U.S., American Civil War Regiments, 1861-1866 Regiment: Co C 1st SS Company Michigan Date of Organization: 26 Aug 1861 Regiment State: Regiment Type: Regiment Number: Michigan SS Co C 1st MICHIGAN Berdan's First and Second U. S. Sharpshooters. It was during the summer of 1861 that this organization was commenced, on the proposition of Hiram Berdan of New York, and which was to be composed of companies of picked men from the loyal states. The purpose being to bring together the best marksmen possible of the North and to arm them with the most reliable rifle made. With such men so armed and thoroughly equipped, it was believed that in the line of special servicethat of sharpshooting and skirmishing-they would become invaluable to the Union cause. The proposal of Colonel Berdan having been accepted by the government, printed circulars were issued by the adjutant generals of different states calling for companies of sharpshooters, and setting forth the terms on which candidates for admission would be accepted, and wherein it was ordered that: "No man be accepted who cannot, at 200 yards, put ten consecutive shots in a target, the average distance not
to exceed five inches from the center of the bullseye." Or, in other words, the string measurement of the ten shots should not exceed fifty inches. Each man was allowed to choose his own rifle, but must justify his selection by the performance of the weapon in his own hands; and for each rifle furnished and accepted, $60 was to be paid therefor, thus insuring the best arms that could be purchased. Many, however, did not avail themselves of this offer, preferring to let the government furnish them. Berdan's proposition was accepted by the Secretary of War, June 15, I861, as follows: The regiment within named is accepted, in accordance with the within proposal, provided the said regiment shall be mustered into service within ninety days of this date. The first detachment to be mustered in within twenty days, and so one detachment after another, as the War Department may order. And provided, also, that said regiment shall come into service armed and equipped without expense to the government. ( Signed. ) SIMON CAMERON. Secretary of War. The project received the following recommendation from General Winfield Scott: Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D C., June 14, 1861. H. Berdan, Esq.: Dear Sir:-The General-in-Chief, under the reference to him of the subject of Sharpshooters, by His Excellency, the President, and Hon. Secretary of War, as set forth
in your letter of June 13th, 1861, desires me to say he was very favorably impressed with you personally; that a regiment of such Sharpshooters as are proposed by you, and instructed according to your system, would be of great value, and could be advantageously employed by him in the public service. Respectfully yours, SCHUYLER HAMILTON, Lieutenant-Colonel and Military Secretary. In all the test shooting required before admission there was naturally some fine marksmanship developed, and among the best was that of Charles H. Townsend, at Camp Randall, Wis., who fired five shots at 200 yards with a total measurement of three and three-quarter inches; while, on the target grounds of the different states, two inches to a shot was frequently the average. But it was not always an easy matter to come up to the standard, and many, failing, were thrown out. The rendezvous was established at Weehawken, opposite New York City) to which place most of the companies were at first ordered, but on or about the 24th of September proceeded to Washington, where they went into camp of instruction. With the required number of companies arriving at the Washington camp during the fall and winter the First Regiment was completed with over I,OOO men, representing five states, as follows: A, New York; B, New York; C, Michigan; D, New York E, New Hampshire; F. Vermont; G, Wisconsin; H, New York; I,
Michigan; K, Michigan. The Second Regiment, Colonel Post commanding, came in later, encamped next to the First, and consisted of eight companies representing the following states: A, Minnesota; B, Michigan, C, Pennsylvania, D, Maine, E, Vermont F, New Hampshire; G. New Hampshire; H. Vermont. Their uniform was of fine material, consisting of dark green coat and cap, with black plume, light blue trousers (afterward exchanged for green ones) and leather legging, presenting a striking contrast to the regular blue of the infantry. The knapsack was of hair-covered calfskin with cooking kit attached, considered the best in use, as it was the handsomest, most durable and complete. By their dress were they known far and wide, and the appellation of "Green Coats" was soon acquired. When fully uniformed and equipped, the Sharpshooters made a very handsome appearance, more so, upon the whole, than many others. The camp of instruction was organized for the purpose of drilling and disciplining the vast army of raw volunteers, to mold the citizen into the soldier. The formation of this camp was intrusted to General McClellan who was called to the general command from the field of his victories in
Western Virginia, which in two months' time made West Virginia a loyal state. The time was occupied in camp in target practice, learning the company drill and battalion movements, guard, patrol, and camp duties; and, under the instruction of Lieutenant Mears, U. S. A., Lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, they were soon able to execute the most difficult regimental drills, and were probably unexcelled therein by any other regiment, particularly in skirmishing, a service they were destined to perform at the front, in all the great battles of the Army of the Potomac up to the time of their expiration of service. In the target practice, a matter of the greatest importance, many excellent scores were made and under the supervision of Colonel Berdan great improvement was made in their marksmanship; the colonel himself a noted sharpshooter, putting himself to the test on many occasions, before multitudes of people. One of his targets was erected at a distance of 600 yards, in which he frequently put five consecutive shots within the ten inch ring using the telescope rifle. These telescopes were powerful magnifiers, so much so that a small object, not distinguishable to the naked eye, could be seen at a long distance. But the cross-wires within tremble so easily, that it requires a steady hand to hold the
