Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. During the American Civil War, sharpshooters were used extensively by both sides. Units such as the 1st & 2nd United States Sharpshooters played a critical role in the war and benefited from technological advances such as the Minié ball, which could kill a target up to a half mile away and was accurate at 250 yards.

This is an unbelievable piece of Civil War history. Carpetbagger wasn’t just a term for politicians who seek election in an area where they have no local connections. This bag is made of a very heavy carpet material that has the usual floral decorative pattern using multiple colors giving the bag an almost kaleidoscopic appearance. The bag is named via stencil on the interior:

JOSEPH L. DOW
CO. D 2ND U.S.S.S.

We have been able to find Dow’s service index card which lists him as a Private in Company D of the 2nd United States Sharpshooters. We believe him to have enlisted in 1861, but we haven’t been able to find much past this card. This is a fantastic opportunity for further research!

Carpet Bags from the Civil War period are already extremely scarce, but to find one with an ID to one of the most sought after units in American history is truly mesmerizing. The bag has some loss of material as shown, and the handle is in rough condition. Most of the damage is on the back, but the closure button still functions well. 

Notable sharpshooter units of the Civil War included the 1st and 2nd United States Volunteer Sharpshooter Regiment (USVSR), composed of companies provided by numerous (primarily eastern) Union states. The U.S.V.S.R. were organized by Colonel Hiram Berdan, a self-made millionaire who was reputed to be the best rifle marksman in the nation at that time.

There were also battalion size sharpshooter units including the Ohio Battalion SharpShooters, The First New York Battalion SharpShooters and the First Maine Battalion SharpShooters. Both the 1st and 2nd Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters saw extensive combat during the conflict. They were armed with heavy, custom target rifles and Sharps rifles during their service.

Common duties of sharpshooters included picket duty, scouting, and skirmishing. In some cases, they were placed at the front of columns to engage the enemy first. Their battlefield role could be misunderstood at times. At the Battle of Mine Run, one sharpshooter company was ordered to conduct a bayonet charge, even though they were equipped with rifles that were unable to take bayonets.

Berdan had promised the recruits extra pay and the finest target rifles, long-barreled .52 Sharps with telescopic sights. The extra pay never did materialize and the Army Ordnance Department refused to purchase the special rifles until Berdan persuaded Lincoln to intercede. When the 2nd Regiment arrived in Washington, they were told by 1st Regiment soldiers that U.S.S.S. stands for "Unfortunate Soldiers Sadly Sold." The soldiers hung an effigy of Berdan and blew it to bits with gunpowder. Terrified, the Colonel had his headquarters guarded by 1st Regiment Company A, composed of Swiss and German-born soldiers.

This is an amazing piece of Civil War insignia from one of the scarcest units in American history. We likely won’t ever see an item like it again. Comes ready for further research and display.