The 5th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
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."
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. 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.
"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."
Commanders
Colonel Henry D. Terry; 1861- Jun 1862
Major John D. Fairbanks; 25 Jun 1862- 30 Jun 1862
Captain Judson S. Farrar; Jul 1862
Captain William Wakenshaw; Aug 1862
Lieutenant Colonel Gilluly; - 13 Dec 1862 (KIA)
Lieutenant Colonel Sherlock; 13 Dec 1862 - 3 May 1863 (KIA)
Lieutenant Colonel John Pulford; 3 May 1863 – 5 May 1864
Major Salmon S. Mathews; 5 May 1864
Captain William Wakenshaw; 6 May 1864
Captain Edgar H. Shook; 6 May 1864,
Lieutenant (unnamed); May 1864
Colonel John Pulford; Jun 1864
Major Daniel S. Root; Aug 1864
Lieutenant Colonel Salmon S. Mathews; Oct 1864
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel S. Root; 31 Jan 1865
Colonel John Pulford; 28 Feb 1865 – 17 Jul 1865
August 28, 1861 Organized at Detroit, Mich., and mustered in
September 11 Left State for Washington, D.C.
September 13 Attached to Richardson's Brigade, Heintzelman's Division, Army of the Potomac and duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
October 21–24 Reconnaissance to Occoquan
January 9, 1862 Pohick Run, Va.
March, 1862 Attached to Berry's 3rd Brigade, Kearny's 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 10–15 Advance to Manassas, Va.,
March 17 Moved to the Virginia Peninsula
March to August. Peninsula Campaign
April 5-May 4 Siege of Yorktown, Va.
May 31-June 1 Battle of Fair Oaks, or Seven Pines
June 25-July 1 Seven days before Richmond
June 25 Oak Grove
June 29 Savage Station and Peach Orchard
June 30 Charles City Cross Roads and Glendale
July 1 Malvern Hill
July 2 - August 16 Duty at Harrison's Landing
August 16–26 Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville; 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps
August 29 Battle of Groveton
August 30 Bull Run
September 1 Chantilly
September 2 - October 11 Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D, C.
October 11-November 23 March up the Potomac to Leesburg, and then to Falmouth
December 12–15 Battle of Fredericksburg
January 20–24, 1863 "Mud March"
January 25 - April 27 At Falmouth
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1–5 Battle of Chancellorsville
June 11-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign
July 1–3 Battle of Gettysburg
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."
July 5–24 Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va.
July 23 Action at Wapping Heights, Va.
August 16-September 17 On detached duty at New York City and at Troy, N.Y.
October 9–22 Bristoe Campaign
October 13 Auburn
November 7–8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 7 Kelly's Ford
November 26-December 2 Mine Run Campaign
November 27 Payne's Farm
January 4 to
February 14, 1864 Veterans on furlough
February 6–7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
March Attached to 2nd Brigade. 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps
May 4-June 15 Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River
May 5–7 Battles of the Wilderness
May 8 Laurel Hill
May 8–12 Spotsylvania
May 10 Po River
May 12–21 Spotsylvania Court House
May 12 Assault on the Salient ("Bloody Angle")
May 19 Harris Farm, Fredericksburg Road
May 23–26 North Anna River
May 26–28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 8–31 Totopotomoy
June 1–12 Cold Harbor
June 16–18 Before Petersburg
June 16 Siege of Petersburg begins
June 22–23 Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad
July 27–29 Demonstration on north side of the James
July 27–28 Deep Bottom
August 13–20 Demonstration on north side of the James at Deep Bottom
August 14–18 Strawberry Plains
September 29-October 2 Poplar Springs Church
October 27–28 Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run
December 7–12 Warren's Raid on Weldon Railroad
February 5–7, 1865 Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run
March 25 Watkins' House
March 28-April 9 Appomattox Campaign
March 30–31 White Oak Road
March 31 Crow's House
April 2 Fall of Petersburg
April 3–9 Pursuit of Lee
April 6 Sailor's Creek
April 7 High Bridge
April 9 Appomattox Court House, surrender of Lee and his army
May 2–12 March to Washington, D.C.
May 23 Grand Review
June 10–14 Moved to Louisville, Ky.
June 15 - July 5 At Jeffersonville, Ind.
July 5, 1865 Mustered out
17 July 1865 Disbanded at Detroit, Mi.
