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Welcome Shooter, to the July edition of The Liberty Pole, Project Appleseed’s newsletter. We have a great issue lined up for you this month. As always, "Shooters! Your Preparation Period Begins Now!" |
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Words from the Founding Fathers |
"Our unalterable resolution should be to be free."
Sam Adams
Letter to to James Warren
1776 |
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In each issue of our newsletter, we highlight one of our events. In this issue, we want to showcase a recent event in Laramie, Wyoming from June 9 to June 18, 2023. What some people are fondly calling the "Laramie Wyoming Memorial Circus". a 10 day combination Pistol Cllinic/ Instructor Boot Camp/ Rifleman Boot Camp (which includes shooting Known Distance)/ 25m Rifle Clinic. And the weather conditions were challenging. Rifleman weather.
Below are some words from the Shoot Boss, Captain.
"Laramie 6-23 is officially over and it was an event for the record books. The Laramie Rifle Range welcomed 39 Appleseeders, families and kids from eleven states (Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming)! The LRR opened a field on the range for camping and most of the participants brought tents and campers for the duration; 23 campers and 1 shower! To give you an idea of the size of the event, Wyoming is the least populous state; 39 in Wyoming is equivalent to nearly 1400 in Florida or 1900 in Texas! We were able to count 14 youth and 14 ladies who took part in the event! Altogether, 16 shooters shot Rifleman, 4 shot Pistoleer, 5 qualified KD, 4 Cold Bore Shots, and one requaled distinguished. Inconceivable!
It was the longest continuous Appleseed in history; four events back-to-back for 10 straight days of Liberty, History, Shooting and Camaraderie. Laramie 6-23 kicked off with a Pistol Clinic on Friday and rolled right into an IBC/RBC combination (with a one day overlap). The Boot Camps were followed by a regular Two Day 25m Rifle Event where each Appleseeder had a chance to put their skills to work passing on the skills of marksmanship and igniting those bushfires of liberty.
It was the highest Boot Camp in the world; the Canyon Range at LRR rises to over 7500 ft! The effects of high altitude and dehydration were felt by many. Laramie weather in June is normally dry with cool nights and hot days and the famous Wyoming wind. However, weather in the high country is always unpredictable and this year was exceptionally wet and cold. We had nighttime temps down near 40, sleet, rain, thunderstorms and even a funnel cloud. The wind didn't make an appearance until the last day of the event.
Before continuing with the comments and pictures, we must give a special recognition to LRR. The club is amazing and exceptionally supportive of the Appleseed mission. Our "local boots on the ground" is RegularGuy. He spent the months leading up to the event arranging classrooms and ranges; smoothing things over with the board and answering a ton of questions from participants. Colonial Shooter is the Appleseeder who started the Wyoming tradition, and we raised a toast in his memory"
Click HERE to view the full After Action Report. |
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July's History Article:
Captain Daniel Morgan |
On 14 June 1775, Congress "Resolved, That six companies of expert riflemen, be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia… [and] as soon as completed, shall march and join the army near Boston, to be there employed as light infantry, under the command of the chief Officer in that army. “
The Virginia House of Burgesses chose Daniel Morgan to form one of these and serve as its captain. He recruited 96 men in ten days and assembled them at Winchester on 14 July. He then marched them to Boston, Massachusetts in only 21 days, arriving on August 6, 1775.
Daniel Morgan was born in 1735 to James and Eleanor Morgan in New Jersey. Both sets of grandparents were Welsh immigrants. Aside from this, little is known about his childhood, as he avoided talking about it to anyone.
His naturally abrasive personality irritated one British Lieutenant who struck him with the flat of his sword. Morgan, the brawler, knocked him out with a single blow. He was court-martialed and sentenced 500 lashes. He joined the British army after this as an Ensign, the only rank available.
He was ambushed taking a dispatch to his commanding officer. His escorts were killed, but even though he took a bullet to the back of his neck that knocked out several teeth on his left jaw and exited through his cheek, Daniel Morgan survived. However, he carried a bad scar for the rest of his life. He spent the rest of the French and Indian War fighting against the Indians on the frontier and learning their guerrilla tactics.
