1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters

1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters September 2, 1861, to September 6, 1864 USA 1861United States Union United States Army Sharpshooters Battle of Ball's BluffSiege of YorktownBattle of Fair OaksSeven Days BattlesBattle of AntietamBattle of FredericksburgMud MarchBattle of ChancellorsvilleBattle of GettysburgMine Run CampaignBattle of the WildernessBattle of Spotsylvania Court HouseBattle of Cold HarborSiege of PetersburgFirst Battle of Deep BottomSecond Battle of Deep BottomSecond Battle of Ream's Station John Saunders Captain William Plumer Captain thumb|Monument to the 1st Massachusetts Sharpshooters at Gettysburg The 1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters was a sharpshooter unit in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters was organized in Lynn, Massachusetts, and mustered in for three years service on September 2, 1861.Dyer 1908 1247 The company was originally recruited for Colonel Hiram Berdan's sharpshooter regiments. When the men were informed that they would lose their enlistment bounty, they declined to join Berdan's regiments and instead remained independent.Ellis 2012 5 Most of the recruits tended to be skilled workmen who were competitive shooters tending to be older than the average Union soldier, and these men also tended to be of the larger physical size.de la Roche 2016 3 They were armed with heavy, custom target rifles and Sharps rifles during their service.de la Roche 2016 3-4 Wieland 2011 188 The company was attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, II Corps, Army of the Potomac, but nominally operated with the 15th Massachusetts Infantry to July 1864, and with the 19th Massachusetts Infantry to September 1864.Ellis 2012 187 The 1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters mustered out September 6, 1864. Detailed service 1861 Left Massachusetts for Washington, D.C., September 2. Picket and outpost duty on the Upper Potomac River from Conrad's Ferry to Harrison's Island until October 20. Operations on the Potomac River October 21–24. Battle of Ball's Bluff October 21. At Harpers Ferry and Bolivar Heights until March 7, 1862. 1862 At Charlestown until March 10. Capt. John Saunders of Salem, MA commanding At Berryville until March 13. Movement toward Winchester and return to Bolivar Heights March 13–15. The Peninsula campaign (March 17-August 4) Moved to Fortress Monroe March 22-April 1. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. — Attached to Gorman's 1st Brigade, Sedgwick's 2nd Division, Sumner's II Corps, McClellan's Army of the PotomacDyer 1908 1247 Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, May 31-June 1. Seven Days before Richmond June 25-July 1. — Attached to Sully's 1st Brigade, Sedgwick's 2nd Division, Sumner's II CorpsDyer 1908 1247 Peach Orchard and Battle of Savage's Station June 29. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Battle of Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August 15. Movement to Alexandria August 15–28 To Centreville, Second Battle of Bull Run August 29–30. Cover Pope's retreat August 31-September 1. Battle of Antietam, September 16–17. — Attached to Gorman's 1st Brigade, Sedgwick's 2nd Division, Sumner's II CorpsDyer 1908 1247 — Supported II Corps attack, sniping at opposing officers and snipers. Captain Sanders killed with nine others. Moved to Harpers Ferry September 22 and duty there until October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 20. On Picket, Falmouth to 12 December — 9 December, eighteen men on muster roll. Captain William Plummer of Cambridge, MA, arrived with forty recruits and took command of the company.Ellis 2012 48 Battle of Fredericksburg December 12–15. — Attached to Sully's 1st Brigade, Howard's 2nd Division, Couch's II CorpsDyer 1908 1247 — Provided counter-sniper fire during construction of pontoon bridges and crossing 11 and 12 December. Set up positions on outskirts of city below Marye's Heights targeting artillerymen on the heights. 1863 "Mud March" January 20–24. