Mysterious unit

[FortyRounder]

I was wondering if anyone has information on an obscure Civil War unit, the 1st Battalion New York Sharpshooters. They were formed in late 1862 by drawing together so-called "sharpshooter" companies that were part of New York infantry regiments. The battalion served in the Siege of Suffolk and was later attached to the Iron Brigade during the Spring 1864 campaign (you can guess how the westerners felt about having a NY unit put in their brigade).

The 1st NY suffered proportionally high casualties in the 1864 battles, but there is almost nothing written about them. They have sometimes been confused with Berdan's Sharpshooters. What kind of rifle did they carry? What were their uniforms? If any of you fine fellows can help me answer these questions, I'd appreciate it.

Update: from the New York Civil War Forum http://www.cwoodcock.com/forum/db_Ta...name=newyboard

When the First Battalion of New York sharpshooters was raised in Jan. 1863, it consolidated the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Company Sharpshooters. They were assigned to Gibb's Provisional Brigade, 7th Army Corps and served at the Seige of Suffolk. Total casualties at Suffolk was four killed, five missing. They were transferred to the First Corps and fought at Petersburg where at Weldon Railraod, three officers and fifty sharpshooters along with the Seventh Indiana were captured. (OR, Series I, Vol. XLII/1, 66) Enough men were left for the unit to remain on the muster roll. From Oct. 1, 1864 to Dec. 31, the battalion was led by Sergeant Richard Boyle (O.R. Series I, Vol. XLII/3, 461). The battalion was unattached and served in Brig. Gen. Joshua Chamberlain's brigade and was present to watch Gordon's surrender at Appomattox.

The 1-5th Companies were part of the 56th NY Infantry.

[FlaYankee]

Re: Mysterious unit

Will; I'm thinking they were also known as the 1st NY Ind. SS. According to the book, " An introduction to Civil War Small Arms" by Earl Coates and Dean Thomas, this unit was armed with Sharpes Rifles around the 63-64 time period, and that information was taken from the National Archives.
If I find anything else on this unit, I'll let you know.
Hope this helps some.
Good luck with your search.
Kindest Regards;

[roundshot]

Re: Mysterious unit

This is probably the unit you are referring to:

http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/other/1stUSSS/1stUSSSMain.htm

[FortyRounder]

Re: Mysterious unit

Will; I'm thinking they were also known as the 1st NY Ind. SS. According to the book, " An introduction to Civil War Small Arms" by Earl Coates and Dean Thomas, this unit was armed with Sharpes Rifles around the 63-64 time period, and that information was taken from the National Archives.
If I find anything else on this unit, I'll let you know.
Hope this helps some.
Good luck with your search.
Kindest Regards;

Thanks for that information. It helps to fill in the image of what these men would have looked like. I wonder if they received any sharpshooter training when the battalion was formed?

[FortyRounder]

Re: Mysterious unit

This is probably the unit you are referring to:

http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic...stUSSSMain.htm

Yes, that is actually one of my favorite websites. The page for the 1st NY sharpshooters has good info, but is filled with errors confusing it with Berdan's Sharpshooters and, oddly enough, the NY Engineer regiments.

[Gary of CA]

Re: Mysterious unit

Heck, that cite looks like I wrote it. The high casualties was mostly because of many being captured at Weldon Railroad.

Anyhow, if you would like to see a jacket worn by a member of that unit, go to the Atlanta Historical Society. They also have a cap fitted with a brass vent. Second, I've even found a gun belonging to a sharpshooter in that unit. The museum that has it misattributed that rifle to another unit. If I get my book out, they'll be in Chapter 7.

[FortyRounder]

Re: Mysterious unit

Heck, that cite looks like I wrote it. The high casualties was mostly because of many being captured at Weldon Railroad.

Anyhow, if you would like to see a jacket worn by a member of that unit, go to the Atlanta Historical Society. They also have a cap fitted with a brass vent. Second, I've even found a gun belonging to a sharpshooter in that unit. The museum that has it misattributed that rifle to another unit. If I get my book out, they'll be in Chapter 7.

Thanks for the information, Gary. Until I get a chance to visit Atlanta, could you tell me what kind of jacket it is? And is the rifle a Sharps?

[Gary of CA]

Re: Mysterious unit

Sorry, I'm no reenactor so I can't tell you other than it was a long jacket (below the waist) and methinks four black buttons. The rifle isn't at Atlanta but at another museum which has taken it down as an exhibit. It's in storage. I'm going to a profession book publishing firm to do the editing and should have my book out next year. It should have been this year but my (former) editor didn't touch it for eight months.

[FortyRounder]

Re: Mysterious unit

Sorry, I'm no reenactor so I can't tell you other than it was a long jacket (below the waist) and methinks four black buttons. The rifle isn't at Atlanta but at another museum which has taken it down as an exhibit. It's in storage. I'm going to a profession book publishing firm to do the editing and should have my book out next year. It should have been this year but my (former) editor didn't touch it for eight months.

Thanks, Gary. Sounds like a sack coat with the same gutta percha buttons used by the U.S. Sharpshooters.