Sharp-Shooters

[byron ed]

Artifact poster* as circulated out of Ionia, Michigan in 1862, spelling out the setting for a Berdan's "Sharp-Shooter," early war.



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* John B. Hutchins was indeed a storekeeper in Ionia, Michigan and a CW vet himself, though U.S. Infantry, not in Berdan's

 

[Sgt. Tyree]

Berdan’s unit was indeed ahead of its time.

Of course, Berdan used a bit of false advertising to fill the ranks. He promised that sharpshooters would be exempt from fatigue duty and bayonet charges. They were an elite but they were not exempt.

I heard one account of the sharpshooters conveniently losing their bayonets. The entire unit lost them all at the same time.

 

[O' Be Joyful]

Of course, Berdan used a bit of false advertising to

Nuthin' that's old is "new" again.

 

[Jim Klag]

Don't forget Daniel Morgan's Virginia sharpshooters in the Revolutionary War. Talk about ahead of their time! Most soldiers in that war had smoothbores, not rifles.

 

[diane]

Berdan’s unit was indeed ahead of its time.

Of course, Berdan used a bit of false advertising to fill the ranks. He promised that sharpshooters would be exempt from fatigue duty and bayonet charges. They were an elite but they were not exempt.

I heard one account of the sharpshooters conveniently losing their bayonets. The entire unit lost them all at the same time.

I think they lost their steam after Berdan himself left, but they definitely earned their keep! Remarkable group - green uniforms for camo, too. Minnesota raised a couple units like Berdan's but his was the first.

 

[Wehrkraftzersetzer]

Berdan’s unit was indeed ahead of its time.

Of course, Berdan used a bit of false advertising to fill the ranks. He promised that sharpshooters would be exempt from fatigue duty and bayonet charges. They were an elite but they were not exempt.

I heard one account of the sharpshooters conveniently losing their bayonets. The entire unit lost them all at the same time.

we had the old "Reichswehr" woolen pullovers when the new "English" bullshit NATO pullover which protects from rain and sand but not from cold was introduced.

the entire II Korps lost their pullovers within 24 hours
(lost mend lost & kept 4 cold days)