Vermont riflemen in the war for the union, 1861 to 1865

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Union commanders quickly realized that while Southern troops often grew up with rifles in hand, many Northern volunteers had never fired a gun. To close that gap, the War Department authorized a special unit of expert marksmen, the First United States Sharpshooters, tasked with bringing civilian shooting skill onto the battlefield. This book follows the formation of that regiment, detailing the rigorous selection process and the early challenges of equipping true sharpshooters with weapons that could match their abilities.

Company F, drawn largely from Vermont’s rugged countryside, exemplifies the spirit of those volunteers. Their enlistment required a public trial—ten shots at 200 yards landing within a ten‑inch circle—ensuring only the most precise shooters earned their place. Listeners will hear vivid accounts of the men’s preparation, their first deployments, and the unique role they played in shaping early Union tactics.