As has been mentioned, as the war progressed, there were several fascinating stories of the specialized sniper function in the Confederate Armies. And, as has been pointed out, these "snipers" were increasingly armed with a variety of specially designed rifles.

The scarcity of such weapons would seem to indicate that only a few select soldiers would be so armed, as opposed to an entire "sharpshooter battalion".

Specifically regarding the 12th Arkansas Battalion Sharpshooters, and the Army of the West, there was a series of orders that allowed for the formation of "sharpshooter units."

#97 May 24, 1862 Army of the West
Par XI-Each brigade commander will at once organize a company of selected sharpshooters to be attached to each battery and carefully drilled as skirmishers and armed with long range rifles.

In this order, there is seemingly interchangeable terminology with the use of "sharpshooters and "skirmishers."

After the above order [which apparently was never implemented], The Army of the West was then intent on acting on War Department General Orders providing for sharpshooter battalions for each infantry brigade

The 12th Battalion Arkansas Sharpshooters was specifically organized as a result of the order establishing "sharpshooter battalions".

Was this battalion actually employed more in the traditional role of skirmishers, or did they have men specially equipped and used for "sniper" ["sharpshooter"] duty as we see later in the war, with the examples posted?

Surely, the intent of the order that provided for such battalions was that they be armed and employed as "snipers" ["sharpshooters"], but in actuality, I wonder if this battalion was ever utilized in this highly specialized role?

In the Army of the West, we find subsequent orders that indicated the impracticability of forming sharpshooter battalions for each brigade, as intended by the original orders.

#115 June 15, 1862
As it is at present impracticable to organize a battalion of sharpshooters for each brigade as contemplated in general 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 and armed with long range arms.

Accordingly, it seems that units such as the 2nd Texas Infantry Regiment was referred to as the "sharpshooter" regiment for its parent brigade. Similarly, Stirman's 1st battalion Arkansas cavalry [dismounted] was temporarily enlarged to Stirman's "Regiment Arkansas Sharpshooters."

As 10 company regiments, these units were not strictly in compliance with the order providing for 3-6 company sharpshooter battalions. None the less, they were referred to as "sharpshooter" regiments; but were they utilized in strict compliance with the sharpshooter order, or as skirmishers?

I guess my point is that the 12th Battalion Arkansas Sharpshooters, and other such Army of the West sharpshooter battalions [or sharpshooter regiments] may not have been used as "sniper" units.

Semantics?