The 1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters was a sharpshooter unit in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Service
The 1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters was organized in Lynn, Massachusetts and mustered in for three years service on September 2, 1861. The company was originally recruited for Colonel Hiram Berdan's sharpshooter regiments. When the men were informed that they would lose their enlistment bounty, they declined to join Berdan's regiments and instead remained independent. Most of the recruits tended to be skilled workmen who were competitive shooters tending to be older than the average Union soldier, and these men also tended to be of the larger physical size. They were armed with heavy, custom target rifles and Sharps rifles during their service.
The company was attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, II Corps, Army of the Potomac, but nominally operated with the 15th Massachusetts Infantry to July 1864, and with the 19th Massachusetts Infantry to September 1864.
The 1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters mustered out September 6, 1864.
Detailed service
1861
Left Massachusetts for Washington, D.C., September 2. Picket and outpost duty on the Upper Potomac River from Conrad's Ferry to Harrison's Island until October 20. Operations on the Potomac River October 21–24. Battle of Ball's Bluff October 21. At Harpers Ferry and Bolivar Heights until March 7, 1862.
1862
At Charlestown until March 10. Capt. John Saunders of Salem, MA commanding
At Berryville until March 13. Movement toward Winchester and return to Bolivar Heights March 13–15. The Peninsula campaign (March 17-August 4) Moved to Fortress Monroe March 22-April 1. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. — Attached to Gorman's 1st Brigade, Sedgwick's 2nd Division, Sumner's II Corps, McClellan's Army of the Potomac Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, May 31-June 1. Seven Days before Richmond June 25-July 1. — Attached to Sully's 1st Brigade, Sedgwick's 2nd Division, Sumner's II Corps Peach Orchard and Battle of Savage's Station June 29. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Battle of Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August 15. Movement to Alexandria August 15–28 To Centreville, Second Battle of Bull Run August 29–30. Cover Pope's retreat August 31-September 1. Battle of Antietam, September 16–17. — Attached to Gorman's 1st Brigade, Sedgwick's 2nd Division, Sumner's II Corps — Supported II Corps attack, sniping at opposing officers and snipers. Captain Sanders killed with nine others. Moved to Harpers Ferry September 22 and duty there until October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 20. On Picket, Falmouth to 12 December — 9 December, eighteen men on muster roll. Captain William Plummer of Cambridge, MA, arrived with forty recruits and took command of the company. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12–15. — Attached to Sully's 1st Brigade, Howard's 2nd Division, Couch's II Corps — Provided counter-sniper fire during construction of pontoon bridges and crossing 11 and 12 December. Set up positions on outskirts of city below Marye's Heights targeting artillerymen on the heights.
1863
"Mud March" January 20–24. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. — Attached to Gibbon's 2nd Division, Couch's II Corps, Hooker's Army of the Potomac Maryes Heights, Second Battle of Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3–4. Banks' Ford May 4. Battle of Gettysburg, July 2–4. — Attached to Gibbon's/Harrow's 2nd Division, Hancock's/Gibbon's/Hays' II Corps, Meade's Army of the Potomac —
Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13–17. Bristoe Campaign October 9–22. — Attached to Webb's 2nd Division, Warren's II Corps, Meade's Army of the Potomac Battle of Bristoe Station October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock, Second Battle of Rappahannock Station November 7–8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. — Attached to Morehead 3rd Brigade, Webb's 2nd Division, Warren's II Corps, Meade's Army of the Potomac Robertson's Tavern or Locust Grove November 27.