EDITOR'S WELCOME TEXT

HALLO TO ALL VIEWERS AROUNDS THE WORLD.WELCOME TO ONE SHOOT ONE KILL BLOG.I MAKE THIS BLOG COZ I WAS INTRESTED ON SNIPER OR MARKSMAN HISTORY.COZ I'M THE NEW ONE,IF ANY MISTAKEN OF FACT PLEASE COMMENT ME.THANKS TO ALL VIEWERS.

ETYMOLOGY


The term sniper was first attested in 1824 in the sense of the word "sharpshooter".The verb "to snipe" originated in the 1770s among soldiers in British India where a hunter skilled enough to kill the elusive snipe was dubbed a "sniper".

During the American Civil War, the common term used in the United States was "skirmisher". Throughout history armies have used skirmishers to break up enemy formations and to thwart the enemy from flanking the main body of their attack force.They were deployed individually on the extremes of the moving army primarily to scout for the possibility of an enemy ambush. Consequently, a "skirmish" denotes a clash of small scope between these forces.In general, a skirmish was a limited combat, involving troops other than those of the main body.The term "sniper" was not in widespread use in the United States until after the American Civil War.

The term "sniper" has been used in more serious tones especially by media in association with police precision riflemen, those responsible forassassination, any shooting from all but the shortest range in war, and any criminal equipped with a rifle in a civil context. This has rather expanded the meaning of the term. It has also given the term "sniper" mixed connotations. Official sources often use more positive connotative terms to describe snipers, especially for police snipers: "counter-sniper", "precision marksman", "tactical marksman", "sharpshooter", "precision riflemen", and "precision shooter". Some of these alternatives have been in common use for a long time; others are closer to undisguised euphemisms.

SNIPER OR MARKSMAN

A sniper is a highly trained marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles. In addition to marksmanship, military snipers are also trained in camouflage, field craft, infiltration, reconnaissanceand observation techniques.

4/14/10

7. Revolutionary War Snipers 

It's not out of line to say that the United States owes its independence to a sniper. 

No, really. Here's how the history played out. 

The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. And one of the major turning points in the battle was when sniper Timothy Murphy shot and killed Gen. Simon Fraser of the British army on Oct. 7, 1777. 

Murphy, a rifleman in Morgan's Kentucky Riflemen, hit Gen. Fraser at a distance of about 500 yards using one of the famous long-barreled Kentucky rifles. 

The United States owes its independence to yet another sniper -- not because of a well-placed shot, but because of a shot not taken. 

During the Battle of Brandywine, only a few months before Murphy killed Fraser, Capt. Patrick Ferguson, had a tall, distinguished American officer in his iron rifle sights. The officer had his back to Ferguson, and the sniper thought it would be ungentlemanly to take the shot. 

Only later did Ferguson learn that George Washington had been on the battlefield that day.(Taken from military channel)
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