1st United States Sharpshooters

1st United States Sharpshooters Regiment
Active	September 2, 1861 – December 31, 1864
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Equipment	Sharps rifle
Engagements	American Civil War Peninsula Campaign Battle of Williamsburg Battle of Hanover Court House Seven Days Battles Battle of Mechanicsville Battle of White Oak Swamp Battle of Malvern Hill Second Battle of Bull Run Battle of South Mountain Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Chancellorsville Campaign Battle of Chancellorsville Battle of Gettysburg Bristoe Campaign Second Battle of Auburn Battle of Bristoe Station Second Battle of Rappahannock Station Battle of Mine Run Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Spotsylvania Court House Battle of Cold Harbor Siege of Petersburg
Disbanded	December 31, 1864
Commanders
Notable commanders	Colonel Hiram Berdan

American Civil War

The 1st United States Sharpshooters were an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. During battle, the mission of the sharpshooter was to kill enemy targets of importance (i.e., officers and NCOs) at long range.

The first regiment of volunteers began service in late November 1861. During their service, they fought in every Eastern battle up until autumn of 1864. During their tour, the Sharpshooters were noted for efficient service in the battles of Yorktown, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Spotsylvania and Petersburg.

The 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters were consolidated on December 31, 1864.

Hiram C. Berdan was the founder of the Sharpshooters. Berdan was born in the town of Phelps, New York, on September 6, 1824. Not only was Berdan a military officer in the Civil War and creator of the Sharpshooters regiment, he was also an American mechanical engineer and creative inventor. Some of Berdan's inventions included the Berdan rifle (a repeating rifle) and the Berdan center fire primer, a range finder torpedo boat for evading torpedo nets during and after the Civil War. Berdan also developed the first commercial gold amalgamation machine to separate gold from ore. Berdan was also known for being an amateur champion marksman in the United States. Berdan's interest in rifles and shooting led him to the idea of creating a regiment full of men who all had notable shooting skills: the Sharpshooters. On November 30, 1861, Berdan was named colonel of both the first and second Sharpshooter regiments. After serving for three years, Berdan resigned his position as colonel on November 30, 1864, in order to return to his life as a mechanical engineer and inventor. Berdan died on March 31, 1893, and was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.

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