June 11, 1862 Army of the West-Priceville, General Orders #39.
VII. In accordance with the law, a Battalion of sharpshooters will at once be organized in each Brigade of this Army. These Battalions will be made up of chosen men, all of whom must be able-bodied, active & good rifle shots and of tried courage. Volunteers from the Companies now in the brigades of the Army of the West may be accepted for the Battalion of sharpshooters, provided no Co is thereby reduced below the legal minimum. The Battalion may be filled up if necessary by recruits from those exempt from conscription, or by choice volunteers from the conscripts. All of the officers of the Battalion will be carefully selected & thoroughly examined before being recommended to the President for promotion or appointment to the Battalion. It is desired to bring the effective strength of each Battalion up to (750) rank and file, if possible, & no pains will be spared to make the Battalions the elite of the Army of the West. An opportunity is therefore now afforded to young men of spirit to enroll themselves in a corps which is unquestionably to become the most distinguished in our Army. It is hoped & expected that no man will offer or be accepted into this select corps who is not resolved to lead in every daring enterprise which may be undertaken.
VIII. Brigade commanders will commence enrolling the sharpshooters at once. Every proper means will be taken to fill up the Battalions as soon as possible. The men & officers of each Co will be from the same State. The Brigade ordnance officers will see that the sharpshooters are equipped with long range guns, & if possible, that the guns are of uniform caliber.

June 15, 1862 HQs Army of the West, Special Orders #115
-As it is at present impracticable to organize a Battalion of sharpshooters for each Brigade as contemplated in Gen Order #34 from the War Dept., each Division commander will designate one regiment from each Brigade to act as sharpshooters. They will be particularly instructed...& armed with long range arms.

The Diary and Letters of Wm P Rogers, The Southwestern Historical Quarterly XXXII
The Southwestern Historical Quarterly © 1929 Texas State Historical Association

June 19, Camp near Tupelo- -I wrote to you 5 or 6 days ago by some of my discharged men and now write by others—Since I have been promoted my Reg. has received the distinguished honor of being designated as advance sharp shooters--I deal in truth when I say that 2nd Texas stands today ahead of all others in drill and discipline, and behind none in deeds of daring, valor and gallantry…

June 25, Camp near Tupelo-Itamanta Co. Miss.-…—and yet again--Second Texas has been made an independent Reg. of Sharp Shooters--This is a high honor for in the attack we are in the advance and in retreat we are in the rear. Now if all that does not give the lie to our enemies we can say no more—
…

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Camp Rogers- Near Holly Springs Miss. Oct. 22nd, 1862. My dear Madam.-It is my painful duty to write to you relative to the death of your brave husband, Col W. P. Rogers of the Sharp Shooters of Moore's Brigade in my Division. From other sources you have long ere this learned that he has fallen. It may be a consolation to you to receive from his commander assurances of the distinguished services he has rendered our Country; and of the gallant manner in which he died for her.--Dabney H. Maury.