Fellow Sharpshooters
I have the sad notice that Blue and Gray Magazine is going to cease publication. Many years ago they published an article about the 2nd day actions at Little Round Top and for the first time described the pivotal (my opinion) actions of the 2nd USSS that caused Col. Wm. Oates to detach the 15th Alabama (accompanied by Col. Bulger's 47th Alabama infantry) to pivot away from their point of attack on Plum Run to LRT to pursue 12-15 Michigan sharpshooters under the command of Adj. Norton up the face and flanks of Big Round Top. The article also described how this same (or another platoon) of 2nd USSS joined Co. B of the 20th ME that volleyed into the rear of the 15th AL at the same time Col. Joshua Chamberlin ordered the rest of the regiment to conduct its historic bayonet charge that 'won the battle' of securing LRT for the Union. However, Col. Oates always maintained that it was the actions of Major Stoughton's sharpshooters that 'deserved a monument' for splitting the CSA attack force and specifically delayed his demi-brigade from overwhelming Little Round Top and securing victory for the Confederacy.
Sadly, it has been nearly 20 years when the article was first published so I can't recall off hand the name of the licensed battlefield guide who wrote it. I also owe a debt of gratitude for my old
'Save Michigan's Battle flags' comrade, John Gibney, who photocopied and sent me a copy of the article that inspired my many tromps over the battleground from Warfield ridge to the Co. B ME/2nd USSS positions (before the timber clearing and afterwards) to see what the original sharpshooters (and AL soldiers) saw.
https://blueandgraymagazine.com/2017/05 ... ation/amp/Bill Skillman
Bugler