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2nd United States Sharpshooters

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this regiment’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: Organized by Companies as follows:1

  • Company “A” in Minnesota October 5, 1861;
  • Company “B” in Michigan October 4, 1861;
  • Company “C” in Pennsylvania October 4, 1861;
  • Company “D” in Maine November 2, 1861;
  • Company “E” in Vermont November 9, 1861;
  • Company “F” in New Hampshire November 28, 1861;
  • Company “G” in New Hampshire December 10, 1861;
  • Company “H” in Vermont December 31, 1861.

Muster Out: Discontinued February 20, 1865.2

  • Company “A” transferred to 1st Minnesota Infantry,
  • Company “B” to 5th Michigan Infantry,
  • Company “C” to 105th Pennsylvania Infantry,
  • Company “D” to 17th Maine Infantry,
  • Company “F” to 5th New Hampshire Infantry,
  • Company “G” to 5th New Hampshire Infantry,
  • Company “H” to 4th Vermont Infantry.

Commander(s):
Major James E. Doughty
Commander Image

Captain Adolphus A. Guest
Commander Image

Captain Abraham Wright
Commander Image

Lieutenant Joseph B. Brown
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Commander 5
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army3,4

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army6,7

Third Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army10,11

  • Commander: Captain Abraham Wright (July 31, 1864)12
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army13,14

  • Commander: Captain Adolphus A. Guest (August 31, 1864)15
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army16,17

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army18,19

  • Commander: Lieutenant Joseph B. Brown (October 31, 1864)20
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army21 ,22

  • Commander: Major James E. Doughty (December 31, 1864)23
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This regiment participated in Warren’s Stony Creek, or “Apple Jack” Raid to Belfield and Hicksford, Virginia in mid-December 1864.24

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union (January 1-February 20, 1865)25,26

  • Commander: Major James E. Doughty (January 31, 1865)27
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 2nd United States Sharpshooters was discontinued on February 20, 1865. Company “A” transferred to 1st Minnesota Infantry, Company “B” to 5th Michigan Infantry, Company “C” to 105th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company “D” to 17th Maine Infantry, Company “F” to 5th New Hampshire Infantry, Company “G” to 5th New Hampshire Infantry, and Company “H” to 4th Vermont Infantry.28
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865, implying it was present during the Eighth Offensive and the battle.29

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Was no longer in service.30

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles31:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-19.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to February 20, 1865.
  • Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23, 1864.
  • Demonstration north of the James River July 27-29.
  • Deep Bottom July 28-29.
  • Demonstration north of the James August 13-20.
  • Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18.
  • Poplar Springs Church, Peeble’s Farm, September 29-October 2.
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
  • Expedition to Weldon Railroad December 7-12.
  • Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.
  • Discontinued February 20, 1865. Company “A” transferred to 1st Minnesota Infantry, Company “B” to 5th Michigan Infantry, Company “C” to 105th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company “D” to 17th Maine Infantry, Company “F” to 5th New Hampshire Infantry, Company “G” to 5th New Hampshire Infantry, and Company “H” to 4th Vermont Infantry.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    3. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 221
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 544
    5. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 2nd United States Sharpshooters Entry, Page 65; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    6. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p,. 221
    7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 544
    8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 544
    9. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 2nd United States Sharpshooters Entry, Page 65; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 253
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 731
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 731
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 613: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 118: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 613: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    16. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1299.
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 138: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)”
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 459: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 154: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 459: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1116: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    22. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60).
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1116: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    24. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60).
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 326: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 64: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
    27. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 326: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    28. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 64: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
    30. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    31. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
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