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First Company Sharpshooters Massachusetts Infantry.
(1)
Capt. John Saunders.
(2)
Capt. William Plumer.
(3)
Capt. Isaac N. Mudgett.
| Officers. | Enlisted Men. | Total. | | Officers. | Enlisted Men. | Total. |
Number on rolls, | 11 | 257 | 268 | Killed and died of wounds, | 3 | 16 | 19 |
| | | | Missing, | – | 2 | 2 |
Enlisted men (included above) commissioned in company, | – | 7 | 7 | Died by accident or disease, | – | 16 | 16 |
| | | | Died as prisoners, | – | 3 | 3 |
Actual total of members of company, | 11 | 250 | 261 | Totals, | 3 | 37 | 40 |
Casualties by Engagements.
1862. | | | | May 18, Spotsylvania, Va., | – | 1 | 1 |
Sept. 17, Antietam, Md., | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| | | | May 31, Jones Farm, Va., | – | 1 | 1 |
1863. | | | | June 3, Cold Harbor, Va., | – | 1 | 1 |
July 2-3, Gettysburg, Pa., | – | 3 | 3 |
| | | | June 18, Petersburg, Va., | 1 | – | 1 |
1864. |
May 12, Wilderness, Va., | – | 1 | 1 | Sept. 28, Petersburg, Va., | – | 1 | 1 |
The 1st Company Sharpshooters, known as the
Andrew Sharpshooters, numbering 98 men, under
Capt. John Saunders, was organized in camp at
Lynnfield, Mass., in August, 1861, and was mustered and left the
State September 3.
It was assigned to
General Lander's Brigade, located near Poolsville, Md., and met the enemy in a skirmish at Edward's Ferry, October 1 and 2.
The company remained on the
Upper Potomac with
General Lander until his death in March, 1862, and, after serving for a time under
General Shields, was attached to the 15th Mass. Infantry, then engaged at the siege of
Yorktown, and served with it until the spring of 1863, sharing in the
peninsular campaign, and losing heavily in the charge at
Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862, where
Captain Saunders and
First Lieutenant Berry were killed.
Second Lieutenant Martin took command of the company after the battle until the arrival of
Capt. William Plumer from
Massachusetts with forty recruits, Dec. 9, 1862.
On April 17, 1863, the company was attached to the 2d Division, 2d Corps, and served with it at
Chancellorsville and
Gettysburg.
About the 11th of August it was ordered to join the 20th Mass. Infantry, and, serving under
First Sergeant Gilbreth, took active part at the
battle of Bristoe Station, October 14, and engaged afterward in the
Mine Run Campaign.
It served with the 20th Regiment during the
Wilderness Campaign, and lost its commanding officer,
Lieutenant Gilbreth, at
Petersburg, June 18.
Soon afterward those who remained of the company were attached to the 19th Mass. Infantry, and were identified with its members until their muster out of service at the close of the war.