Vosper's Sharpshooters

The 2nd Company of Sharpshooters of the 27th Michigan Infantry was also known as "Vosper's Sharpshooters" and they operated in direct connection with the 27th Michigan Infantry from their inception in 1864 until the end of the war. They were armed with the most destructive Infantry arm of the war, the "Spencer repeating rifle". They were so effective in actions with the 27th that the entire Regiment voted to all be armed with them and the whole Regiment be redesignated as "Sharpshooters". This vote was never recognized by the War Department.

NOTE: The soldiers were mainly from Hillsdale and Ionia Counties, with a few from Kent County, etc.

OFFICERS

RANK

NAME

HOME

AGE

Captain

Vosper, John

Saranac

46

1st Lieutenant

     

2nd Lieutenant

     

ENLISTED MEN

NAME

HOME

AGE

Adams, George H.

Moscow

41

Allen, William H.

Ransom

18

Anderson, George F.

Boston

24

Anderson, John P.

Saranac

26

Beard, GEorge

Woodbridge

33

Benedict, Ledrue R.

Orange

18

Bird, Henry M.

Adams

18

Blackmer, Edward W.

Moscow

18

Blackmer, John S.

Adams

18

Bohner, Sinnary

Hillsdale

19

Brant, William

Ossco

44

Britton, John S.

Raisin

18

Britton, Leroy A.

Hillsdale

25

Brown, Francis M.

Sebewa

32

Burnett, Hezekiah

Pulaski

20

Casterline, George R.

Hillsdale

18

Casterline, Jessie D.

Ransom

18

Chase, Uriah O.

Adams

35

Conklin, Jacob S.

Allen

43

Cooper, Charles

Otisco

21

Davs, James R.

Otisco

22

Davis, Ozial

Keene

36

Davis, Samuel

Otisco

23

Davis, Virgil F.

Sciota

18

Dolph, Joseph M.

Scipio

29

Donnelly, Patrick

Scipio

35

Dunks, Daniel D.* or

Hillsdale

29

Dunke, Daniel D. or

Hillsdale

29

Dunton, Oscar E.

Grand Rapids

21

Eastman,Emor K.

Wheatland

36

Filkins, William R.

Moscow

18

Fish, George B.

Otisco

23

Frantz, Albert

Adams

18

Frisbie, Abraham

Litchfield

37

Geister, Andrew

Detroit

31

Graham, James

Scipio

18

Granger, Edwin* or

Adams

18

Granger, Edward* or

Adams

18

Hines, William

Grand Rapids

19

Hoolihan, Joseph

Hillsdale

21

Hoolihan, William

Hillsdale

18

Hughson, Eli R.

Boston

18

Hyliard, Andrew J.* or

Woodbridge

20

Hillier, Andrew J.* or

Woodbridge

20

Kidd, William L.

Grand Rapids

18

Kingsley, Samuel

Hillsdale

26

Knickerbocker, Ira J.

Fayette

18

Lane, Andrew

Grand Rapids

24

Lane, George

Grand Rapids

23

Lane, John

Grand Rapids

21

Lewis, John E.

Hillsdale County

18

Lozier, Israel

Ransom

44

McArthur, George W.

Scipio

20

McCowen, William E.

Scipio

21

McHughes, James, Jr.

Moscow

22

McLaughlin, James

Easton

18

Marshall, Scott

Jefferson

37

Marvin, Joseph

Moscow

31

Meade, Fayette C.

Litchfield

29

Meirs, Marshall A.* or

Grand Rapids

29

Weirs, Marshall A.* or

Grand Rapids

29

Merrett, Edwin W.

Grand Rapids

27

Metcalf, Vanchel A.

Amboy

18

Miller, Alfred J.

n/a

n/a

Norton, Ira

Allen

27

Noyes, Oscar

Fayette

18

Palmer, George R.

Hillsdale

n/a

Paskett, Frederick

Adams

18

Peck, Franklin G.* or

Litchfield

18

Peck, George F.* or

Litchfield

18

Phillips, Joseph R.

Adams

43

Pierce, William

Allen

23

Pike, Murray S.

Grand Rapids

28

Porter, Timothy D.

Allen

43

Pratt, William A.

Saranac

19

Renshaw, Francis

Grand Rapids

34

Reynold, David L.

Allen

18

Riggs, William D.

Scipio

18

Ryder, Benjamin

Ionia

20

Shaw, George W.

Orange

19

Shively, Daniel

Ionia

23

Shively, Peter J.

Ionia

21

Shrutt, George

Litchfield

30

Smith, George F.

Fayette

26

Smith, Lewis

Ransom

44

Spencer, Samuel S.

Hillsdale

18

Spencer, Thomas

Saranac

18

Sprague, Jacob

Amboy

18

Sprague, William

Orange

43

Stephens, James W.* or

Hillsdale

42

Stevens, James W.* or

Hillsdale

42

Todd, McCartney* or

Hillsdale

37

McCartney, Todd* or

Hillsdale

37

Vandecar, William

Grand Rapids

44

Vincent, Almond

Hillsdale

21

Vosper, Richard

Saranac

46

Walters, Alfred G.

Pulaski

33

Ward, Benjamin S.

Ransom

22

Warwick, Joseph, Jr.

Litchfield

22

Wautcig, George* or

Hillsdale

18

Wansig, George* or

Hillsdale

18

Wells, Samuel L.

Grand Rapids

21

Whitney, Leonard

Grand Rapids

21

Wiggins, Benjamin

Easton

n/a

Wilber, Henry

Homer

32

Wilkins, William H.

Allen

20

Williams, Isaac

Grand Rapids

18

Wilson, William

Allen

31

Winfield, Martin

Fayette

17

Winfield, Nelson

Fayette

19

Wolf, Frederick

Amboy

18

Young, Darwin A.

Woodbridge

18

Young, James P.

Hillsdale

24

Transcriber: ES
Created: 13 June 2009