Скачать или смотреть The 1st US Sharpshooters; Berdan's Sharpshooters at the Seige of Yorktown

The 1st United States Sharpshooters, formed during the early years of the American Civil War, represented a unique and elite branch of the Union Army. Authorized by the War Department in 1861 and organized under the command of Colonel Hiram Berdan, the regiment was composed of highly skilled marksmen recruited from various Northern states. These men were selected through rigorous shooting trials, ensuring that only the most accurate and disciplined riflemen were admitted.

Equipped with specialized rifles and dressed in distinctive green uniforms to blend with natural surroundings, the sharpshooters were deployed in roles that required stealth, precision, and tactical acumen. Their primary mission was to target enemy officers, artillery crews, and other high-value personnel, often operating ahead of the main lines or in support of larger infantry movements. The regiment saw action in numerous key battles, including Gettysburg, Antietam, and Chancellorsville, where their marksmanship and reconnaissance capabilities proved invaluable.

Beyond their battlefield contributions, the 1st U.S. Sharpshooters symbolized the evolving nature of warfare, emphasizing accuracy and individual skill over massed firepower. Their legacy endures as a testament to the importance of specialized units in modern military strategy and the courage of those who served in one of the Civil War’s most distinctive regiments