In the spring of 1813, the 1st Maryland Rifle Battalion was completely reorganized. William Pinkney, who was at the time serving in President Madison's Cabinet as Attorney General, was elected as its new commander.
      Now, Major Pinkney of the Maryland Militia warmed to the task and from 5 paper companies restructured the Battalion into three 50 man companies complete with new officers.
      One of those companies, the 1st Baltimore Sharp Shooters was rechartered under its new captain, Edward Aisquith and would go into the history books as Aisquith's Sharp Shooters.
      The Sharp Shooters fought at Bladensburg and shared the blame for the loss and burning of Washington. Four weeks later, they fought at North Point and shared the credit for saving Baltimore.
      At North Point, Sharp Shooters Daniel Wells and Henry McComas were credited with mortally wounding General Robert Ross and were themselves killed minutes later in the same action.
      Captain Aisquith died of Typhoid Fever in March of 1815.

      The Sharp Shooters were different from the rifle companies of the western frontier. They were an urban company, part of Baltimore's 3rd City Brigade. As such, few, if any, of them had ever fired a shot in anger. They wouldn't have had the indian fighting, "battle experience" of their country cousins.
      Another difference is the closeness to the Washington political scene. They would have known about Duane's Manual for Riflemen and would have tried to make it work.
      Their uniforms are described in the Maryland Militia Acts of 1808 and 1812: "Green hunting frocks and trowsers with red fringe." Contemporary paintings indicate shallow tail frocks and a lack of cartouches indicating, for us, the use of belly boxes. There is also an officer directing the troops with his sword, wearing a hunting frock.