cross on the mark, from the shoulder in off-hand shooting However, as the telescopic rifles used by the Sharpshooters were generally very heavy-from fifteen to thirty pounds-they were mostly shot from a rest; in fact, were generally used for long-range shooting. But two companies of the regiment-c, of Michigan, and E, of New Hampshire-were fully armed, having target rifles of different descriptions. The Vermont company also had a few guns. The balance of the regiment were unarmed and waiting for the Sharps improved rifle, military pattern, which had been promised. This was their choice of all the many kinds presented manufacturers of all sorts of new guns constantly offering the same for trial and acceptance. Besides this, the chief of the ordnance department was very anxious to have the regiment armed with the muzzle-loading Springfield, then the established arm of the United States Infantry. As soon as the government recognized the corps officially by mustering the First Regiment into service, Colonel Berdan made a requisition for Sharps breech-loading rifles, which proved to be, according to Berdan, "a declaration of war." The newspapers of that date contained, almost daily, statements of what General Ripley, chief of ordnance, had to say or General Scott, or the Assistant Secretary of War, Thomas Scott, and Berdan had to fight the whole of them. They took the
ground that there was no rifle equal to the Springfield for a soldier, except General Ripley, who went so far as to say that he preferred the old smooth bore with "ball and buck." General Scott, in his indorsement on the colonel's application, said: "Breech-loaders would spoil his command." The old veteran didn't live long eonugh to find out his mistake-to learn of the great revolution going on in this method of improving guns, so soon to be demonstrated by the Sharpshooters after getting into the field. In consequence of this attempt to turn the Sharpshooters from their original purpose, and force on them the army musket, it was uncertain for a time whether the chosen breech-loaders would be furnished. But through the persistent efforts of Colonel Berdan, an order was finally issued for their manufacture. The open-sighted Sharps rifle, using linen or "skin" cartridges, 52 calibre, conical ball, was the best breech-loading gun at that time made, a perfectly safe and reliable arm, combining accuracy with rapidity, just what a skirmish line needed for effective work. To their good judgment in choosing this rifle may be attributed their future success in the field, attaining as they did a reputation that eventually made the name of "Berdan Sharpshooters" renowned in foreign lands as well as our own. The muzzle-loading target
rifles-telescope and globe sights-while of great value before fortifications and for special work, would have been useless in skirmishing. President Lincoln as a Rifle Shot. During the splendid weather of the autumn months, visitors to the great camp of instruction, with which the city of Washington was environed, came in untold numbers; they were constantly crowding in, not only from our own mighty North, but from all civilized quarters of the world. And not the least of the many objects of interest to be noted was that of the rifle practice referred to. The newspapers at the time were full of these target trials, and the shooting of the Sharpshooters furnished items for a long while to the dailies and illustrated journals. On one occasion the President, with General McClellan, paid a visit to the camp, and were invited by Colonel Berdan to the rifle range, where shooting was going on. To show what the men could do in rifle-pits, a target representing two zouaves painted on canvas, was placed at a distance of 600 yards. One hundred men with their heavy target-rifles, were placed in a pit, where each fired one shot. When the target was brought in, it was found that every shot had struck within the outline
of the two figures. President Lincoln fired three shots from a globe rifle belonging to H. J. Peck, of Company F, while General McClellan and some others tried their skill with more or less success. President Lincoln handled the rifle like a veteran marksman, in a highly successful manner, to the great delight of the many soldiers and civilians surrounding. Once, resting his gun on what he called a sapling, he said: "Boys, this reminds me of old-time shooting," when they waved their hats and cheered him. Michigan Companies in First and Second U. S. or Berdan's Sharpshooters. These four companies of Berdan's Sharpshooters were so closely identified with the Army of the Potomac from April I, 1862, to January I, 1865, that the history of that army is the history of Berdan's Sharpshooters. They were present either by squad, company or regiment at all the important battles and skirmishes during the Peninsular Campaign and from there on to Gettysburg, where they rendered distinguished service, as they did in every subsequent battle of the Army of the Potomac until the close of the war. Very little has been written about these four companies, and the information obtainable is from the regimental history
written by Captain C. A. Stevens of St. Paul, Minnesota, and from James H. Baker and Seymour Foster of Lansing. Colonel Fox in his "Regimental Losses of the Civil War" speaks of Berdan's Sharpshooters as "the unique regiments of the war," and as the best known of any regiments in the army, and that it would have been difficult to have raised in any one state regiments equal to Berdan's requirements. The class of men selected were also of a high grade in physical qualifications and intelligence. They were continually in demand as skirmishers on account of their wonderful proficiency as such, and they undoubtedly killed more men than any other regiments in the army. In skirmishing they had no equal. The following order from Headquarters of the Third Division, Second Army Corps, shows how much the services of these four companies of sharpshooters were appreciated: Headquarters Third Division Second Army Corps. General Orders-No. 12. The United States Sharpshooters, including the first and second consolidated battalion. being about to be broken up as a distinct organization, In compliance with orders from the War Department, the Brigadier General commanding the Division will not take leave of them without acknowledging their good and efficient service during three years in the field. The U. S. Sharpshooters leave behind them a glorious record in the
Army of the Potomac since the first operation against Yorktown in 1862 up to Hatcher's Run, and few are the battles or engagements In which they did not make their mark. The Brigadier General commanding, who had them under his command during most of the campaigns of 1863 and 1864, would be the last to forget their brave deeds during that period, and he feels assured that the different organizations to which they may belong severally, officers and men, will show themselves worthy of their old reputation. With them the past will answer for the future. By Command of Brigadier General R. DeTROBRIAND W. K. DRIVER, A. A. G. Co. C Co. I Co. K Co. B Total Total enrollment 156 136 108 152 552 Killed in action 18 9 6 9 42 Died of wounds 5 5 4 14 Died of disease 14 18 7 19 58 Died in hands of enemy 1 4 5 Discharged disability 47 26 19 37 129