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. — Attached to Gibbon's 2nd Division, Couch's II Corps, Hooker's Army of the PotomacGDG, Union Order of Battle, (2005) Maryes Heights, Second Battle of Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3–4. Banks' Ford May 4. Battle of Gettysburg, July 2–4. — Attached to Gibbon's/Harrow's 2nd Division, Hancock's/Gibbon's/Hays'After the death of General Reynolds, General Hancock was assigned to the command of all troops on the field of battle, relieving General Howard, who had succeeded General Reynolds. General Gibbon, of the Second Division, assumed command of the corps. These assignments terminated on the evening of July 1. Similar changes in commanders occurred during the battle of the 2nd, when General Hancock was put in command of the Third Corps in addition to that of his own. He was wounded on the 3rd, and Brigadier General William Hays was assigned to the command of the corps.U.S. War Dept., Official Records, Vol. 27/3 461 - Correspondence from HQ Army of Potomac to Major-General Hancock, July 1, 1863, 1:10 p.m. (13:10) p. 461 II Corps, Meade's Army of the PotomacU.S. War Dept., Official Records, Vol. 27/1 158 - Organization of the Army of the Potomac, Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, U. S. Army, commanding, at the battle of Gettysburg, July 1–3, 1863, pp. 155-168GDG, Order of Battle, (2002)NPS, The Army of the Potomac at GettysburgDyer 1908 1247 — "Arrived morning 2 July, positioned at rock wall on the north end of Cemetery Ridge, several squads were detached and sent to different parts of the line. Cleared out Confederate snipers occupying Bliss farm. In late afternoon, when II Corps retook Bliss farm, a squad went with them to snipe from the farm. No losses 2 July. On 3 July, unit dueled with Confederate snipers in buildings in Gettysburg facing Cemetery Hill and Ridge. During Pickett's Charge, unit concentrated targeting on officers. Suffered four dead, three wounded."Elmore, First Company Massachusetts "Andrew Sharpshooters" at Gettysburg Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13–17. Bristoe Campaign October 9–22. — Attached to Webb's 2nd Division, Warren's II Corps, Meade's Army of the PotomacDyer 1908 1247 Battle of Bristoe Station October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock, Second Battle of Rappahannock Station November 7–8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. — Attached to Morehead 3rd Brigade, Webb's 2nd Division, Warren's II Corps, Meade's Army of the PotomacDyer 1908 1247 Robertson's Tavern or Locust Grove November 27. 1864 Morton's Ford February 6–7. Picketing Rapidan River until May 1. The Overland Campaign May 4 – June 24. — Attached to Webb's 1st Brigade, Gibbon's 2nd Division, Hancock's II Corps, Meade's Army of the PotomacDyer 1908 1247 Battle of the Wilderness May 5–7. Laurel Hill May 8. Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, May 8–21. Po River May 10. Assault on the Salient at Spotsylvania Court House May 12. Battle of North Anna River May 23–26 Line of the Pamunkey May 26–28. Battle of Totopotomoy Creek May 28–31. Battle of Cold Harbor June 1–12. — Attached to McKeen's/Haskell's/Pierce'sAssigned June 4, 1864 1st Brigade, Gibbon's 2nd Division, Hancock's II Corps, Meade's Army of the PotomacDyer 1908 1247 Before Petersburg June 16–18. Siege of Petersburg June 16-July 12. — Attached to Pierce's 1st Brigade, Gibbon's 2nd Division, Hancock's/Birney's II Corps, Meade's Army of the PotomacDyer 1908 1247 Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road June 22–23. Demonstration north of the James River July 27–29. Battle of Deep Bottom July 27–28. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14–18. Ream's Station August 25. Casualties The company lost a total of 39 men during service; 3 officers and 21 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 15 enlisted men due to disease. Commanders Captain John Saunders - killed in action at the Battle of Antietam Captain William Plumer Armament thumb|Sharps Model 1852 "Slanting Breech" Carbine, open for loading, two primer-tapes thumb|Sharps rifle in .50-70 Government. Throughout their service, the company was armed with custom, muzzle-loading target rifles equipped with telescopic sights running the length of the barrel. The larger than average physical size of the unit members proved an asset in carrying these weapons.de la Roche 2016 3-4 These target rifles were a mix of heavy bench rifles and lighter out of hand rifles. Hawkins and Morgan James were among the manufacturers of these rifles. Starting at Antietam, they also carried Sharps riflesCoates Dean 1990 34 in the field firing over the iron sights.Marcot Marron Paxton Carter 2019 325 The Sharps Rifle was produced by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut.Flatnes 2013 123–125 Sellers 1978 1-4 Smith 1943 1-20 The Sharps made a superior sniper weapon of greater accuracy than the more commonly issued muzzle-loading rifled muskets. This was due mainly to the higher rate of fire of the breech loading mechanism and superior quality of manufacture, as well as the ease of which it could be reloaded from a kneeling or prone position.Wieland2011 188 See also American Civil War United States 15th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 