Fellow Sharpshooters

Late in the War, Michigan’s Adjutant’s General office issued standardized blank forms to their infantry, cavalry, artillery and sharpshooter regiments, to systematically collect data and provide a chronological history of actions they had participated in.

Among the few documents that I was able to have scanned during my visit to Michigan’s Historical Archives and Library was the History of Company B (2nd USSS) from October 1863 to October 1864. Unfortunately, only the Company K and B reports remained in their folders. The Archivist/assistants recalled seeing Company C and I histories, but it had been years since the folders contents had been inventoried.

Where Sargent Blanchard’s commentary indicates casualties, I’ve incorporated the Brown Book (Vol 44)** to identify sharpshooters by name. When there are discrepancies, I’ve added one or more (?) to note the difference between Blanchard’s report and the BB’s. Possibly, men reported “wounded” did not require hospitalization, but were treated and returned to duty.

I’ve added a pair of recollections by Sargent Wyman White (Co. F 2d USSS) where he describes losses suffered by Company B.

Note: The AGO format is in Bold type:

Headquarters Co. “B” 2d Regiment USSS
1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps Army Potomac
Near Petersburg Va. October 22, 1864*

To the Adjutant General
State of Michigan
Detroit

Sir-

I have the honor respectively to forward to you the following statement of casualties and alterations occurring in this regiment from November 1, 1863, to November 1, 1864, also it’s history during that period, together with the list of commissioned officers now in, And who have been in the regiment Co. and also of enlisted men of the regiment Company who have been commissioned as officers in it, and in other regiment, since it’s organization

Casualties and alterations

Number died in action or wounds: (11)
do do of disease: (2)
do discharge for disability: (2)
do do by order, etc.: (3)
do transferred to veteran reserve: (2)
do deserted: (0)
do wounded in action: (21)
do missing an action: (0)
do taken prisoners: (12)
do joined the company: (50)
do reenlisted as veterans: (29)
do discharge at expiration of service: (3)

History of the Regiment (crossed out) Company

“Nov 1st in Camp at Brandy Station where we remained until the 24th when we marched across the Rapidan River and engaged the enemy at Locust Grove the 25th. The enemy were whipped and retreated that night. We had one man wounded (?). The 26th marched to Mine Run and had a severe skirmish. 27th on the same line had one man wounded (John Fifield; not recorded: Menzer Church-died POW) 28th had one man wounded (William Cummings ) 29th same line. 30th same line has one man wounded (William Loree). 1st Dec changed our base and marched back to Camp at Brandy Station. Arrived there the 3rd and remained until 5th of January, when we started for home on Veteran furlough. Arrived at Detroit with 29 men the 13th of said month. Remained in State until the 27th of Feb when we left again for the field with 45 recruits. Arrived at Brandy Station the 5th of February March. Remained there until the 3rd of May when we broke camp and crossed the Rapidan River engaged the enemy the 5th,6,7&8. The 6th had eight men wounded (Henry Curtis; Elias Hawkins-DoW; Charles Tuttle; ?????) one killed (Elias Haggerty). 7th One wounded (?) and One killed (?) The 9th drew off and marched to Spotsylvania when we engaged the enemy 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th&15th. In this fight we had eight men wounded (George B. Smith; Enos Bohnet-DoW; Thomas Piper; Chauncey Slaght-DOW; ????) & five killed (David Waggoner; Richard Warble; Charles Cronkhite; Stephen Tyler,***)”

*** On May 15th, Wyman White wrote in his diary: “ our regiment was all the Union troops that were left in the works on that part of the line for as much as a mile or more…we assembled and moved off in the direction our troops had taken. The rebels opened a lively fire on our pickets, for they were being forced back…We went back to the works at the double quick. I was on the left of my company and came to a pit with Taylor (likely Tyler) a private of Company B. We saw men in front of us some distance out in the woods who were in blue or very dark uniforms and we thought they were our pickets but a shot from one of them struck the breastwork just in front of me…I immediately returned the shot for I saw the fellow who shot at me…Just at this time one of their shots struck Taylor in the forehead and he fell mortally wounded. He was within fifteen feet of me when he was hit…I was much taller but was spared…Taylor was carried back to the rear but lived only a short time, dying in awful agony”.

Blanchard’s report continues;

“The 16th again moved to the left and the 19th crossed Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad. The 25th arrived at the North Anna River & had quite a brisk fight the 27th and then moved again. Crossed the Pamunkey River the 28th. 30th charged the Rebel skirmish line at Hanover town. Drove twice our number and took 35 prisoners. Our loss was three men wounded.(???) June 1st marched to Coal Harbor where we remained until the 12th doing Sharp Shooting (not noted: William Loree-POW). 13th Marched to the James River a distance of 28 miles. Arrived at Petersburg the 15th. The 16th was in a charge on the enemies works which were taken. In several skirmishes until the 21st in which we had one man killed (George Tuttle) , three wounded (William Sherwood; Henry Parker; Francis Lyon; John R. Roe; James Touse), and one taken prisoner (actually, eight Co. B sharpshooters are taken prisoner on June 21-22nd: Thomas C. Roe, George A. Mascho; Deloss Morton; George G. Morton; Rufus Clarke-Died POW; Judson Corey-died POW; John Ellis; Charles Hunt, paroled, died at Annapolis “on his way home”).