By the time the Revolutionary War began, Daniel Morgan was 40 years old. He had become proficient in Indian fighting tactics and was an excellent marksman with a rifle. He was assigned to Benedict Arnold’s invasion of Canada. After General Montgomery was killed and General Arnold was injured, Morgan took command of the troops until he was forced to surrender and was taken as a prisoner of war.
After eight months, he was freed under the condition that he would not fight against the British until the Americans released British soldiers of war. His actions in Quebec earned him a promotion to colonel and he was given a special light infantry of backwoodsmen like himself, meant to defend the riflemen in close combat.
They really shone during the Saratoga campaign. Sent north to strengthen General Horatio Gates ‘position in Albany, they saw action near Freeman’s Farm. Morgan directed his troops with turkey calls, and they surrounded the British troops. The riflemen specifically targeted the officers (considered dishonorable) and gunners manning the artillery. Their harassing the British troops and killing officers, according to British General Burgoyne, eventually led to mass desertions of soldiers and Indians and forced British surrender.
In his report to Congress, Gates declared that “too much praise cannot be given the Corps commanded by Col. Morgan.” Many historians believe he did not get the credit he deserved for his actions there. In spite of his excellent performance, he was passed over for promotion to Brigadier General. He took this very personally and resigned from the Army.
He stayed in retirement until he was asked to join the southern campaign against Lord Charles Cornwallis following General Gates’ defeat in Camden, SC., and he was promoted to Brigadier General. Daniel Morgan’s reputation preceded him. When General Nathanael Greene sent him to flank General Cornwallis, Cornwallis sent Banastre Tarleton‘s infamous Tory Legion in pursuit. Many soldiers wanted a crack at Tarleton, and Morgan was happy to have his turn. He chose to meet the British soldiers at Cow Pens.
Morgan’s previous experience with the British gave him a significant advantage over the Tory Legion, because he knew how they would react. He also knew the terrain better. On January 17, Morgan separated his men into three lines of defense. He divided his militia into two groups and positioned them behind the crest of the hill. They were to fire twice and then retreat behind the Continentals 150 yards back. He hid his reserves, the cavalry, knowing that Tarleton would attack head on. Thanks to a mistaken order, the British pressed forward, and seeing the retreating militia, believed they had won. The hidden cavalry surrounded the British and the British surrendered.
“A more compleat victory never was obtained,” exclaimed Morgan following his success. Many call this battle at Cowpens his “tactical masterpiece.” It was also his last major battle, as he retired shortly afterward due to a severe back pain, most likely sciatica. But he was happy in the knowledge that he had played a decisive part in the two most important moments in the war: Saratoga and Cowpens.
Click HERE if you want to join in the discussion on the forum. |
This month's article is another one from our archives. It comes from a Master Instructor and also our founder, Fred.
If you've been to an Appleseed, you've prob heard of this - the Rifleman's Dance.
It's something every rifleman must do.
Key is the interaction of the rifleman-target relationship with the rifleman's goal of hitting the target.
The goal is to hit the target. More precisely, to increase the probability that the shot is going to hit the target.
We have a number of sayings in Appleseed. Every one of you has heard "the rifleman persists" one.
Others are "a rifleman fires every shot as if it were a sighter shot" and "a rifleman fires every shot rapid fire".
The first gets at the notion that you fire every shot like it's gonna provide valuable info for the next shot (which it will) - so you fire the shot as precisely as you can - BUT - and this is a big "BUT" - you also, after firing the shot, and calling it, look downrange to see what you can see. If you can see the impact of the bullet - whether hole in the paper, 'splash' in the form of dirt, dust, or mud being kicked up, or target reacting - then you integrate that info into the next shot, if one is needed.