19th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 20th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry List of Massachusetts Civil War units Massachusetts in the American Civil War Notes/References Footnotes 50em Citations References 50em Civilwarhome - Gettysburg Union order of battle Civil War Trust - Gettysburg Union order of battle Coates Earl J. Dean Thomas S. An Introduction to Civil War small arms Thomas Publications Gettysburg, PA 1990 0-939631-25-3 755158350 https://archive.org/details/introductiontoci0000coat June 21, 2023 registration de la Roche Roberta Senechal "Our Aim was Man": Andrew's Sharpshooters in the American Civil War University of Massachusetts Press Amherst 2016 978-1-62534-248-5 1012309482 https://books.google.com/books?id=1tzFDAEACAAJ June 21, 2023 Dyer Frederick Henry Frederick H. Dyer A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Dyer Pub. Co. Des Moines, IA 1908 8697590 09005239 https://archive.org/details/08697590.3359.emory.edu/page/1769/mode/2up?view=theater en PDF August 8, 2015 25, 157, 337, 1247 B01BUFJ76Q registration Eicher John Harold John H. Eicher Eicher's Ultimate Gettysburg Order of Battle Gettysburg Discussion Group December 18, 2002 http://www.gdg.org/Research/OOB/EicherOOB.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20110927005034/http://www.gdg.org/Research/OOB/EicherOOB.htm September 27, 2011 GDG, Order of Battle, (2002) June 21, 2023 Ellis Alden C. Jr. The Massachusetts Andrew Sharpshooters: A Civil War History and Roster McFarland & Company, Inc Jefferson 2012 978-0-7864-6489-0 817056582 https://books.google.com/books?id=bZGcngEACAAJ June 21, 2023 Flatnes Oyvind From Musket to Metallic Cartridge: A Practical History of Black Powder Firearms The Crowood Press Ramsbury, UK 2013 978-1-84797-594-2 858312818 https://books.google.com/books?id=U4p8AwAAQBAJ June 21, 2023 Marcot Roy M. Marron Edward W. Paxton Ron Carter David Sharps Firearms. Volume I: The Percussion Era Northwood Heritage Press Tucson, Arizona Sharps Firearms 2019 978-0-9787769-9-2 1099575324 https://books.google.com/books?id=sZ3NvwEACAAJ June 21, 2023 Sellers Frank M. Sharps firearms Beinfeld Pub. North Hollywood, CA 1978 978-0-917714-12-2 4037315 https://books.google.com/books?id=Xt1cewAACAAJ June 21, 2023 Smith Winston O. The Sharps Rifle: Its History, Development and Operation 1943 William Morrow and Company New York, NY 1965 https://books.google.com/books?id=fKBTnQEACAAJ June 21, 2023 U.S. War Department Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Department of the East. June 3-August 3, 1863., Part I - Reports U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, DC 1889 The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies XXVII-XXXIX-I 155–168 857196196 2027/coo.31924077699761 U.S. War Dept., Official Records, Vol. 27/1 U.S. War Department Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Department of the East. June 3-August 3, 1863., Part III - Correspondence, etc. U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, DC 1889 The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies XXVII-XXXIX-III 53–55, 461 857196196 2027/coo.31924077700262 U.S. War Dept., Official Records, Vol. 27/3 Wieland Terry Gun Digest Book of Classic American Combat Rifles https://books.google.com/books?id=k_VdJewva78C&pg=PT188 2011 Krause Publications Iola, Wisconsin 978-1-4402-3017-2 188 Elmore Tom First Company Massachusetts "Andrew Sharpshooters" at Gettysburg - Gettysburg American Civil War Forums March 28, 2018 https://civilwartalk.com/threads/first-company-massachusetts-%E2%80%9Candrew-sharpshooters%E2%80%9D-at-gettysburg.144393/ June 21, 2023 Elmore, First Company Massachusetts "Andrew Sharpshooters" at Gettysburg Union Order of Battle Gettysburg February 14, 2005 http://www.gdg.org/research/OOB/Union/gburg_un.html https://web.archive.org/web/20190911000946/http://www.gdg.org/research/OOB/Union/gburg_un.html September 11, 2019 GDG, Union Order of Battle, (2005) June 21, 2023 The Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg Gettysburg National Military Park U.S. National Park Service December 20, 2022 https://www.nps.gov/gett/learn/historyculture/aop-orderofbattle.htm NPS, The Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg June 21, 2023 Further Reading Bowen James L Massachusetts in the War 1861–1865 1889 Springfield, MA Clark W. Bryan & Co 862–865 1st en PDF https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_K0tLhkfW1wwC August 8, 2015 registration 02014318 1986476 Federal Publishing Company Military Affairs and Regimental Histories of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, And Delaware Federal Publishing Company