5th Regiment Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Cavalry

5th Regiment Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Cavalry
Active	January 9, 1864-October 31, 1865
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Cavalry
Size	Regiment
Engagements	American Civil War Baylor's Farm Siege of Petersburg
Disbanded	October 31, 1865

The 5th Regiment Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Cavalry (or 5th Regiment, Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored)) was a cavalry regiment from Massachusetts, that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It has not to be confused with the 5th United States Colored Cavalry.

Service

The regiment was organized from January 9-May 5, at Camp Meigs, Readville. From May 12, 1864, it served dismounted and equipped as infantry until the end of war.

Detailed service

The regiment fought at Baylor's Farm during the Second Battle of Petersburg and the Siege of Petersburg.

Casualties

The regiment lost 123 enlisted men; 7 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, 116 enlisted men died of disease.

Commanders

• Colonel Henry S. Russell (March 7-June 14, 1864; wounded at Baylor's Farm)
• Major Bowditch (June 14-September 30, 1864)
• Colonel Henry S. Russell (September 30, 1864-February 14, 1865; resigned)
• Colonel Charles Francis Adams, Jr. (February 14-August 1, 1865)
• Colonel Samuel Chamberlain (August 1-October 31, 1865; regiment mustered out)

See also

• List of Massachusetts Civil War Units
• Massachusetts in the Civil War

Notes

References

• Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co.), 1908.

External links

• History of the 5th Regiment Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Cavalry by African American Military History
• History of the 5th Regiment Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Cavalry by The Civil War Archive
• History of the 5th Regiment Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Cavalry by FamilySearchBeta