1st Michigan Volunteer Sharpshooters Regiment

The 1st Michigan Sharpshooters was organized at Kalamazoo and Dearborn, Michigan, between April 14 and October 7, 1863, and six companies were mustered into Federal service on July 7, 1863, to serve three years.[1]

Major John Piper, of Battle Creek, originally served as Captain of the famed Company D (The "Michigan Boys") of the Western Sharpshooters (W.S.S.) Regiment. Captain Piper resigned from the W.S.S. to take up the position of Major of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. He was killed in action at the Battle of Spottsylvania Courthouse, May 13, 1864.[2]

The initial six companies were sent to Seymour, IN to repel the Morgan Raid where they were in contact with his raiders at North Vernon, July 13, and at Pierceville .July 14. After the successful rebuff of the raid, the regiment returned to Dearborn and trained there until August 16 when they moved to Chicago, to guarding prisoners-of-war (POWs) until March 17, 1864.The regiment was ordered to Annapolis, Md., March 17.

Of note, Company K was composed primarily of Native Americans of the United States, especially members of the Ojibwa, Odawa, and Potawatomi nations. In their first action at Although some members were armed with repeaters and breech-loaders, and despite Colonel Deland's attempts to requisition 700 Henrys for the regiment, the majority remained armed with Springfield Model 1861 rifled muskets[3]. The unit distinguished itself in its skirmishing ability, infiltration ability, and marksmanship.

The regiment was highly trained in its combat skills, and the First Nations men in Company K were recognized as the most accomplished[4]. In their first combat at The Wilderness,

They, on the very first day at the front, caught on to the great advantage our enemy employed over us in the color of uniform. Ours was blue, and could be seen at a long distance; while the "Johnny" (as we called them) could not be spotted at a comparatively short distance, even when lying in an open field.

This disadvantage to us was appreciated almost immediately that these Indians got in the field, and they would go out and find a dry spot of earth and roll in it until their uniform was the complete color of the ground before going out on the skirmish line; and if the day was wet, they would not hesitate to take mud and rub it over their clothes, for as soon as this dried a little they would have what they were after—the color of the earth. This custom was adopted by my whole Regiment; and it was often remarked that our Regiment could do the closest skirmishing at the least cost of any Regiment in the Division.

Sgt. Thomas Ke-chi-ti-go, called "Big Tom" by the white Sharpshooters, further "ordered each brave to cover his breast and head with twigs and leaves to prevent contrast of color with their surroundings.[5]

Through its service, the regiment was esteemed for its solid, dependable, and effective conduct. It provided valuable sniping, counter-sniping, and harassment fire during the Siege of Petersburg. It was noted for its "splendid work" in the debacle of the Battle of the Crater on 30 July 1864. Many other Union soldiers noticed mortally wounded Native American members of Company K, "... drawing their blouses over their faces, they chanted a death song and died — four of them a group.[6]"

The 1st was one of the first units to enter the city after it finally fell on April 1, 1865.

The regiment was attached to the following:

• 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, IX Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1864.
• 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, IX Corps, to July, 1865

The regiment suffered 6 officers and 131 enlisted men who were killed in action or mortally wounded and 165 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 362 fatalities.[9]

Four First Nation Members of Company K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters chanting their death songs at The Battle of the Crater[6]

Col. Charles V. DeLand

• Colonel Charles Victor DeLand held nominal command of the regiment from its initial muster until his discharge for disability, on 4 February 1865. Because of wounds, incarceration as a POW, hospitalization, and brief stints as brigade commander, he spent only a portion of this time in active command. DeLand was promoted to Brevet Brigadier General for "faithful, gallant, and meritorious service" on 14 March 1865.
• Captain Levant Rhines actively commanded the regiment from 14 May 1864 until killed in action, 17 June 1864. He was posthumously promoted to major.
• Captain Elmer Dicey actively commanded the regiment from Rhines' death until 15 July 1864. He also commanded the regiment during the Battle of the Crater, 30 July 1864, during which he was captured.
• Captain George Murdock actively commanded the regiment from 30 September 1864, when Colonel DeLand was wounded and captured, until November 1864. He resigned on 12 December 1864. Murdock was promoted to Brevet Major on 4 December 1864.
• Major Asahel Nichols actively commanded the regiment from 12 November 1864 until February 1865, when he assumed full command. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in March, and remained in command until 2 April 1865, when he was seriously wounded. He was promoted to Brevet Colonel for his “conspicuous gallantry” that day.
• Several officers briefly commanded the regiment during the ensuing battle on 2 April 1865, among them, Captain James DeLand, and Captain Levant Case, who assumed command after DeLand was wounded. Both men were promoted to Brevet Major for their actions that day.
• Captain (later Brevet Major) Ira Evans commanded the regiment from 3 April until 27 April 1865.
• Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Edward J. Buckbee commanded the regiment from 27 April until the Sharpshooters mustered out, 28 July 1865.

• First Sergeant Charles H. De Puy[10] Company H — for working guns in a rebel fort during Battle of the Crater
• Corporal Sidney Haight[11] Company E — instead of retreating he exposed himself to Confederate fire, remaining in the captured position and deliberately returned fire until the enemy was close upon him.
• Private Charles M. Thatcher[10] Company B — instead of retreating or surrendering when the works were captured, regardless of his personal safety, Private Thatcher continued to return the enemy's fire until he was captured.
• Corporal Benjamin F. Youngs[12] — Capture of flag of 35th North Carolina Infantry (C.S.A.)

• List of Michigan Civil War Units
• Michigan in the American Civil War

• The Civil War Archive
• National Park Service — 1st Regiment, Michigan Sharpshooters