Pictures curtisy of the Co. B, 2nd USSS Homepage

By late 1861 it had grown apparent to nearly everyone that the Civil
War would last longer then the three months that the volunteers were
now serving.  On May 3rd, 1861 President Abraham Lincoln made his
second call for volunteers, this time for enlistments lasting for
three years or until the wars end.  Among the Regiments raised during
this time were two regiments of United States Sharpshooters.  Both
regiments were enlisted under the supervision of Hiram Berdan, Colonel
of the First Regiment United States Sharpshooters.  The First Regiment
was raised and mustered into  United States service by mid-September
1861.  After the mustering of the First Regiment United States
Sharpshooters, Hiram Berdan received orders from Secretary of War
Simon Cameron "to muster and organize into  companies and regiments
all the men he could raise during the next 90 days from Sept. 28,
1861, and who, on examination, were found equal to the requirements of
sharpshooters."



Colonel Henry A.V. Post, 2nd U.S.S.S.
The Second Regiment, under the command of Colonel Henry Post, was
composed of eight companies representing six states.  Company A came
from Minnesota, B from Michigan, C from Pennsylvania, D from Maine, E
and H from Vermont, and F and G from New Hampshire.  The sharpshooters 
were uniformed in dark green frock coats and forage caps, the later
adorned with a black ostrich plume.  They were also issued light blue
trousers, later changed to green to match the uniform coats, and brown 
leather leggins.  A knapsack in the Prussian style, made of calf skin, 
with the hair on the outside, and a special mess kit finished off the
outfit.  In the winter they were issued grey overcoats with green
trim, these were soon discarded however.


The Second Regiment began arriving at the Camp of Instruction in
January 1862.  When the soldiers got to the camp they realized that
the government promises of higher pay, larger bounty and Sharps rifles 
weren't going to be fulfilled.  The soldier jokingly said that
U.S.S.S. stood for Uncle Sam's Sad Soldiers, or Unfortunate Soldiers
Sadly Sold.  Time at the Camp of Instruction was spent learning drill, 
bugle calls, scaling obstructions, etc.  The favorite pastime was
target shooting though.  The muddy and cold camps invited many
diseases to the sharpshooters. Measles and Small Pox were the most
common.  The report of Charles S. Tripler, medical director of the
Army of the Potomac, on January 28, 1862 listed 132 men out of 720
men in the Second Regiment were sick.  Despite the setbacks the
sharpshooters camp was a popular stop for many of Washington, D.C.'s
visitors and residents. Among the guests of the sharpshooters were:
General McClellan, Governors Blare of Michigan, Ramesey of Minnesota,
and Berry of New Hampshire, Senators Wilkinson, Doolittle, Chandler,
and Harris.  President Lincoln himself was a frequent visitor to the
sharpshooters camp.


On March 18, 1862, the Sharpshooters Broke camp in Washington and
headed to Virginia, as part of Augur's Brigade, King's Division,
McDowell's Corps.  In Virginia the Second Regiment made camp at Fort
Ward.  On April 4th, weighed down with full knapsacks, the Second
Regiment broke camp again.  During this time the regiment was equipped 
with the 5-shot Colt Revolving Rifle.  President Lincoln personally
signed the order for the Sharps rifles, after seeing the marksmanship
of the sharpshooters, however; they hadn't arrived by this point.  The 
Second received it's baptism by fire at Falmouth, Virginia on April
18.  After arriving on the field the sharpshooters fired the first
shot of the battle, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Peteler scattering dust 
at the feet of confederate cavalry 700 yards distant, who instantly
retreated. Reaching Falmouth Heights, the sharpshooters saw the
confederates retreating beyond Fredericksburg, Virginia, past Marye's
Heights.


The Sharpshooters stayed in Fredericksburg until late February, when
they moved 15 miles to the south hoping to join McClellan's Army. With 
Word of Jackson's approach. however; the Sharpshooters moved back to
Fredericksburg, skirmishing with confederate cavalry the entire time.
After reaching Fredericksburg the sharpshooters were sent on a forced
march to Front Royal. In a train accident near White Plains on June 1, 
the sharpshooters lost 44 men injured and one killed.  Again in
Fredericksburg the sharpshooters traded in their Colts' for the
coveted Sharps.

