Palmetto Sharpshooters: Difference between revisions

[[File:Colonel Joseph Walker of Co. K, 5th South Carolina Infantry Regiment, and Field and Staff, Palmetto South Carolina Sharpshooters Regiment, in uniform, two-piece belt buckle with palmetto, LCCN2013650223.jpg|thumb|Colonel Joseph Walker of the Palmetto Sharpshooters]]

[[File:Colonel Joseph Walker of Co. K, 5th South Carolina Infantry Regiment, and Field and Staff, Palmetto South Carolina Sharpshooters Regiment, in uniform, two-piece belt buckle with palmetto, LCCN2013650223.jpg|thumb|Colonel Joseph Walker of the Palmetto Sharpshooters]]

The regiment would be formed from several South Carolina regiments near Richmond in early 1862. The regiment would be commanded by [[Micah Jenkins]], and assigned to Richard Anderson’s Brigade, Longstreet’s Division, [[Magruder’s Army|Magruder’s Command]]. The regiments first action would be at the [[battle of Williamsburg]] in May 1862, the regiment would hold [[Fort Magruder]] against repeated Federal attacks, losing 29 men and withdrawing under the cover of night.{{Cite web |title=Palmetto (South Carolina) Regiment Sharpshooters |url=https://civilwarintheeast.com/confederate-regiments/south-carolina/palmetto-south-carolina-regiment-sharpshooters/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=The Civil War in the East |language=en-US}} The unit would once again see heavy action at the [[battle of Seven Pines]], May 31-June 1.{{Citation |title=Seven Pines Confederate order of battle |date=2022-11-04 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seven_Pines_Confederate_order_of_battle&oldid=1119896531 |work=Wikipedia |language=en |access-date=2022-11-26}} The Sharpshooters would assist in taking Casey’s Redoubt, whipping Union General [[Darius N. Couch|Darius Couch]]’s division, and capturing several regiments in the process. 700 out of the roughly 1900 men in the brigade were killed or wounded. A few days prior to the engagement at Seven Pines General Longstreet had presented the Palmetto Sharpshooters with a battle flag, which the regiment carried into battle with them that day. The colour bearer would be shot during the assault; and as Colonel Jenkins rode past him he propped himself up on his elbows and exclaimed: “For God’s sake, Colonel, take care of my flag!”{{Cite web |title=Longstreet’s Aide: The Civil War Letters of Major Thomas J Goree (A Nation Divided: Studies in the Civil War Era): 9780813915746 – AbeBooks |url=https://www.abebooks.com/9780813915746/Longstreets-Aide-Civil-Letters-Major-0813915740/plp |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=www.abebooks.com |language=en}} {{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=John Peyre |url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008427858 |title=Career and character of General Micah Jenkins … |date=1903 |publisher=The State Company |location=Columbia, S.C.}}10 out of the 12 men in the colour guard would be shot down, with the flag changing hands 4 times in 3 minutes. At the [[Battle of Gaines’ Mill|battle of Gaines Mill]] the Sharpshooters would charge Union positions held by the [[16th Michigan Infantry Regiment|16th Michigan]] and the [[82nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment|82nd Pennsylvania]] capturing the 16th Michigan’s colors, Colonel, and a number of men, but at the cost of several men killed and wounded.{{Citation |title=Seven Days Confederate order of battle |date=2022-11-21 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seven_Days_Confederate_order_of_battle&oldid=1122981731 |work=Wikipedia |language=en |access-date=2022-11-26}} The actions at the [[battle of Glendale]] would be the next bloody test for the Palmetto Sharpshooters. The South Carolinians, along with the rest of the brigade, and supported by [[Cadmus M. Wilcox|Wilcox]]’s brigade, would charge across open fields towards Federal lines while taking heavy fire from the [[Pennsylvania Reserves]] and [[canister shot]] from Union batteries. Despite the volume of fire in their front, Jenkin’s men would overrun Union artillery. The South Carolinians would be unable to proceed any further. And with the their supporting brigades being unable to hold their own gains, the whole brigade retreated back across the fields.{{Cite web |title=StackPath |url=https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/the-battle-of-glendale.html |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com}} The entire South Carolina brigade would suffer harrowing loss, half of its number becoming casualties.{{Cite web |title=Longstreet’s Aide: The Civil War Letters of Major Thomas J Goree (A Nation Divided: Studies in the Civil War Era): 9780813915746 – AbeBooks |url=https://www.abebooks.com/9780813915746/Longstreets-Aide-Civil-Letters-Major-0813915740/plp |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=www.abebooks.com |language=en}} The Palmetto’s would lose 255 men out of 375 on the field. Company “E” of the regiment would be devastated at Glendale, most of the Company becoming casualties, with only a few survivors.{{Cite web |title=The Watchman and Southron 01 Jul 1884, page Page…