5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment

5th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry

Michigan state flag
Active August 28, 1861 to June 5, 1865
Country United States
Allegiance Union
Branch Infantry
Engagements Peninsular Campaign
Second Battle of Bull Run
Battle of Chantilly
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
Battle of Cold Harbor
Siege of Petersburg
Appomattox Campaign

The 5th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Service

The 5th Michigan Infantry was organized at Detroit, Michigan and mustered into Federal service for a three year enlistment on August 28, 1861.

In October 1862 the Army of the Potomac was reorganized. The 5th Michigan, along with the 17th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, was placed in the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps. "Our regiment is assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, III Corps (Union Army). This Brigade is commanded by General Berry of Maine (Hiram Gregory Berry), who is at this time sick at home. The division is commanded by General Birney of Pennsylvania (David B. Birney), the corps by Major General George Stoneman (George Stoneman). Colonel Poe of Michigan is in temporary command of our brigade."[1]

The regiment was mustered out on July 5, 1865 at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Total Strength and Casualties

The regiment mustered a total of 1586 men during its existence.[2] It suffered 16 officers and 247 enlisted men who were killed in action or mortally wounded and 3 officer and 188 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 454 fatalities.[3]

"When compared to other Michigan regiments that fought in the Civil War, the Fifth Michigan stands out. It had the second highest number of casualties of all Michigan infantry regiments in the war. Of all Union infantry regiments in the war, the Fifth Michigan ranked fifth in total number of casualties endured. A logical explanation for so many combat deaths and wounds is the fact that the Fighting Fifth played a key role in numerous charges against Confederate positions: twice at Williamsburg (Battle of Williamsburg), and at Fair Oaks (Battle of Seven Pines) the Wilderness (Battle of the Wilderness), Spotsylvania, North Anna, and Petersburg."[4]

Commanders

Timeline

The Regiment was commanded at Gettysburg by Lieutenant Colonel John Pulford, who was wounded on July 2 - the third of five times during the war.

From the Gettysburg monument: "Effective strength July 2nd 1863; present and detached service 21 officers and 262 men, total 283. Casualties: Killed 2 officers, 17 men; Wounded 8 officers 78 men; Missing 4 men; Total 109."

"The regiment fought here about 4:30 o'clock p.m., July 2, 1863, after it had been assembled from the skirmish line far in advance of this position. It moved to the support of the 2nd Corps in resisting Pickett's Charge, July 3."

See also

Notes

  1. Haley, Private John W., The Rebel Yell & the Yankee Hurrah: The Civil War Journal of a Maine Volunteer, Down East Books (Camden, Maine), 1985, page 38.
  2. http://www.michiganinthewar.org/infantry/5thinf.htm Michigan in the Civil War Website
  3. http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unmiinf1.htm The Civil War Archive website after Dyer, Frederick Henry. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. 3 vols. New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1959.
  4. Sebrell, Thomas E. II, The 'Fighting Fifth': The Fifth Michigan Infantry Regiment in the Civil War's Peninsula Campaign, The Michigan Historical Review, Volume 35 No. 2, Fall 2009, page 51."
  5. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  6. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  7. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  8. BATTLES AND LEADERS OF THE CIVIL WAR, VOL 2, 1887 The Century Company, New York, NY
  9. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  10. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  11. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  12. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  13. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  14. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  15. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  16. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  17. http://www.beyondthecrater.com/resources/ors/vol-xlii/part-1-sn-87/number-85-report-of-major-daniel-s-root-fifth-michigan-infantry-of-operations-august-15-16/
  18. Michigan in the War, Michigan Adjutant General, W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882 - Michigan
  19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96)
  20. Official Communications Between The War Department and Lieut. Colonel John Pulford U.S. Army, John Pulford, United States Adjutant General’s Office
  21. http://civilwarintheeast.com/USA/MI/5MI.php
  22. Official Communications Between The War Department and Lieut. Colonel John Pulford U.S. Army, John Pulford, United States Adjutant General’s Office

References

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