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Re: Sharpshooters
In Response To: Re: Sharpshooters ()

"What the General Orders does not specify, unless I missed it, is that these sharpshooter battalions, for the most part, were not organized as a separate entity insofar as musters are concerned. It seems that except for the ones that received their own unique name such as the Georgians mentioned or Austin's and ones like these, that these groups were unnamed and the men fell back into their normal roles within their regiments and that the sharpshooters were only called out when action was eminent."

Here is some additional information on the formation of the Sharpshooter Battalions.

Prior to his promotion to Division command, Brigadier General Robert Rodes had approached General Daniel H. Hill with the proposal of developing a “Sharpshooter Battalion”. The concept of using a detail of marksmen drawn from across the regiment was first used by a Regimental commander in Rodes’ Brigade, Colonel Gayle of the 12th Alabama Infantry, at the Battle of Cold Harbor in June 1862. The need for a specially trained corps of skirmishers was reinforced by Rodes’ experience at South Mountain in September 1862. In late 1862, the Division commander, Major General D. H. Hill, came to the same conclusion and sent through an order stating “that the last campaign had fully demonstrated to the Major General commanding the impossibility of getting on without regularly trained sharpshooters.” He placed Robert Rodes in charge of the project and directed him to appoint an officer of grade major or above “conspicuous for gallantry and coolness in action.” Rodes assigned Major Eugene Blackford of the 5th Alabama Infantry Regiment to command the Corps of Sharpshooters.

Of course Major Eugene Blackford was honoured by this promotion to this unique position of responsibility. “I esteemed it a great compliment from General Rodes to have received the appointment.” He related General Rodes instructions as follows: “He (Rodes) had felt the absolute need of trained skirmishers always ready to go to the front instead of the miserable system heretofore existing of calling for details from each company hurriedly when approaching the enemy – who arrived at the head of the column in march all breathless, and utterly ignorant of the duty required of them – and besides company officers when called upon in this manner in entering the battle, did not wish to lose a good man and so sent the worst they had. Thus the indifferent men in the brigade, indifferently commanded by any detailed officer, who knew not one of his men or anything of the skirmish drill, were sent to protect the front. The consequences were inevitable – a feeling of insecurity in the main body – the necessity of keeping a second line for protection, the incessant alarms made by men in the front, who mistook every movement.” There would now be a dedicated unit of skirmishers, well trained in their duties under one officer, Blackford. “I was at liberty to send any one back I pleased. They were to be commanded by me absolutely and organize them as I pleased.”

So, under the guidance of the two men from Lynchburg, Virginia, General Robert Rodes and Major Eugene Blackford, in mid-January 1863 an elite Battalion of Sharpshooters was formed within the Alabama Brigade. About 4 picked men from each Company of the Brigade were selected for the unit. Only the best were accepted. Any man that did not meet Blackford’s strict standards of soldiering, marksmanship, and fidelity to the Southern cause was sent back to his company. Initially, the Battalion was made up of about 180-200 men. Not long after, General Robert Rodes ordered the formation of additional battalions of sharpshooters in the other brigades of the Division.

Most of the men of these Battalions were armed with Enfield rifles. These were effective at 600 -900 yards. Excellent marksmanship was a prime criterion for entry into the Battalion. Target practice took place daily and was recorded for each man. The men were also trained in range estimation. As well, skirmish tactics were rehearse utilizing buglers to issue commands to their long lines. Men that were members of this elite group were exempt from all camp duties, so it was a much sought after position.

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