The Hudson Gazette was excited to report the results of the local shooting tryouts for the Berdan Sharp Shooters. Company C (First Michigan Company Sharp Shooters) enlisted for service on August 26, 1861, The five original members were mustered out after 3 years of grueling campaigns and hardships on August 20, 1864. The few who had re-enlisted and recruits were merged into Company I and K, in December 1864. These men were merged with Company B before being transferred to the Fifth Michigan Infantry near Petersburg on February 18, 1865. In June all of the remaining Sharp Shooters and the Fifth Michigan Veteran Volunteers were discharged at Jeffersonville, Indiana in June 1865,

The Hudson Gazette
Saturday, August 16, 1861

The trial of sharps hooters held here on Wednesday and Thursday last, under the superintendence of Col. E.O. Gosgrove for eighteen applicants were accepted as members of the Michigan Company of Berdan’s Regiment of Sharp Shooters. This regiment is to be formed of companies taken from each of the loyal states. Each man is required to furnished his own rifle, of whatever pattern he chooses, and to justify his selection by actual performance of the gun in his own hands, firing at a distance of 200 yards, and putting ten consecutive shots into a target at an average distance not to exceed five inches from the center. He is allowed sixty dollars for his gun and accoutrements. The following is a list of those accepted at this place, and the “strings” made by each.

NAME__________________String____SERVICE______________________________________________
Almeron D. Armstrong--- 34 ½--- Discharged Petersburg-Aug 1864
Rupert C. Cooley--- 39 ¼--- POW Catlett’s Station, June 1863. Discharged Jeffersonville, Ind 1865
Jerome H. Fountain--- 36 ¼--- DOD, Washington D.C. Feb 1862
Hamilton W. Grenell--- 42 ¼ --- Not mustered
Chas. W. Harris--- 40 ½--- Not mustered
Oscar Palmer--- 47 3/8--- Hospital Steward, Assistant Surgeon. Discharged Oct, 1864
William Straw--- 37--- DC-disabled-Feb 1863
Francis G. Sheldon--- 31 ¼--- Not mustered
Charles E. Shipman--- 47 ¼--- DC-disabled Jan 1862
Josiah N. Smith--- 40--- DC-disabled-Oct 1862
James Schermerhorn--- 27 ¾--- Not mustered. Editor of Hudson Gazette
Frank Swift--- 45 ¼--- Not mustered
Grove E. Taylor--- 33 ¼--- Not mustered
Henry Ten Eyck--- 43 1/3 --- Died-Dec 1862
Simeon Van Akin Jr.--- 41 ½ --- POW-May 64; escaped/returned Sept 64; Discharged Sept 1864
Joseph Welch--- 33 ¼--- DC-disabled. Jan 1862
S. C. Wirts--- 45 ¾--- WIA-Cville; Wilderness. Discharged June 1865
Bishop Wood--- 34 ¼--- DOD-Jan 1862

With two exceptions they are all from this place

Company C was one of two companies that were accepted under Hiram Berdan's original specifications (12-14 pound muzzle-loading target rifles with globe or telescopic sights; a few men brought 'bench rest' guns that weighed up to 36 pounds). A smattering of recruits from other 1st USSS companies brought their own firearms, but it was soon discovered that it was necessary to arm the Sharp Shooters with a single, standardized weapon. Private Truman Head (aka California Joe) purchased a military Sharps rifle from the factory representative at Camp of Instruction shortly after his arrival, and mustering into Company C. Berdan had proposed arming the Sharp Shooters with the Springfield rifle musket, using a bullet of his own design. The enlisted men quickly saw the advantages of the Sharps upon learning the style of warfare they enlisted for (aka 'snipers') was changed to light infantry/skirmishers. After that point, both regiments demanded the Sharps be issued. This instigated, what Hiram Berdan termed as an 8 month 'declaration of war' between the Sharp Shooters and the Ordnance Department.

Bill Skillman
Berdan Sharpshooters Survivors Association