Lee's Sharpshooters

 1863-1865

The Confederate Sharpshooter impression is our most complex in that we do not represent any one particular unit, but strive to be able to represent any of the predominate sharpshooter battalions of the Army of Northern Virginia during the period of 1863 to 1865.  In this way , we can represent various sharpshooter units based on location and the scenario we portray.  

HISTORY:                  

"Probably the most effective troops in the late civil war for the number of men engaged, were the sharpshooters.  The value of this branch of the service became so apparent that companies and battalions were organized in most of the brigades of infantry" Cpt. John Laughton, Jr.; ANV, Mahone's Brigade, Sharpshooter Battalion

At the beginning of the war, no provisions were made for units of sharpshooters in the Confederate Army.  However, in April 1862 the Confederate Congress passed an act to organize battalions of sharpshooters:

SECTION 1.  The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the Secretary of War my secure to be organized a battalion of sharpshooters for each brigade, consisting of not less than three nor more than six companies, to be composed of men selected from the brigade or otherwise, and armed with long-range muskets or rifles, said companies to be organized, and the commissioned officers therefore appointed by the President, by and with the advice, and consent of the Senate.  Such battalions shall constitute parts of the brigades to which they belong, and shall have such field and staff officers as are authorized by law for similar battalions, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Contrary to popular belief, Confederate sharpshooters were not all "snipers".  Rather, they were frequently deployed as brigade skirmish battalions specializing in marksmanship and field craft, scouting, skirmish drill, outpost duties, and Grand Guard.  Though slow to organize traditional ad-hoc skirmish companies into organized autonomous battalion commands (Fall/Winter 63-64), the Army of Northern Virginia had very well trained and effective skirmish battalions by the overland campaigns of Spring and Summer of 1864 and the bitter trench warfare of Petersburg (64-65), to the end of the war.

The basic Sharpshooter impression is not much different than that of the average Confederate infantryman with the exception of his weapon and perhaps a small badge or patch particular to the unit in which he belonged.  These small marks of identification allowed for easier passage thru the lines or for the men not to be confused for shirkers or stragglers.    The following list of organizations go into more detail on the specifics of the impressions for these units that we portray the most.

We hope this web site is informative and helps to shed more light on this often overlooked, but important piece of history of the Confederate Army and the brave men who served in these battalions.

Sharpshooter Battalions of the Army of Northern Virginia  

(Note: This list is not all inclusive and is always under revision as more research comes to light)

A.P. Hill’s 3d. Corps

Major Wm. S. Dunlop commanded 3d. Corps Sharpshooters Corps.

Wilcox’s Division: (Light Division)

Major Thomas Wooten Commanded Light Division Sharpshooter Division

 Lane’s Brigade (NCST.)

Major Thomas Wooten 18^th. NCST. Commanded Lane’s Brigade of Sharpshooters.

The battalion was made up of three companies 1^st. 2^nd. & 3d. each having about fifty five men, 165 men total. The battalion was organized on March 1, 1864.

PATCH:

McGowan’s Brigade (SC)

Major William Simpson Dunlop 12^th. South Carolina Infantry commanded the Sharpshooter battalion from McGowan’s Brigade. The battalion was made up of three companies 1^st. 2^nd. & 3d. each having about fifty five men, 165 men total. The battalion was organized on March 1, 1864.

PATCH:  They were distinguished by a badge consisting of a red band running diagonally across the left elbow of the coat sleeve to the wrist with a red star just above the band. This badge would pass the Sharp Shooter anywhere..." -Sgt. W.T. McGill, sharpshooter veteran of Dunlap's Battalion, McGowan's Brigade, vol. 3 of the SC UDC's "Recollections and Reminiscences", p.18.
 

Scales Brigade (NCST.)

Captain John Young 22nd. NCT commanded the Sharpshooter battalion from Scales's Brigade. The battalion was made up of three companies 1^st. 2^nd. & 3d. each having about fifty five men, 165 men total. The battalion was organized on March 1, 1864.

Captain C. Frank Siter commanded one of the Companies in the battalion.

 PATCH:

Thomas’s Brigade (Ga.)

Was formed at the same time as the rest of the brigades sharpshooter battalions.

PATCH:

 Heth’s Division:

 Davis’s Brigade (Miss.)

Captain O’Neal commanded the Sharpshooter battalion from Davis’s Brigade. . The battalion was made up of three companies 1^st. 2^nd. & 3d. each having about thirty five men, 120 men total. The battalion was organized on March 1, 1864.

Captain Robert F. Ward commanded one of the Sharpshooter Companies in the battalion.

PATCH:

 McRae’s Brigade( NCST.)

