Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 22.djvu/112

 100 Southern Historical Society Papers.

During our occupancy of winter quarters, previous to the Mine Run engagement in May, 1864, our time was spent in perfecting ourselves in the

SKIRMISH DRILL BY SIGNALS,

and in rifle-target practice at different ranges from fifty yards to 1,000 yards and so proficient did the men become in estimating distances that, although the chain was used to confirm their calcula- tions, its use was finally discontinued as being unnecessary. Every day these practices were kept up under strict discipline, and system- atic regulation and improvement in markmanship noted, and such men as failed to make satisfactory progress were returned to their companies and others substituted, so also, when the casualties of bat- tle decimated the ranks, other details were made from the regiment in which the loss occurred, thereby keeping up the full maximum of strength. Thus, when the campaign of 1864 opened, this body of 1 80 officers and men, selected for special duty and because of emi- nent qualifications for such service, appeared thoroughly trained and fully equipped, and their subsequent record proved that they were absolutely invincible in every engagement in their history, never having been driven from their lines in any single engagement. The battle of Mine Run was the beginning of the

WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.

In this engagement the sharpshooters were deployed as skirmish- ers, and advancing rapidly drove the advanced enemy more than two miles to their heavy lines of reserves, and while our own line of battle was kept fully up in support there was no occasion to ask their assistance in this movement, for we did not need it. We captured at this time a large quantity of camp and other stores.

It is no part of my purpose to attempt a history of this organiza- tion in this paper, for I have not the data to enumerate the many engagements in which they participated, nor can I now recall the names of the gallant and peerless men who composed its rank and file, and made it almost the equal of any regimental organization in its army corps, but its great proficiency served as an incentive to the formation of similar bodies in nearly all of the other commands.

The duty expected of the sharpshooters was to establish and oc- cupy the skirmish line, while -the enemy was in front, and to serve on the picket line in all day duty being relieved at night by one of