This company enlisted for three years

The 1^st Company Sharpshooters, known as the Andrew Sharpshooters, was organized at Lynnfield, Mass., in August, 1861. The original company numbering 98 men, under Capt. John Saunders of Salem, was mustered into the service and left the State 2 Sep 1861. The men were armed with telescope rifles. The company was first assigned to Gen. Lander’s Brigade, which formed a part of Gen. Stone’s force at Poolesville, MD.

In a skirmish near Edward’s Ferry, Oct 1 and 2, the company demonstrated its efficiency in action. It remained on the upper Potomac under Gen. Lander until his death in March, 1862, then served for a time under Gen. Schields. During the siege of Yorktown in April, 1862, the company became attached to the 15^th Mass. Regt. of Gorman’s Brigade, Sedgwick’s Division, Sumner’s (2^nd) Corps. With this command the sharpshooters served through the Peninsular campaign, the Antietam campaign, and until the following spring.

At Antietam, 17 Sep 1862, it shared the fortunes of the 15^th Regt., losing Captain Saunders and 1^st Lieutenant Berry and 8 men killed or mortally wounded.

By the 1^st of December the company had been reduced by casualties to 18 men present for duty. On 9 Dec, William Plummer of Cambridge, Mass., arrived with 40 recruits and took command of the company.

When the pontoon bridges were laid 11 Dec at Fredericksburg, the 1^st Sharpshooters did valuable service in keeping down the fire of the confederate marksmen on the enemy’s side of the river and on the 13^th were deployed on the outskirsts of the city, their fire directed toward the artillerists on the heights.

At Chancellorsville, the sharpshooters were attached to the headquarters of Gibbon’s (2^nd) Division, Couch’s (2^nd) Corps, and with that division remained at Fredericksburg skirmishing but meeting small loss.

At Gettysburg on 2 and 3 July, 1863, they were again attached to Gibbon’s Division and were engaged with loss on the Union left center.

About the middle of August, 1863, the company was attached to the 20^th Mass. Regt., whose fortunes it followed until June, 1864, being engaged at Bristoe Sta., 14 Oct 1863, under 1^st Sgt. Gilbreth, at Robertson’s Tavern in the Mine Run campaign in late November, at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and Cold Harbor and in front of Petersburg in May and June 1864. At Petersburg, 18 June 1864, it lost Lt. Gilbreth, its only commissioned officer.

Soon after theis the remnant of the 1^st Sharpshooters was attached to Co. "K", 19^th Regt. and was mustered out with this regiment 30 June 1865, near Munson’s Hill on the outer defenses of Washington.