WOOSTER CARPENTIER BRYANT

Wooster C. Bryant, Berrien County, enlisted in Company D, Birge's Western Sharpshooters, 22 Feb 1864, at Benton Harbor, for three years, age 25. Mustered into the service 27 Feb 1864. Joined the company at Joliet, IL, 3 Mar 1864, on its return from veterans furlough. Arrived in Pulaski, TN, 8 Mar 1864. Left Pulaski 29 Apr. In the Chattanooga and Atlanta campaigns under General Sherman.

In the battle of Ball's Knob, GA, 9 May, and all the battles of the company to East Point, GA, 17 Sep. On "Sherman's grand march to the sea." In the storming of Fort McAllister, on Big Salt Creek, GA, 20 Dec. Entered Savannah, GA, 21 Dec 1864. Left Savannah 28 Jan 1865, on Sherman's picnic up through the Carolinas to Columbia, SC, and then to Bentonville, NC (last battle), 21 Mar 1865. Then to Goldsboro, NC; Raleigh, NC; Richmond, VA; and on to Washington, DC. "Grand Review" 24 May1865. At some point during his service, Wooster received a saber wound above his right eye. Mustered out at Louisville, KY. 7 Jul 1865. Honorably discharged at Springfield, IL, 11 Jul 1865. Homeward bound. Died 13 June 1894.

Birges Western Sharpshooters

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/66th_Illinois_Volunteer_Infantry_Regiment

The Henry Repeating Rifle: The Weapon of Choice!
Usage of the Henry Repeating Rifle In the Civil War 1861-1865
Compiled by: Andrew L. Bresnan

*A note about the Campaign dates and places below.
Links are provided for details and locations of many of the battles.
Some dates reported are not the dates the battles commenced; but are several days prior.
This indicates the nature of Company D's skirmishing and reconnaissance efforts
and subsequent reporting of the local conditions and the enemy's positions.

Sharpshooters were Elite units of 100 men per Company.
Qualifications for Sharpshooters during the Civil War included:
Hitting a 9 inch target consistently at 200 yards