Again, Wyman White records the disaster that befell the 2nd Sharpshooters: “General Barlow borrowed our regiment to act with his division in the movement to our left in the extension of our front. Our regiment led the column on the march. General Barlow took no precautions but marched right into an ambush….I…came to an open field and there found my regiment, or what was left of them…Lt. Col. Stoughton, commanding the regiment was captured, as was Captain Murray of our company. Sergeants Griggs and Follensbee were wounded and Sargent Dodge captured….our regiment lost thirty eight men prisoners”, (With Sargent Follensbee absent on account of wounds, Wyman White became the new commander of Company F).

Blanchard’s report continues;

“Did Sharp Shooting on the line until the 27th of July. Then we marched to Deep Bottom on the James River 28th& 29th. Made demonstrations to have a general engagement. Drew many rebels from Petersburg. And 29th Marched all night and 30th was in front of Petersburg again when participated in blowing up the Rebel fort. 2nd of August moved into Camp and remained until 15th when we again marched to Deep Bottom. Had several skirmishes and returned to Petersburg. Built Camp and remained until the 9th when we charged the enemies Pickets at 1 O’Clk at night-succeeded in dislodging them and took 100 prisoners, three commissioned officers. We had one man wounded (John H. Thompson-KIA) Then remained quiet until the 29th when we marched to the extreme left of the Army-within one and one half miles of the South Side Railroad. Remained there until 7th of October building Forts, when we returned to the front of Petersburg, where we have remained until the present time. The 19th we had one man wounded (?) while in camp by a stray bullet”.

H’d Qrs. Co. ‘B’2d Mich. U.S.S.S.

Camp near Petersburg Va. October 24th 1864.

S.J. Blanchard
1st Serg’t
Commanding Regiment Company

*Blanchard’s report does not include the loss of
Walter Darrin, Emerson Bartlett, and Rufus Clark; who were taken prisoner on picket duty; November 18, 1863. All three died at Andersonville.

The second attachment was to document the officer’s commanding the Regiment (Company). The GRO instructions are below.

List giving names of officers of commissioned officers who belonged the this Regiment since its organization, and who have left it, their respective rank at the time of leaving, and their place of residence in the State

* Andrew B Stuart Captain Lansing MO
* John Whitman. 1st Lt. Lansing. WIA-DC Sept 18-62

* Darius C. Calkins. 2d Lt. Lansing. Resigned Mar 27-62
* Adolphus A. Guest. Capt. NY City. MO Oct 10-64
* Charles H. Foot. 1st Lt. Jackson. MO Oct 8-64
MO=mustered out of service

List giving names of Enlisted Men of this Regiment who have been Commissioned as officers from this and other Regiments since organization, up to the date of making this Report, also Rank and Regiment to which they were Commissioned, date of the Commission, and their respective places of residence in the State

A.A. Guest. 2d Lt. 2d USSS. Apr 4-62. NYC
Captain. 2d USSS. Oct 10-62

Chas. Foot. 1st Lieut. 2d USSS. Dec 1st 62. Jackson
Samuel Shoup. 2d Lieut. 2d USSS. Oct 10, 62.
Connorsville, Ind.

Blanchard (Veteran) Ingham County. Enlisted October 22, 1861, at Oneida. Re-enlisted First Sargent, Dec 21, 1863. Mustered December 25,1863. Commissioned Captain, December 16, 1864, mustered January 22, 1865. Transferred to Co. F Fifth Infantry February 18, 1865. Mustered out at Jeffersonville, Ind. July 5, 1865.

Sources:

**Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, 1861-1865 / Pub. by authority of the Senate and House of representatives of the Michigan Legislature under the direction of Brig. Gen. Geo. H. Brown, Adjutant General: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id= ... 50&seq=163

The rosters of the four Michigan companies of Berdan Sharpshooters are found in Volume 44;
Company B 2nd USSS: page 123,
Company C, 1st USSS: page 136,
Company I, 1st USSS: page 151,
Company K, 1st USSS: page 163.

White, Wyman S. The Civil War Diary of Wyman S. White: First Sergeant of Company F, 2nd
United States Sharpshooter Regiment, 1861-1865. Baltimore: Butternut and Blue, 1993.

Bill Skillman
Berdan’s Sharpshooters Survivors Association