The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States, 1861–65 – Records of the Regiments in the Union army – Cyclopedia of battles – Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. I 1908 Madison, WI https://archive.org/details/unionarmyhistory01madi/page/60/mode/2up 694018100 PDF 176 Hall Charles Winslow Regiments and Armories of Massachusetts. An historical narration of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. With portraits and biographies of Officers, past and present, etc. I 1900a Boston W.H. Potter & Co. 559765857 https://archive.org/details/regimentsarmorie02hall en PDF August 8, 2015 registration Hall Charles Winslow Regiments and Armories of Massachusetts. An historical narration of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. With portraits and biographies of Officers, past and present, etc. II 1900b Boston W.H. Potter & Co. 559765857 https://archive.org/details/regimentsarmorie02hall en PDF August 8, 2015 registration Headley Phineas Camp Massachusetts in the Rebellion: a Record of the Historical Position of the Commonwealth, and the Services of the Leading Statesmen, the Military, the Colleges, and the People, in the Civil War of 1861–65 Walker, Fuller & Co Boston, MA PDF 1866 8406829 https://archive.org/details/massachusettsin01headgoog en August 8, 2015 266–268 registration Higginson Thomas Wentworth (State Historian Massachusetts in the Army and Navy During the War of 1861–65 I Wright and Potter Printing Co, State Printers Boston, MA 1896 1049652105 34, 50–55, 72–79, 92–103, 115–130, 137, 147–151, 230–231, 565–569 https://archive.org/details/massachusettsina01higg/page/230/mode/2up en PDF August 8, 2015 registration Higginson Thomas Wentworth (State Historian Massachusetts in the Army and Navy During the War of 1861–65 II Wright and Potter Printing Co, State Printers Boston, MA 1895 02014316 1049652105 176, 183–184, 226, 235 https://books.google.com/books?id=kyETAAAAYAAJ en PDF August 8, 2015 registration Johnson Robert Underwood Buel Clarence Clough Robert Underwood Johnson Clarence Clough Buel Robert Underwood Johnson Clarence Clough Buel The Opening Battles The Century Company Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: Being for the Most Part Contributions by Union and Confederate officers: Based upon "The Century War Series" I 1887 New York City 784 https://archive.org/details/cu31924031044385/page/n10/mode/2up 48764702 Johnson & Buel, The Opening Battles Battles and Leader, vol. I (1887) Johnson Robert Underwood Buel Clarence Clough Robert Underwood Johnson Clarence Clough Buel Robert Underwood Johnson Clarence Clough Buel The Struggle Intensifies The Century Company Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: Being for the Most Part Contributions by Union and Confederate officers: Based upon "The Century War Series" II 1887 New York City 786 https://archive.org/details/cu31924031044393/page/n8/mode/2up 48764702 Johnson & Buel, The Struggle Intensifies Battles and Leader, vol. II (1887) Johnson Robert Underwood Buel Clarence Clough Robert Underwood Johnson Clarence Clough Buel Robert Underwood Johnson Clarence Clough Buel The Tide Shifts The Century Company Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: Being for the Most Part Contributions by Union and Confederate officers: Based upon "The Century War Series" III 1887 New York City 778 https://archive.org/details/cu31924031044401/page/n8/mode/2up 48764702 Johnson & Buel, The Tide Shifts Battles and Leader, vol. III (1887) Johnson Robert Underwood Buel Clarence Clough Robert Underwood Johnson Clarence Clough Buel Robert Underwood Johnson Clarence Clough Buel Retreat with Honor The Century Company Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: Being for the Most Part Contributions by Union and Confederate officers: Based upon "The Century War Series" IV 1887 New York City 778 https://archive.org/details/cu31924081314753/page/n10/mode/2up 48764702 Johnson & Buel, Retreat with Honor Battles and Leader, vol. IV (1887) Stevens Jesse F Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War Norwood Press Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War in Eight Volumes 2 1st 1931 Norwood, MA 205-213 31027863 11485612 en PDF https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/50883 December 15, 2021 External links 1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters monument at Gettysburg Category:Military units and formations established in 1861 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1864 Category:Units and formations of the Union army from Massachusetts Category:Sharpshooter units and formations of the American Civil War Category:1861 establishments in Massachusetts