Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-04-10

dams sharpshooters were in 43 BAT
ties and skirmishes.
All the service of this unique body
of troops was of the best. Fox, in
his Regimental Losses in the Civil
War. a book of recognized authority,
has this to say of them:
"Berdan's United States sharp
shooters were the best known Of any
OF the regiments in the army. It
would have been difficult to raise IN
any one state regiment equal to
Berdan's regiments. The class or
men selected were also OF high
grade in physical qualifications and
intelligence. They were continually
in demand as skirnishers on account
Of their wonderful proficiency as
such. and they undoubtedly killed
more men than any other regiment
in the army. In skirmishing they had
no equal"
They were not only good skirmish
ers,-they did equally we'll as ordin-
airy infantry the battle lines. They
We're sent. also. by companies, IN
squads or singly to get into hiding
and, by their superior craftsmanship
pick off rebel oincers or men loading
and hiring cannon from the other
side.
Especially did these sharpshooters
DO good service at Gettysburg. Dur
ing those three days of fearful strife
they were sent here and there where
most needed, and they contributed in
no small measure to the Union vic
tory there. A fine monument stands
in Gettysburg Park to commemorate
their gallant deeds. This monument
stands for the regiment. but there are
also markers noting the position OF
some eof the companies during the
critical times in the battle. The
marker for Company G. that from
Wisconsin, is a great rugged block ,oi
granite on one side of which there
is, in strong relief, the figure of a
sharpshooter resting one one foot and
one knee preparing to draw a bead
on some officer or gunner over
across. A polished surface below
bears the inscription The rugged
simplicity of this Wisconsin noun
ment ptakes it very impressive.
Colonel Berdan must hayee been a
most excellent commencing officer
He maintained the best of discl-
pine in his regiment but with more
of tact thinb than za,ro,.f+,, fto,,,
rade Peirce says that Colonel Berdan
was one of the pleasantest men he
ever knew and one of the bravcst
He was a man of fine physique, and
when he sometimes entered into the
pasttime contests of strength and
speed with his men could set the
pace for the strongest and swiftest,
and then his skill in craftsmanship
was remarkable Men always respect
those who in good s1irit easily Guido
them in feats of strength, skill and
intellect. And so / think they he'd
Colonel Berdan in high esteem.
The companies of Berdan's sharp
shooters came from five differen,
states. Their three-year terms of
service expired at different dates in
the summer of 1864, when they were
one by one mustered out,--Company
G of Wisconsin, September 90 At
this time there were only - of the
men discharged from this company
All the others in the company at that
time were either recruits whose
time had not yet expired or men who
had re-enlisted as veterans. When
the last company of the regiment was
mustered out all these recruits and
veterans were transferred TO the sec.
ond regiment of sharpshooters (there
were but two of these regiments IN
the service; and when the time OF
this second regiment had expired,
February IS. 1865, those who had nor
yet served out their terfs of enlist
mont wera transferred tn some other