To illustrate in a concrete and familiar setting: On the tough Stage 4 of the AQT, on those itty-bitty "400-yard" targets, a rifleman will do the Rifleman Dance. He HAS to, because the targets are small in relation to his 4 MOA group, and he can't afford to have the group off-center, even a little.
Which means...
- [A Rifleman] fires that first shot carefully - like it's a sighter shot, which it is.
- He calls the shot - because if he doesn't, he has to recycle and fire a 'good' shot. You do not adjust anything on a bad shot. You adjust on a good shot.
- So you call the shot "good", then look downrange on the target. If you don't see any changes, any "flyspecks" that weren't' there before, good. Your shot went into the silhouette, which is why you can't "spot" it. (A word here about vision: you will, if you keep at it - if you persist :) - soon develop acuteness of vision you never thought you'd have. The mind and body are wonderful in meeting demands you place on them. You never had the need to spot a .30 or .223 hole at 25m, so as a result, you can't do it now. But, if you start trying, you will find that, over time, you will start to see 'the flyspeck' of a shot out 'in the white'. And if you persist past that, you can start to see, not a flyspeck, but the hole itself. So if you try the Rifleman Dance, but can't spot the hole, KEEP AT IT - you'll develop the ability.)
- If you spot a flyspeck/hole, say at 6 o'clock, and you called the shot 'good', you better do something. Like change your sight picture (since you're firing your shots rapid fire, you don't take time to make a sight adjustment - simply, in this case, put the front sight higher into the black. If you started aiming at 6 o'clock, move up to Center of the Target (COT) for the next shot).
Develop this pattern, and stick to it: Fire a good shot, call it good, look downrange to spot the shot, then adjust as needed to make the next shot a better one. Simple as '1 - 2 - 3 - 4'...
It's called the Rifleman Dance. If you do the dance, you hit the target.
So, you do the dance.
Because you want to hit the target.
That's the only reason you fire the shot...
Read the full thread HERE. And please, I urge you to take part in the discussion yourself and share your own experiences. |
NEW PRODUCT!!!
The Project Appleseed Tumbler!
Enjoy the introductory price of $20.99 for our NEW 20 oz Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Tumbler with the Project Appleseed logo. Choose from Red or Blue. Get one now!
Features: Stainless steel construction; Double-wall insulated; Keeps beverages hot or cold for up to 12 hours; Tapered bottom fits most cup holders; Clear plastic push-on lid with sliding drink opening; Hand wash only; BPA Free & FDA certified. Click HERE to buy yours today! |
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NEW PRODUCTS!!!
Rifleman and Pistoleer Velcro Patches!
Velcro Backing. Available in olive drab green, tan or purple - 2.5" W 1.875" H
Pistoleer & Rifleman patches are for those who have earned that level. Purple patches are normally earned at Lady Seed events.
Get yours today for only $5!
Click HERE to view our special Items page for great items only available to those who have qualified Riflemen and Pistoleers. |
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We have TONS of upcoming events lined up all across the country. Below are just a few of the special interest events that we want to mention. Reserve your spot today!
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Want to Support Project Appleseed? |
If you'd like to support Project Appleseed, there are plenty of ways to do so.. You can buy tickets, buy store items, or make a 100% tax deductible donation. We accept and are appreciative of all donations. Of course, the thing valued above all is time. Volunteers; those that can give up their time and help us out, in whatever capacity it may be, are what this program runs on. |
Thank you! Let's stay in touch! |
I hope you enjoyed this issue of Project Appleseed's, " The Liberty Pole". Please follow us on the social media links below and keep an eye on our schedule for future events to stay up to date about Project Appleseed. Lastly, if you would like to reach out to the editor, please send an email to newsletter@appleseedinfo.org. Thank you again for taking the time to read this newsletter and especially for being a part of Project Appleseed.
In Liberty,
Roswell "Ross" Crutchfield
Project Appleseed - a 501(c)3 Organization
Lead Newsletter Editor
Designated Shoot Boss |
Copyright 2023 © by The Revolutionary War Veterans Association (RWVA®). All rights reserved. |
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