Union monuments at Gettysburg > Michigan


1st United States Sharpshooter Regiment, Companies C, I & K
2nd United States Sharpshooter Regiment, Company B

The monument to the Michigan Sharpshooters is south of Gettysburg on the west slope of Little Round Top. Little Round Top tour map) It was erected in 1889 by the State of Michigan.

Col. Hiram Berdan’s two regiments of sharpshooters were unique in the Union army, using different uniforms, weapons, equipment and tactics from the “line units”. Although operating as United States Army units, each company within the regiments was formed of recruits from a single state. After the war the states (Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New HampshireNew York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin) erected monuments to their respective companies.

The 1st Regiment was commanded at Gettysburg by Colonel Berdan until he took command of the brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Casper Trepp then took over. The regiment brought 371 men to the field and lost 6 killed, 37 wounded and 6 missing.

The 2nd Regiment was commanded by Homer R. Stoughton. It brought 204 men to the field and lost 5 killed, 23 wounded and 15 missing.

3rd Corps Headquarters Flag Attached to the 2d Brigade, 1st Division 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac 3C-1D

Monument to the Michigan Sharpshooters on Little Round Top at GettysburgFrom the front of the monument:

Michigan
Sharpshooters

Company C,
1st Regiment U.S. Sharpshooters.
—-
Mustered into U.S. Service at Detroit, Mich. Aug. 26, 1861
Served until war ended
—-
Fought upon this field
July 2d near Sherfy House
Here July 3d.
—-
Wounded 1 officer 5 men
Missing 1 man.
Total 7.

2d Brig. 1st Div. 3d Corps

From the right (south) side:

Company I
1st Regiment U.S. Sharpshooters.
—-
Mustered into U.S. Service at Detroit, Mich. Mar. 4, 1862.
Served until war ended.
—-
Fought upon this field
July 2d near Pitzer’s Run,
here July 3d.
—-
Killed 1 officer.
Wounded 1 officer 3 men.
Total 5.

Rear of the Michigan Sharpshooters monument, looking down with Devil's Den in the distance.

Rear of the Michigan Sharpshooters monument,
looking down with Devil’s Den in the distance.

From the left (north) side:

Company B,
2nd Regiment U.S. Sharpshooters.
—-
Mustered into U.S. Service
at Detroit, Mich. Oct. 4, 1862.
Served until war ended.
—-
Fought upon this field
July 2d near Slyder House on extreme left
afterwards at this point.
July 3d on Cemetery Ridge near centre of line.
—-
4 men wounded.

From the rear (east side):

Company K,
1st Regiment U.S. Sharpshooters.
Mustered into U.S. Service
at Detroit, Mich. Mar. 20, 1862.
Served until war ended.
—-
Fought upon this field
July 2d near Sherfy House,
Here July 3d.
—-
4 men wounded.

Location of the monument

The monument to the Michigan Sharpshooters is south of Gettysburg on the west slope of Little Round Top about 200 feet west of the 44th New York Monument. (39°47’28.3″N 77°14’15.6″W)