3rd Battalion Sharpshooters
Roster
(Surnames)
3rd Battalion Sharpshooters was organized during
the spring of 1863 with men who transferred from other Georgia
units and those recruited in Richmond and Gwineet counties. It
contained five companies and was soon ordered to Virginia. Assigned
to General Wofford's Brigade, it moved with Longstreet but was
not engaged at Chickamauga. After serving in East Tennessee the
battalion returned to Virginia, fought in the battles of The Wilderness,
Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, then was part of Early's operations
in the Shenandoah Valley. Placed under the command of General
DuBose, it later was active in the Appomattox Campaign. The unit
had many captured at Sayler's Creek and surrendered with only
1 officer and 22 men. Its commanders were Lieutenant Colonel Nathan
L. Hutchins, Jr., and Majors Philip E. Davant, William E. Simmons,
and H.H. Smith.
I received the following e-mail which corrects the information above.
The info you have posted on this unit is incorrect. They were formed in April
1863 by selection of the best qualified men from Gen Wm T Wofford;s Ga brigade
(16th, 18th, 24th regts + Cobb & Phillips Legion Inf Battalions). They
fought at Chancellorsville as an organized (but as yet undesignated unit) and
suffered heavy casualties. The unit attained official designation in June 1863
and fought at Gettysburg as the scouting/skirmishing component of Wofford's
brigade. I have extensive documentation in support of their history. The NPS has
finally (grudgingly) agreed to accept their existence at Gettysburg upon my
submission of period newspaper published casualty reports and unit documentation
from the CSRs at NARA.
Let me know what you would like to see and I'll send along.
Best regards,
Kurty
Previous
Page