One of my favorite images in the collection is this remarkable quarter plate tintype of an unidentified private belonging to the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters. The same painted back drop and at least one variant appear in a large number of circa-early 1864 tintypes taken in the field; most subjects belonged to the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac. By this point in the war both regiments of Berdan’s Sharpshooters, formerly part of the 1st Division, Third Corps, had transferred to the 3rd Division, Second Corps after the Third was disbanded following massive losses at Gettysburg and Mine Run. Although they were camped together after the transfer their leadership and supply situation was wildly different.
Following the death of Lt. Colonel Caspar Trepp of the 1st U.S.S.S. at Mine Run, that regiment was commanded by a senior captain in early 1864 and lacked organization at the field and staff level. As such the men were “left to the captains” who allowed the enlisted men quite a bit of leeway in their dress. Dark blue flannel sack coats were drawn instead of new dark green uniform coats due to their cheaper price the men would have to pay out of their clothing allotment. Company officers or quartermaster sergeants, when requesting trousers, largely failed to denote “green” on the QM forms so sky blue trousers were issued instead. Bayonets and equipment plates were discarded. NCO’s failed to wear the prescribed rank insignia. Morale and discipline slacked to such a degree that some men were censured for firing their weapons in camp. Major Charles Mattocks of the 17th Maine Infantry, a no-nonsense spit and polish officer that one sharpshooter noted “had many yards of superfluous red tape surrounding him” was sent to whip the 1st U.S.S.S. into shape. After several months and much indignation on his part Mattocks had mostly succeeded and even learned to enjoy his detached service with the sharpshooters. While the men resented an outsider from the “common infantry” Mattocks did all he could for them. He would be captured at the battle of the Wilderness in May, 1864, while riding ahead of his shattered skirmish line to hunt up sharpshooters who had failed to retreat.
Meanwhile, the 2nd U.S.S.S., commanded by Lt. Colonel Homer Stoughton and Major Edward T. Rowell, were uniformed head to toe in crisp brand new dark green caps, uniform coats, and trousers produced by Schuylkill Arsenal. The arsenal had all but exhausted it’s supply of Goodyear’s patent hard rubber buttons bearing the U.S. Coat of Arms; as a replacement the newly-made coats bore plain domed pin-shank rubber buttons purchased from civilian clothier Thomas Carhart. These very buttons can be seen in the tintype above as well as on the surviving frock coat of Sgt. William F. Tilson, Co. E (VT) 2nd U.S.S.S., not to mention a score of other wartime photographs. The 2nd would later exchange their green uniform coats for blue flannel sack coats just before entering the Wilderness that May.
The sharpshooter above cradles a New Model 1859 “Berdan contract” Sharps with double set triggers and fitted for an angular bayonet. Although it cannot be seen in the matted/framed scan here, the middle barrel band of his rifle has a dark length of cloth tied to it, perhaps added as a hand-hold for shooting or a way to quickly identify his rifle from others. He wears a non-regulation kepi likely purchased from a tailor or the regimental sutler Andrew J. “Moses” Sweetser.
Brian T. White Collection.
They Expect Wonders of Us 