Sturgis Rifles

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name= Sturges' Rifles |image=100px

|caption=Illinois flag

|dates= May 6, 1861 to November 25, 1862

|country= United States

|allegiance= Union

|branch= Infantry

|equipment=

|battles= None

}}

The Sturges' Rifles (also spelled Sturgis) was an infantry company that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Service

The Sturges' Rifles were a company of Illinois militia sharpshooters mustered into Federal service on May 6, 1861. The company served as part of Major General George B. McClellan's headquarters bodyguard throughout his command.{{Cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/14/sturges-rifles-guard-mcclellan/?feat=article_related_stories|title=This story is no longer available - Washington Times|website=The Washington Times }} McClellan had been a member of the company prior to the war and outfitted them with the Sharps rifle, an expensive rifle not issued to regular infantrymen.

The company was mustered out on November 25, 1862.

Total strength and casualties

Image:Private Samuel K Wilson.jpg

The unit had one enlisted man die of disease, for a total of one fatality.http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcivilw/f&s/156-fs.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712210304/http://rootsweb.com/~ilcivilw/f%26s/156-fs.htm |date=2007-07-12 }} Illinois in the Civil war website after Illinois Adjutant General's muster rolls

Commanders

  • Captain James Steelhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcivilw/acm/sturgis.htm Illinois in the Civil War website after Illinois Adjutant General's muster rolls

See also

Notes

References