On July 24 two companies, A and C, under Lieutenant Colonel Peteler,
accompanied General John Gibbon on a reconnaissance 45 miles from
Fredericksburg, to Orange Court House.  At Orange Court House the
Sharpshooters engaged some confederate cavalry, easily pushing them
off the field. Advancing confederate infantry, however; forced the
sharpshooters back off the field, and into the camp of their reserves, 
the Second Wisconsin, still at breakfast.  The sharpshooters fell in
on Gibbons left and engaged the confederates, pushing them off.  On
another reconnaissance, August 6, the sharpshooters acting as reserves 
for the cavalry, engaged some troopers of J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry at
Guiney's Station. After forcing back the confederate cavalry the
sharpshooters and cavalry continued to Spotsylvannia. The regiment
received orders to begin a force march to Ceder Mountain, however;
arriving too late to participate in any action they encamped there
until the 19th, when they were moved to the Rappahannock River to act
as Pope's rear-guard.


Four companies of the regiment were ordered to the river on August 21, 
to disperse enemy artillery and cavalry that were gathering there.  As 
the cavalry prepared to charge the sharpshooters, the order to open
fire was given.  This thoroughly confused the enemy cavalry and forced 
them to retreat.  During a brief artillery bombardment following this, 
Private Jacobs of Company A commented, "Well!  By God, our drilling
wasn't for nothing."  The sharpshooters rested the next day being
brought into action again the 23rd.  On this day the sharpshooters
were ordered to the river to stop the confederate retreat.  Because of 
a heavy artillery exchange the sharpshooters had to take cover in some 
nearby pines.  The confederates retreated in the meantime.  Three days 
later at Sulphur Springs the sharpshooters engaged and drove off a
confederate battery.  The sharpshooters then continued their advance
to Manassas Junction.


At Gainesville on August 28th the Second, as part of Hatch's Brigade
were again engaged.  Although under heavy artillery fire for most of
the time, the regiment took very few casualties.  At Gainesville the
sharpshooters advanced, quickly discovering a large body of
confederates.  When Colonel Post reported this too General Hatch, he
refused to believe it and continued the advance, costing a large loss
of life.  The next day at Manassas, the sharpshooters were posted
along the Centerville road.  Upon reaching the top of the hill, they
discovered a whole Corps of confederate infantry.  The commanding
General dismissed reports of Colonel Post, so the sharpshooters were
forced to hold the ground, which they did until midnight, by
themselves.  On the 30th the sharpshooters advanced on some woods
pushing out whatever confederates were in them. Over the three days
fighting at Bull Run the Second Regiment lost 42 men.  Colonel Homer
Stoughton, then a captain, later said that, "They were under fire from 
August 23rd to the wind up at Chantilly, August 30.  No men ever bore
themselves more gallantly then the sharpshooters."  When the regiment
left Falmouth August 10th there was between 600 and 700 men on the
roll.  At morning roll call September 2nd only 127 men answered.


The Second Regiment, now part of Phelp's Brigade, distinguished
themselves again at South Mountain, September 14th.  The
sharpshooters, on special detachment from their brigade were ordered
to lead the attack up the mountain.  In doing this they were the first 
union regiment on top of the mountain, capturing two howitzers and
pushing most of the defenders back.  Three days later at the battle of 
Antietam the Second Regiment was heavily engaged in the corn field.
The regiment was ordered to the left of Gibbons Brigade, the famed
"Iron Brigade", to protect their flank from advancing confederates.
During the fight the regiment captured two enemy battleflags.  Losses
this day were severe, 66 men killed or wounded. Among the killed were
Adjutant Parmalee, killed while attempting to capture an stand of
enemy colors, and Lieutenant Whitman, commanding Company B.  Colonel
Post was wounded during the days fighting.  Silas Howard, of Company
E, was heavily wounded during the fighting.  As he laid on the field
he took the firing block out of his rifle and threw it as far as he
could, so that the confederates wouldn't be able to capture a
serviceable weapon.



Adjutant Lewis C. Parmalee, 2nd U.S.S.S.
At the battle of Fredericksburg the Second Regiment, now under Major
Stoughton, was put in the Left Grand Division of Burnside's new army.
The regiment spent December 13th, 14th and 15th skirmishing with the
enemy troops, taking few casualties and earning great praise.  Colonel 
Phelps mentioned in his report, "I cannot speak too highly of the
commanding officer of the Second U.S. Sharphsooters, Major Stoughton."
Even other brigade commanders were impressed by the sharpshooters
performance.  Colonel Rogers noted the actions of the sharpshooters in 
his report, "I take pleasure in testifying to the very efficient
service rendered by the Second U.S. Sharpshooters, of Col. Phelps
brigade."  Soon after the battle the sharpshooters returned to
Falmouth, where they made winter quarters.  Leaving camp January 20,
1863 the sharpshooters participated in Burnside's ill-fated "Mud
March."  Shortly after this Burnside was replaced by General Hooker,
who reorganized the army. The First and the Second United States
Sharpshooters were finally brigaded together.

