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1st United States Sharpshooters

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Muster In: 1

  • Companies “A,” “D” and “H” organized at New York City September, 1861;
  • Company “B” at Albany, N.Y., September, 1861;
  • Company “C” in Michigan August 21, 1861;
  • Company “E” in New Hampshire September 9, 1861;
  • Company “F” in Vermont September 13, 1861;
  • Company “G” in Wisconsin September 19, 1861;
  • Company “I” in Michigan March 4, 1862,
  • Company “K” in Michigan March 30, 1862.
  • Most of Regiment concentrated at Weehawken, N.J., September, 1861, and moved to Washington, D.C., September 24-25.
  • Mustered in November 29, 1861.

Muster Out: 2

  • Company “A” mustered out August 19,
  • Company “D” mustered out August 28, 1864.
  • Veterans and Recruits assigned to Companies “I” and “K.”
  • Veterans of Company “H” to Company “D” September 15.
  • Regiment consolidated with 2nd Regiment Sharpshooters December 31, 1864.

Commander(s):
Captain John Wilson
Commander Image

Captain William G. Andrews
Commander Image

Captain Henry C. Garrison
Commander Image

Captain Benjamin M. Peck (of the 141st PA)
Commander Image

Commander 5
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army3,4

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army6,7

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army10,11

  • Commander: Captain William G. Andrews (July 31, 1864)12
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army13,14

  • Commander: Captain Henry C. Garrison (August 31, 1864)15
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 1st United States Sharpshooters had only seven (7) companies at this time.16

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army17,18

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 1st Unisted States Sharpshooters had three (3) companies at this time.19

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army20,21

  • Commander: Captain Benjamin M. Peck (of the 141st PA)(October 31, 1864)22
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 1st United States Sharpshooters consisted of three (3) companies at this time.23,24

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (at least through December 12, 1864 and the Apple Jack Raid and probably to December 31, 1864)25,26

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This regiment participated in Warren’s Stony Creek, or “Apple Jack” Raid to Belfield and Hicksford, Virginia in mid-December 1864.27
  • Note: Regiment consolidated with 2nd Regiment Sharpshooters December 31, 1864.28

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Was no longer in service.29

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Was no longer in service.30

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles31:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-19.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16 to December 31, 1864.
  • Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23.
  • Demonstration north of the James July 27-29.
  • Deep Bottom July 28-29.
  • Demonstration north of the James at Deep Bottom August 13-20.
  • Strawberry Plains August 14-18.
  • Poplar Springs Church, Peeble’s Farm, September 29-October 2.
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
  • Expedition to Weldon Railroad December 7-12.
  • Company “A” mustered out August 19, Company “D” mustered out August 28, 1864. Veterans and Recruits assigned to Companies “I” and “K.”
  • Veterans of Company “H” to Company “D” September 15.
  • Regiment consolidated with 2nd Regiment Sharpshooters December 31, 1864.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    3. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 222 ↩
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 544 ↩
    5. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 1st United States Sharpshooters Entry, Page 65; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    6. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 222 ↩
    7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 544 ↩
    8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 544 ↩
    9. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 1st United States Sharpshooters Entry, Page 65; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 253 ↩
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 731 ↩
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 731 ↩
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 614: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 118: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)” ↩
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 614: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 614: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    17. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1299. ↩
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 139: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)” ↩
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 139: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)” ↩
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 459: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 154: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 459: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 459: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 154: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
    25. Not listed as part of the brigade in the following source which covers the Army of the Potomac’s organization as it existed on December 31, 1864: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), p. 1116.  However, the regiment’ participated in the Stony Creek Raid in early December 1864 and its veterans and recruits whose enlistments weren’t up transferred to the 2nd United States Sharpshooters on December 31, 1864.  It is reasonable to assume the 1st United States Sharpshooters remained a part of the Second Brigade, Third Division, II Corps, AotP until the end of its existence at the end of 1864. ↩
    26. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60). ↩
    27. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60). ↩
    28. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    29. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    30. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    31. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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