Hiram Berdan

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Hiram Berdan
2nd United States Volunteer Sharpshooter Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Other workMechanical engineer, inventor

Hiram Berdan (September 6, 1824 – March 31, 1893) was an American engineer, inventor, military officer, marksman, and guiding force behind and commanding colonel of the United States Volunteer Sharpshooter Regiments during the American Civil War. He was the inventor of the Berdan rifle, the Berdan centerfire primer and other weapons and accessories.

Early life

Berdan was born in

mechanical engineer in New York City, he had been the top rifle shot in the country for fifteen years prior to the Civil War. He invented a repeating rifle and a patented musket ball before the war. He had also developed the first commercial gold amalgamation machine to separate gold from ore. He invented a reaper and a mechanical bakery.[1]
His inventions had brought him wealth and international fame.

Civil War

In the summer and fall of 1861, he was involved in the recruiting of eighteen companies, from eight states, which were formed into two sharpshooter regiments with the backing of General

3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac in February and March 1863, then he commanded the 3rd Brigade at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Although Berdan was an innovative officer, as a leader he proved unpopular with the officers and soldiers under his command. In 1862, several of the sharpshooters' officers formally complained to General Daniel Butterfield, Berdan's immediate commander, that Berdan was both dishonest and a coward. In July 1862, General Fitz John Porter condemned Berdan as incompetent.[2]

Gettysburg

At the

Mine Run
campaigns.

Post-war career

Berdan resigned his commission on January 2, 1864, and returned to his career as an engineer and inventor. On December 8, 1868, President

U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on February 16, 1869.[1][3] Although President Johnson also nominated Berdan for appointment to the brevet grade of major general of volunteers to rank from the same date for his services at the Battle of Gettysburg, at which he also led a brigade, the U.S. Senate did not confirm that appointment.[1]
Despite the lack of necessary Senate confirmation of the appointment to make it official, many sources refer to Berdan as a brevet major general and even his grave stone in Arlington National Cemetery indicates he was a brevet major general.

He was considered by many to be a crack marksman and innovator, but unfit for field command.

rangefinder and a distance fuse for shrapnel
.

He is also an inventor of the Berdan rifle for the Russian army which is colloquially known in Russia as "berdanka".

Death

Berdan died unexpectedly on March 31, 1893, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[5]

Fictional portrayals

Main article:
North and South (TV miniseries)

The part of Hiram Berdan was played by Kurtwood Smith in the 1986 ABC miniseries.

A film created by Silver Domino Productions was based on Berdan and his men.

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-8047-3641-3
    . pp. 129, 740
  2. ^ Joshua E. Kastenberg, The Blackstone of Military Law: Colonel William Winthrop (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2009), 110
  3. ISBN 1-56013-002-4
    . p. 51
  4. ISBN 0-8160-1055-2
    . p. 51
  5. ^ Burial Detail: Berdan, Hiram – ANC Explorer

Further reading

  • Stevens, C.A., Berdan's United States Sharpshooters in the Army of the Potomac, 1861–1865.
    OCLC 980196047

External links
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