The army broke camp on April 28th, and headed south west of
Fredericksburg.  On May 2nd the two regiments of sharpshooters moved
off the Fredericksburg Turnpike and headed through some pine thickets.
Entering a clearing they were engaged by the enemy.  During this the
Second Regiment was nearly flanked, but was saved by the quick
thinking captain of Company C.  After a series of advances the two
sharpshooter regiments pushed the confederates back to Catherine's
Furnace, where they captured 365 men of the 23rd Georgia.  On the 3rd
of May the 2nd Regiment was posted as pickets, where they remained
through out the remainder of the battle.  It was at Chancellorsville
that the Second's chaplain, Lorenzo Barber, earned his nickname, "The
Fighting Parson."  During the battle Chaplain Barber was often seen on
the firing line, with his telescopic sighted rifle.



Chaplain Lorenzo Barber, 2nd U.S.S.S.
The army again broke camp on June 11th.  The sharpshooters were now
connected to Ward's Brigade, Birney's Division, Sickles Corps.  On the
29th the army reached Tanneytown, Maryland, and continued on a forced
march into Pennsylvania.  The III corps arrived at Gettysburg well
after dark on July 1st.  On July 2nd the Second Regiment was posted as
skirmishers along the Emmitsburg Road.  They then fell back and took
up position between Devil's Den and the Slyder Farm.  On this line
they were attacked by the Fourth Texas.  The Second preformed their
duty with deadly accuracy, killing both the colonel and the lieutenant
colonel.  Lieutenant Smith, also of the Fourth Texas, dipped his
handkerchief in Plum Run and wrapped it around his head.  when his
comrades reached his body and took the handkerchief  from around his
head there were eleven bullet holes in it.  Eventually falling back to
Big Round Top the Second engaged the 15th and 47th Alabama on their
way to Little Round Top.  During the first fire of the sharpshooters
the 15th's lieutenant colonel fell dead.  The colonel of the 15th,
William Oates, ordered the two regiment to pursue the sharpshooter
over Big Round Top, rather then leave them in their rear.  This gave
the union time to reinforce Little Round Top. Oates noted that out of
42 officers and 644 men in the 15th Alabama, he had lost 23 officers
and 423 men killed on Big and Little Round Tops. Because of the deadly 
fire laid down by the sharpshooters, several confederates officers
claimed that Big Round Top was "a perfect hornets' nest of
sharpshooters."  The 3rd day of Gettysburg the Second Regiment was
posted at the center of the union line, killing the officers and
sharpshooters of the approaching confederates.


The two sharpshooter regiment left Gettysburg at 3 A.M. on July 7th to 
pursue Lee's escaping army.  On July 17th the sharpshooters crossed
the Potomac at Harper's Ferry.  At Manassas Gap, on July 23rd the
Second was held in support at the battle of Wapping Heights.  From
September 17 until November 7th the Second Regiment was on the March.
On the 7th they became engaged at Kelly's Ford.  At 1:30 P.M. the
First and Second Regiments deployed  in a skirmish line, and quickly
came under fire.  They were ordered to advance at the double quick,
pushing the confederates back.  They took up positions in rifle pits
and behind breastworks.  After the two regiments advanced beyond the
river, the confederates retreated off the field.  Lieutenant Foote, of 
Co. B, stripped down and waded across the river, taking prisoner the
confederates left beyond the river.  During this engagment only the
sharpshooters were engaged for the union, the rest being held in
reserve.  As the army advanced to Brandy Plains, the Second Regiment
was placed in advance of it.  On the 8th the Second Regiment pushed
the confederates out of Brandy Station, and occupied the town, until
the army reached it.  On the 27th the sharpshooters were engaged at
Locust Grove, pushing back the confederates.  On the 30th, at the
Battle of Mine Run, the Second Regiment was placed at the union line.
After the enemy reinforced their line the union was forced of the
field.  During this engagement Chaplain Barber was severely wounded in
the leg.  In December the enlistments of the Second Regiment ran out,
and almost every man reenlisted, the rest being replaced by recruits
from each companies home state.  The winter of 1863-63 was spent
marching and catching up on mail.