Captain Lilly commanded the Sharpshooter battalion from McRae’s Brigade. The battalion was made up of three companies 1^st. 2^nd. & 3d. each having about thirty five men, 120 men total. The battalion was organized on March 1, 1864.

PATCH: Red Cross on left lower sleeve of jacket.

Cooke’s Brigade (NCST.)

 PATCH:

 Macomb’s Brigade (TN.& MD.)

PATCH: 2^nd. MD. Sharpshooters Blue circle with a red Roman Cross in center.

 Mahone’s Division:

Forney’s Brigade (Ala.)

Weisger’s (Mahone) Brigade (Va.)

Lt. Col. E. M. Field (12^th. Va.) commanded the Sharpshooter battalion from Weisger’s Brigade. The battalion was made up of five companies 1^st. 2^nd. 3d. 4^th.& 5^th. each having about thirty five men.  The battalion was organized on Fall of 1863 at Liberty Mill.

Lt. John E. Loughton was Adj. for the battalion.

Patch: Grey shield with a Blue star in center.

 Harris’s Brigade (Miss.)

 Sorrel’s Brigade (Ga.)

 Finnegan’s Brigade (Fla.)

Gordon’s 2^nd. Corps ANV.

Grime’s(Rode’s) Division:

Colonel Hamilton Brown commanded the divisional sharpshooters.

Battle’s Brigade (Ala.)

Grimes’ Brigade (NCST.)

Cox’s Brigade (NCST.)

Lt. James Edmonson commanded the Sharpshooter battalion from Cox’s Brigade in March 1865. The battalion was made up of five companies 1^st. 2^nd. 3d. 4^th.& 5^th. each having about thirty five men. 

Cook’s Brigade (Ga.)

Capt. Joseph Carson commanded the Sharpshooter battalion from Cook’s Brigade in March 1865. The battalion was made up of five companies 1^st. 2^nd. 3d. 4^th. & 5^th. each having about thirty five men. 

Early’s Division (Brig.Gen. John Pegrem)

Johnston’s Brigade (NCST)

1st. NC Battalion Sharpshooters

Lewis’s Brigade (NCST)

Walker’s (Pegrem) Brigade (Va.)

Captain Joseph Anderson commanded the Sharpshooter battalion from Walker’s in March 1865. The battalion was made up of five companies 1^st. 2^nd. 3d. 4^th. & 5^th. each having about thirty five men. 

Gordon’s Division (Brig.Gen.  C. A. Evens)

 Evan’s (Gordon’s) Brigade (Ga.)

Captain William Kagler commanded the Sharpshooter battalion from Even\s in March 1865. The battalion was made up of five companies 1^st. 2^nd. 3d. 4^th. & 5^th. each having about thirty five men. 

Lt. Billy Gwyn commanded a company of the battalion.

Terry’s Brigade (Va.) “Remains of Major Gen. Johnson Division” (Stonewall Division)

York’s Brigade (La.) (Waggaman)

Lt. Benjamin Smith commanded Sharpshooters from 2^nd. La.

Ransom’s Brigade (NCST.)

Matt Whitaker

Authenticity Guidelines:                    

In general terms, the basic sharpshooter impression guidelines are the same as those for the basic ANV infantryman during the time periods appropriate to the sharpshooter battalion being portrayed with the exception of the following:

  I.  Uniform

Uniform guidelines specified on the PAG page for regular line infantry apply to the sharpshooter impression as well.  The only difference is the badge or insignia that may, or may not, be worn on the uniform for the particular battalion portrayed at an event.

Badges or insignia will not be worn unless documented and approved by the authenticity committee.  Approved badges and insignia are listed for the appropriate battalions above on this web page. 

II.  Weapons

A. US 1841 Harpers Ferry (Mississippi Rifle)  .54 or .58 cal.  Reproduction contract and arsenal conversions to .58 cal. must be representative of documented examples (e.g defarbed to documented conversions as appropriate).  All modern Italian markings removed.  NOTE: Italian reproduction rifles for both .54 and .58 cal. are not correct "out of the box".

B. 1858 British Enfield Rifle (2 band), .577cal.  British Manufacture.  Blue or Burnished finish.  Stock finished with boiled linseed oil.  All modern Italian markings removed and defarbed appropriate to the weapon. 

C. 1855 US Rifle:                                                                                                                                                     

D. Civilian Target Rifle- (Limited Use, Special Approval required from Unit Field Commander):
 

E. Sharps Rifle- not the Carbine:

F. Whitworth Rifle: (Limited numbers.  Approval required from Unit Field Commander):

G. 1853 Enfield Rifled Musket: (See PAG Page)

H. 1861 Springfield Rifled Musket: (See PAG Page)

 
I.  1862 Richmond Rifled Musket: (See PAG Page)
 

III.  Drill 

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