| If this website has been useful to you, please consider
making a Donation.
Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do
more research. Thank you for your support! |
5th New York
Infantry
Online Books:
5th New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 17 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fifth New York Infantry. — Cols., Abraham Duryee, Governeur K. Warren, Hiram
Duryea, Cleveland Winslow, Frederick Winthrop, Henry W. Ryder, William F. Drum; Lieut.
-Cols., Governeur K. Warren, Hiram Duryea, Harmon D. Hull, George Duryea, Henry W. Ryder,
George L. Guthrie, William F. Drum; Majs., J. Mansfield Davis, Hiram Duryea, Harmon D.
Hull, Cleveland Winslow, George Duryea, Henry W. Ryder, George L. Guthrie, Paul A. Oliver,
Henry Shickhardt, Carlisle Boyd. The 5th known as the National or Duryee's Zouaves, was
recruited in New York city and the immediate vicinity and mustered into the U. S. service
for a term of two years, at Fort Schuyler, New York harbor, May 9, 1861. On the 23d it
embarked for Fortress Monroe, camped for a few days near Hampton Bridge, then moved to
Camp Butler, Newport News, and was attached to Pierce's brigade. The troops of the 5th led
the force at the battle of Big Bethel and lost 5 killed, 16 wounded and 2 missing. In
September the regiment was sent to Baltimore for garrison duty and remained there until
May, 1862, when it was assigned to Sykes' brigade, reserve infantry of the Army of the
Potomac, and on May 17, to the 3d brigade, 2nd division, 5th corps, with which it fought
in the battles of the campaign on the Peninsula. It participated in the siege of Yorktown,
the fighting near Hanover Court House, the Seven Days' battles, losing at Gaines' mill 55
killed, 37 wounded and 15 missing, and winning notice by the coolness with which, after
heavy loss, the regiment was reformed under fire in order to fill the places of the fallen
men. At Malvern hill, the 5th was active, then spent a short time at Harrison's landing,
and afterward took a prominent part in the battle of the second Bull Run, where, of 490
members present, it lost 117 killed or mortally wounded. 23 per cent, of those engaged,
the greatest loss of life in any infantry regiment in any one battle. The remnant of the
regiment served with the division through the battles of Antietam, Shepherdstown,
Snicker's gap and Fredericksburg without serious loss, and went into winter quarters at
Falmouth. It was also active at the battle of Chancellorsville and then returned to New
York city, where it was mustered out on May 14, 1863. The total strength of the command
was 1,508, of whom 117 were killed or died of wounds, 11.7 per cent., and 34 died from
other causes. During almost the entire term of service, the regiment was attached to Gen.
Sykes' famous division of regulars, which contained one brigade of volunteers, in which
the 5th bore a prominent and worthy part. Col. Fox names the 5th as one of the "three
hundred fighting regiments" and quotes Gen. Sykes as having said it was one of the
best volunteer organizations he ever saw. The reenlisted men and recruits, besides a
number of the members who originally enlisted for three years, were transferred to the
146th N. Y. Vols. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
|
Whats New
Bibliography
About Us
|