Issued Sharpshooter Equipment

From U.S. Sharpshooter's Berdan's Civil War Elite, Sharpshooters were issued:

1. Bootees
   
2. Green forage cap "and yellow metal letters in front to designate companies"
   
3. Drawers, flannel or knit cotton
   
4. Green frock coat
   
5. Cold weather gloves
   
6. Leather leggings
   
7. Painted or Rubber poncho
   
8. Blue flannel sack coat
   
9. Flannel shirt
   
10. knit shirt
    
11. stockings
    
12. Green Trousers
    
13. Trouser suspenders
    
14. Sharps pattern cartridge box "Cartridge boxes and bayonet-scabbard will be polished with blacking.."
    
15. Bayonet
    
16. Wool blanket
    
17. Canteen
    
18. Cooking Kit: "in the field, the only mess furniture of the soldier will be one tin plate, one tin cup, one knife, fork, and spoon, to each man, to be carried by himself on the march."
    
19. Tin cup
20. Haversack
21. Rations: "12 oz pork or bacon or 1lb 4 oz of salt or fresh beef; 1lb 6oz of soft bread or flour, or, 1lb of hardbread, or, 1lb 4 oz corn meal; and to every 100 rations, 15lbs of beans or peans, and 10 lbs of rice or hominy; 10 lbs of green coffee, or 8lbs of roasted (or roasted and ground) coffee, 1lb 8oz of tea; 15 lbs of sugar; 4 qts of vinegar; 1lb 4oz of candles; 4 oz pepper, 4lbs soap, 3lbs 12oz salt, 30lbs of potatoes, 1qt molasses."
22. Knapsack, leather, tanned with hair on outside
23. Knife, fork, and spoon.
    
24. Leather rifle sling
    
25. Shelter half
    
26. Waist belt, leather & brass plate
    
27. Black ostrich feather (early war)

A Sharpshooter may also have personal items such as:

1. Candles
   
2. Hair comb
   
3. Housewife
   
4. ID tag
   
5. Ration for one day: bacon, peas, or bean, sugar, hardtack, coffee beans, salt
   
6. Shaving equipment
   
7. Soap "the men should bathe one or twice a week.  The feet to be washed at least twice a week.  The hair kept short, and beard neatly trimmed."
   
8. Tobacco
   
9. Writing implements
   

The unique uniforms of Sharpshooter uniforms also created strains in maintaining uniformity.

As early as December 1862, a reviewing officer reported that they were perfect slouches and slovens in appearance [of whom] no two are uniformed alike."  By March 1864, Major Mattocks, commanding the 1st USSS commented, "they are clothed in every shape, and present anything but a martial appearance." (Katcher 2002)


"Since resupply was often sacnt, it is easy to understand that the soldiers would take what they could from the slain.  The Sharpshooters were no different, and between resupply issues, they would take whatever uniforms or accouterments were handy, green or otherwise." (Marcot 2007)

Pvt. Frederick Coffin wearing a sack coat.