Not surprising that the sharpshooter commander ended up as the consolidated unit commander. Command of the sharpshooters was considered an elite position and only the best men were selected.

I don't about the AOT, but the ANV put a high priority on keeping the sharpshooter units up to strength. By late 1864 in many ANV brigades the sharpshooter battalion was about the same strength as most of the line regiments.