The Second Regiment participated in a Demonstration on the Rapidan
River in early February of 1864, before retiring to camp until May.
On the evening of May 5, after the first days fighting at The
Wilderness, General Birney asked the Second Regiment for volunteers to 
retake a cannon that was abandoned during the days fighting near
Orange Road.  The men soon returned, not only with the cannon, but
also the harnesses of the dead horses.  On the 6th the Second went
into action early.  Taking position on the right of the Vermont
Brigade, they moved forward and took up behind breastworks on the
Brock Road.  During the confederate charge on the works the Second's
Color-Sergeant, J. Madison Tarbell of Company E, posted the regimental 
colors on the works.  He remained there, often with the confederate
color barer next to him, until he was shot through the arm and had to
retire to the rear, taking the colors with him.  During this days
fighting, a man from the Second fired 150 shots.  Protecting the rear
of the army as it left the 7th, the sharpshooter were the last union
unit to leave The Wilderness.  The Second Regiment was also engaged at
Laurel Hill the next day.


On the second days action at Spotsylvannia, May 10, Colonel Stoughton
was badly wounded, shot through the chest during action along the Po
River.  The Sharpshooters also suffered heavily on the 12th during
fighting near Bloody Angle.  On May 19th, at Harris Farm, a portion
Second Regiment was placed as a guard near General Birney's
headquarter's.  The sharpshooter advanced at the double quick on the
advancing confederates of General Ewell's command, pushing them back.
 Between May 23rd and May 28th the sharpshooters were hotly engaged at
North Anna River and Pamunkey River.  On May 30th the Second Regiment
as sent ahead of the army, to act as sharpshooters and skirmishers,
during the action at the Totopotomoy Creek.  The Second was sent
across the river, and took 137 men of the 27th North Carolina
prisoner, and occupying the enemies works.  During the Battle at Cold
Harbor the sharpshooters were used as marksmen, picking of any enemy
that showed his head above the works.  From June 16th to the 20th the
sharpshooter were busily engaged at such places as Harrison's Creek
and Hare's Farm.  ON the 21st Colonel Stoughton rejoined the unit. On
that day the regiment became engaged along the Weldon railroad, at the
Jerusalem Plank Road.  Here they were engaged against Fitz Hugh Lee's
Cavalry.  During the days fighting five men, including Colonel
Stoughton, were captured by the 2nd North Carolina Cavalry.  The
sharpshooters captured the colonel and an orderly of the North
Carolina troopers.  On the 27th the sharpshooters were heavily engaged
in thick woods at Deep Bottom.  They were under heavy fire until dark.
On July 30th, at Petersburg, the Second Regiment was placed in front
of the enemies guns, on the right.  They kept the enemies guns on this
side quiet during the assault on Petersburg.


Between August 14th and 18th the Second was busily engaged at Deep Run
and Strawberry Plains.  During this time, while on a march against
Richmond, the Second flanked and captured a four gun battery.  For
almost a month the sharpshooters were engaged at Fort Sedgwick, also
known as Fort Hell.  On September 10 the Second, along with the First
Regiment made a charge on, and captured, enemy rifle pits near the
fort.  On October 2nd the Second Regiment skirmished with and broke
the lines of the confederates at Popular Springs Church, ending the
battle that had been going since September 29th.  Later that month the
Second Regiment captured nearly 50 prisoners near Stoney Creek at
Hatcher's Run.  On the First of December the First Regiment United
States Sharpshooters were disbanded, the men being assigned to the
Second Regiment.


On February 5 though the 7th, 1865 the Second Regiment had it's last
action at Dabney's Mills and Hatcher's Run.  The Second Regiment was
disbanded on February 16th, 1865, by General Order number 12, of
General DeTroibriand.



"The United States Sharpshooters, including the first 
and second consolidated battalions, 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 food and efficient service during about 
three years in the field.  The United States Sharpshooters
leave behind them a glorious record in the Army of the 
Potomac since the first operations against Yorktown in 1862
up to Hatcher's Run, and few are the battles or engagements
where 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 feels assured that in
these different organizations to which they belong severally,
officers and men will show themselves worthy of their old
reputation; with them the past will answer for the future."


Colonel Fox, in his book Regimental Losses in the Civil War says about 
the sharpshooters that, "They were 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 then any other regiment in the army.
 In skirmishing they had no equal."  The companies of sharpshooters
were moved to units of their respective states until the end of the
war.  The last company to muster out of service did so on February 20, 
1865.  Throughout it's service the Second Regiment United States
Sharpshooters had 1178 serve in its ranks. They lost 125 men, 10.6%,
killed and 462 men wounded.