1st Minnesota Sharpshooters Company

The 1st Minnesota Sharpshooters Company was a military unit from Minnesota that served on the Union side during the American Civil War. It was organized at Fort Snelling under authority granted by the United States Secretary of War and was formally mustered into service on October 6, 1861. Its formation reflected the Union Army’s effort to create specialized sharpshooter organizations capable of accurate long-range fire and battlefield observation. Soon after mustering, the company received orders to travel to Washington, D.C. There it reported to Colonel Hiram Berdan, the officer associated with the organization of the United States Sharpshooters. The Minnesota company was assigned as Company A of the 2nd United States Sharpshooters, thereby becoming part of a broader federal sharpshooter formation rather than operating solely as an independent Minnesota company. The unit’s organizational identity changed during its service. After completing its period with the 2nd United States Sharpshooters, it was transferred to the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment and designated as Company A of that regiment. This transfer placed the men within one of Minnesota’s established volunteer infantry formations while preserving the company’s connection to its original sharpshooter service. The company’s documented service lasted from October 6, 1861, until July 15, 1865, when the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment was mustered out. It is therefore best understood as a historical military organization, not a commercial brand or continuing institution. Available reference material identifies its principal organizational transitions and service dates but does not provide a complete personnel roster, battle-by-battle record, casualty total, or later institutional successor.

The 1st Minnesota Sharpshooters Company was organized at Fort Snelling in Minnesota in 1861 during the mobilization of Union forces for the American Civil War. Its creation was authorized by the United States Secretary of War, placing the company within the federal system of volunteer military formations. The company was mustered into service on October 6, 1861. Following its organization, the unit was ordered to Washington, D.C. The company reported to Colonel Hiram Berdan, who was closely associated with the Union Army’s sharpshooter formations. Rather than remaining an autonomous Minnesota formation, the company was assigned as Company A of the 2nd United States Sharpshooters. This assignment connected Minnesota volunteers with a specialized federal organization intended to use accurate rifle fire and skilled marksmen in support of Union operations. The company later underwent another organizational change. After its service with the 2nd United States Sharpshooters ended, the men were transferred to the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment and redesignated as Company A. The transfer illustrates the fluid administrative structure of Civil War volunteer units, in which companies could be reassigned between regiments or federal formations as personnel, service terms, and military requirements changed. The 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment remained in service until July 15, 1865, when it was mustered out. That date marks the end of the documented service of the 1st Minnesota Sharpshooters Company. The available account establishes the company’s place of organization, federal assignment, later transfer, and overall service period, but does not independently document a full roster, specific engagements, commanding officers, equipment details, or postwar commemorative organization. The company consequently belongs to the history of Civil War military units rather than to the history of a continuing brand or commercial enterprise.

• 1865

  Mustered out

  [1]1st Minnesota Sharpshooters Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company’s service ended when the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment was mustered out on July 15, 1865.

• 1861

  Organization at Fort Snelling

  [1]1st Minnesota Sharpshooters Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company was organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, under authority of the United States Secretary of War.

• 1861

  Mustered into Union service

  [1]1st Minnesota Sharpshooters Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company formally entered service on October 6, 1861.

• 1861

  Assigned to the 2nd United States Sharpshooters

  [1]1st Minnesota Sharpshooters Companyen.wikipedia.org

  After traveling to Washington, D.C., the Minnesota company reported to Colonel Hiram Berdan and became Company A of the 2nd United States Sharpshooters.

• Transferred to the 1st Minnesota Infantry

  [1]1st Minnesota Sharpshooters Companyen.wikipedia.org

  After completing its service with the 2nd United States Sharpshooters, the company was transferred to the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment as Company A.

A specialized Union Army sharpshooter company organized from Minnesota during the American Civil War.

1. 11st Minnesota Sharpshooters Companyen.wikipedia.org