing com-
petition.
Grant Union dominates at
rodeo competition in Hermiston
By Steven Mitchell
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant County youth cleaned
up at the Hermiston High School
Rodeo competition April 16-17.
Grant Union’s Sam McCracken
and Bailey McCracken took the top
spots in the boys and girls cutting
competitions.
Cow cutting is an equestrian
competition where a horse and a
rider demonstrate before a panel
of judges both the horse and rider’s
ability to handle cattle.
Sam McCracken fi nished with a
time of 73, while Bailey McCracken
fi nished with a time of 71.
Another Grant Union student,
Jack Strong, placed third in bull
riding. Strong fi nished with a score
of 39.
Sarah Clark participated in poles
and barrels and had a nice pole run
in the fi rst round.
Sam McCracken brought home
the state title in cow cutting at the
Oregon State High School Rodeo
State Finals in Prineville. In June,
he fi nished in the top third in
reined cow at the National High
School Finals Rodeo in Guthrie,
Oklahoma.
Last year, Bailey McCracken
took fi rst place in average time in
barrel racing. She fi nished with an
18.07 in her fi rst go-round and an
18.10 in her second.
Clark fi nished fi nished in the top
10 in pole bending, a timed event
where a rider runs a weaving pat-
tern around six poles arranged in a
line. Clark fi nished with a 22.17.
The next Oregon High School
rodeo will take place in Prineville
April 30 to May 2.
Grant County to have high school
sports but with diff erent guidelines
SPORTS
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 28
Grant Union/Prairie City
softball vs. Pilot Rock,
2 p.m., 4 p.m.
Blue Mountain Eagle
Regardless of whether the
state moves Grant County to
either the high or extreme risk
levels, the county will continue
to have high school sports this
week.
Grant Union Principal Ryan
Gerry said the high school would
have some new guidelines to fol-
low for sporting events if they
were to move into high or extreme
risk levels.
In the extreme risk level, the
state’s guidelines cap attendance
at 50 people. The Oregon Health
Authority allows outdoor full-con-
tact high school sports.
In the high risk level, outdoor
full-contact sports are allowed
with a submitted plan.
According to OHA’s sec-
tor-specifi c guidelines, congregate
homeless sheltering, youth pro-
grams, child care, K-12 schools,
higher education, drive-in oper-
ations and current collegiate,
minor League, semi-professional
and professional athletics operate
under sector-specifi c guidance for
all risk levels.
Contributed photo/LindseyWyllie.com
Sam McCracken chases down a cow at the state
competition over the summer. McCracken took
the top spot at the boys cutting competition in
Hermiston.
Navigate
Spring
Showers
Safely
Thursday, April 29
Grant Union golf @
Heppner Invite, Willow
Creek CC, 11 a.m.
Prairie City, Long Creek,
Grant Union track and
fi eld @ Burns Invitation-
al, 4 p.m.
Oil Change Special
Oil & Filter
Friday, April 30
$26.48
Grant Union golf,
pre-districts @ Birch
Creek Golf Course,
11 a.m.
Grant Union dance
team, 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 1
Eagle fi le photo
Grant Union/Prairie City Prospector Jordyn Young hits the ball in the second-round state
playoff game against Lost River in 2019.
Monument track and
fi eld @ Condon, 11 a.m.
John Day
Auto Parts
Grant Union/Prairie
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