The National tribune., 1886-06-03
MONUMENT TO THE BERDAN SHARP
SHOOTERS.

MONUMENT TO THE BERDAN SHARP
SHOOTERS.
A prominent General Of the Army Of the
Potomac once said that sail the romance of
the war centered around the Berdan Sharp
shooters" This was, of course, a sweeping |
statement, but there is more truth in it than |
would appear at the first utterance.
The Berdan Sharpshooters was corps Of
unique organization and phenomenal his
tory. Hiram Berdan, was-and is yet-a
man of extraordinary talents for organiza-
ton and leadership. Years before the war,
when craftsmanship was valued as gentle
manly accomplishment, he had achieved the
position of the first rifle shot in the country.
When the war came he was commissioned to
raise a corps of expert rifemen and was
given unusual powers. Heresolved to gather
into one body all of the very best shots of
the loyal States, and the competition for ad-
mission to the corps became quite spirited.
Over 5000 good rihemen, who believed them
selves up to the required standard, applied
from II loyal States for admission, and sub
mitted to the rigid tests. These were so in
fexibly applied that a man whose string"
was one-sixteenth OF an inch in excess Of the
standard was rejected. Out Of the 5000
about 1000 passed the ordeal successfully,
and were formed into the First Regiment
United States sharpshooters Subsequently
second regiment was formed in similar
manner, the command of which Col Berdan
gave to II. A. V. Post, of New York.
The sharpshooters made record for them
selves that fulfilled the high expectations
entertained Of them. Yorktown made them
famous, and every battle the Army Of the
Potomac fought afterward added to their
reputation. At Charlottesville they cap
tured one of the best brigades in the Army
OF Northern Virginia, and at Gettysburg the
successful stand they made at a most critical
time against overwhelming numbers ia one
Of the finest things in the history of war,
Col. Berdan leading his men mounted liter
ally between two fires. On this spot the
monument now being made at the expense
Of the State Of New Hampshire TO the Berdan
Sharpshooters is to be erected.
While these splendid services were highly
appreciated at the time, as the compliment
tary orders OF commanding Generals testify,
comparatively little has been done to per-
manently commemorate them. A national
monument was talked of Immediately after
the close Of the war, but the scheme has
languished until recently Gen Berdan re-
turned from an Is years stay in Europe and
at the request Of the survivors of the company
has put his energetic shoulder TO the wheel.
Now ii begins TO take most hopeful shape.
All Of the ~ loyal States which had repre-
sentatiyes in the organization have appro-
priaied or definitely promised TO appropriate
money TO aid in erecting national monu-
ment at Washington. Arrangements are
now being completed for systematic solicit.
ing Of contributions from all who desire 10
see a monument erected worthy Of that
gallant body Of men.
! Gen. Berdan, though engrossed with ex
; tensive business schemes, has yielded t.
earnest solicitations, and will write history
s Of the corps he raised and commanded. Tn,
e General is a terse, graphic writer, and tn,
q book he viii write viii not only be sub
e stantial contribution TO history, but have
a fascination as a narrative rarely equaled b,
I any sober statement OF fact 1t will be got
e ten up in the finest style, embellished witt
many illustrations, portraits, diagrams, map;
z etc. A copy Of the book viii be sent &
n everyone who contributes SO TO the monu
y ment Contributions can be sent to tn
+ NATIONAL TRIBUNE, TO Riggs & Co, bank
IS ers, or TO Gen. Hiram Berdan, Washington.
" All subscriptions 10 the monument viii b
n acknowledged in these columns.
e We take pleasure in announcing that G e
# Berdan has agreed 10 favor THE NATIoNA
y TRIBUNE with several Of the most interest
le ing chapters in advance Of their publicatio