5th Vermont Infantry Regiment | |
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![]() Flag of Vermont, 1837–1923 | |
Active | September 16, 1861 to June 29, 1865 |
Disbanded | July 29, 1865 |
Allegiance | ![]() Union |
Branch | United States Army Union Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | 1,533 |
Engagements |
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Insignia | |
2nd Brigade (Vermont Brigade), 2nd Division, VI Corps (Union Army), Army of the Potomac/Army of the Shenandoah (Union) | ![]() |
Vermont U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiments 1861-1865 | ||||
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The 5th Vermont Infantry Regiment was a three years' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at St. Albans and mustered in September 16, 1861, it served in the Army of the Potomac (AoP). [1] It departed Vermont for Washington, DC, September 23, 1861.
The 5th Vermont Infantry was part of the Army of the Potomac (Aop), in the Vermont Brigade of VI Corps. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The 5th was composed of members from St. Albans, Middlebury, Swanton, Hyde Park, Manchester, Cornwall, Rutland, Brandon, Burlington, Poultney, Tinmouth, and Richmond. [6] It was mustered into federal service in the U. S. Army for three years at St. Albans, Sept. 16, 1861. It was ordered at once to Washington and joined the other Vermont troops at Camp Advance, near the Chain bridge, where it was assigned to the Vermont brigade, with which it served during the remainder of the war.
The fortunes of this brigade were many months of hard fighting and miles of weary marching, but at the end the attainment of lasting renown. Company E, from Manchester, is said to have suffered the heaviest loss of any company from Vermont, and at the Battle of Savage Station on June 29, 1862, the regiment is said to have suffered the heaviest loss in killed and wounded of any one regiment in a single action. [6]
The regiment had its important share in the engagements of the Vermont brigade. It fought all through the Peninsula campaign from Yorktown to the Seven days. During the Maryland Campaign, it was heavily engaged at Antietam. At Fredericksburg, the 5th took part in the assault on Maryes Heights. During Chancellorsville, it was part of the AoP that remained opposite Fredericksburg, taking Maryes Heights on that occasion. It met and repulsed Pickett's Charge with the Vermont Brigade. [7]
It was detached to New York City in response to the draft riots in August 1863 [8] and returned to the AoP to participate in the Bristoe and Mine Run campaigns in the vicinity of the Rapidan and Rappahannock in the autumn of 1863. Early in December 1863, many of the members of the 5th reenlisted. The 5th continued in service as a veteran organization and participated in the bloody Overland Campaign with the AoP from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor, afterward taking part in the siege of Petersburg, where it was active in the operations. [7]
In the summer of 1864, the 5th moved to Washington with VI Corps to confront Maj. Gen. Jubal Early, whose troops threatened the city. [2] It then fought under Sheridan in the Shenandoah. On that campaign, on September 15, 1864, the original members not reenlisted, were mustered out at Clifton. [2] After the successful completion of that campaign, the 5th returned with VI Corps to the Siege of Petersburg in December 1864.
In the final assault on Petersburg, April 2, 1865, the Vermont brigade was in the front of the line, the 5th being the first regiment to reach the enemy's works and there plant its colors. It then joined in the pursuit and after Lee's surrender moved to Danville to cooperate with Maj. Gen. Sherman. [2]
The veterans and recruits were mustered out on June 29, 186529, 1865. [9] [2]
Through its service, the staff officers were:
Its assignments are as follows: [21]
The official list of battles in which the regiment bore a part: [2] [3] [4] [5]
The 5th Vermont's original strength was 986. [29] Regiment lost during service 11 Officers and 202 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 124 Enlisted by disease. Total 340. [note 1] Over the course of their service the regiment saw 8 promoted to other regiments, 447 honorably discharged, 12 dishonorably discharged, 98 deserted, and 8 missing in action. During its service, 91 of the men transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps and other organizations. The 5th had 615 men muster out at various times, 140 taken prisoner, and 476 wounded. [30]
Soldiers in the 5th Vermont were armed through the war with model 1855, 1861 National Armory (NA) and contract [note 2] The regiment reported the following surveys:
Survey for Fourth Quarter, 1862' [33]
Survey for First Quarter, 1863' [34]
Survey for Third Quarter, 1863' [35]
Survey for Fourth Quarter, 1864' [36]