Connecticut Fifth Infantry
Cols., Orris S. Ferry, George D. Chapman, Warren S. Packer, Henry W. Daboll;
Lieut.-Cols., T. H. C. Kingsbury, George D. Chapman, Henry B. Stone, James A. Betts, Henry W. Daboll, William S. Coggswell;
Majs., George D. Chapman, Henry B. Stone, Edward F. Blake, Warren W. Packer, David F. Lane, Henry W Daboll, William S. Coggswell.
The 5th was originally recruited with the intention of forming part of the three months’ troops under the first call. When the second call of May 3 was made for three years’ troops the men reenlisted for the longer term, and 1st regiment Colt’s Revolving Rifles, with the inventor, Samuel Colt of Hartford, as colonel; was reorganized on June 20, 1861, as the 5th infantry, with O. S. Ferry of Norwalk as colonel; was mustered into the U. S. service for three years, July 22-23, and on the 29th proceeded to Sandy Hook, Md., having on its rolls 1,102 officers and men.
It was employed until March, 1862, in picket and out-post duty along the line of the Potomac from Sir John’s run to Muddy branch, suffering much from cold and exposure. A portion of the command participated in skirmishes with Jackson’s forces at Dam No. 5, and Falling Waters, and the entire regiment entered Winchester, Va., as a part of Banks’ forces, after a bloodless battle. Details from Cos. E and F participated in the surprise and capture of a company of Ashby’s cavalry at Hudson’s corners, Va.; H and I drove the enemy in a skirmish at Peaked mountain, having several men wounded, and on the Front Royal road in front of Winchester the regiment was sharply engaged with the enemy under Ewell, repulsing him with heavy loss. Jackson, however, had driven back the forces opposed to him and the 5th was forced to beat a rapid retreat and after 56 hours of hard marching and fighting, crossed the Potomac at Sharpsburg into Maryland.
It recrossed the Potomac into Virginia on June 3; skirmished at Luray, where it drove the enemy; was soon afterward moved from the Department of the Shenandoah, and became a part of the Army of Virginia under Pope near Warrenton. It was heavily engaged at Cedar mountain, where, assisted by the 28th N. Y. and 46th Penn., it drove and routed the enemy, but was not supported and withdrew before superior numbers. Its loss here was 38 killed, 10 mortally and 67 slightly wounded, and 64 captured, out of 380 men in action, the severest loss of the regiment during service in any one day. It remained with Pope’s army during the disheartening weeks that followed, being often under artillery fire, but suffering only slight loss.
It was next assigned to provost duty at Fredericksburg, Md., and on Dec. 10, 1862, joined the Army of the Potomac going into winter quarters at Stafford Court House, Va. As a part of the ist brigade, ist division, 12th corps, it was active at Chancellorsville; reached the field of Gettysburg on the evening of July 1, and though not heavily engaged during this battle, it suffered some loss. After sharing in the pursuit of Lee, the 11th and I2th corps were consolidated as the 20th, under Gen. Hooker, and joined the Army of the Cumberland in Tenn., the 5th being employed for some time in railroad guard duty at Cowan.
In Dec, 1863, 280 members of the regiment reenlisted for another term of three years and received the usual veteran furlough. On their return in the spring of 1864, the regiment, as part of Knipe’s brigade, Williams’ division, 20th corps, shared in Sherman’s Atlanta campaign, being engaged at Resaca, Cassville, Dallas, Lost mountain. Marietta, Kennesaw mountain, Kolb’s farm, Peachtree creek and the siege of Atlanta.
It marched with Sherman to the sea; shared in the siege of Savannah; and then moved with the army up through the Carolinas; being engaged at Chesterfield Court House, S. C, Silver Run, Averasboro and Bentonville.
After Gen. Johnston’s surrender, it proceeded to Washington, where it participated in the grand review and was mustered out at Alexandria, July 19, 1865. It had seen four years of active service, fought in 23 battles, besides numerous skirmishes, and was never driven from its position in the battle line except at Cedar mountain, where it was unsupported. The regiment had a total enrollment of 1,781; its losses were 73 killed, 32 fatally wounded, 219 wounded, 217 captured, 72 died of disease and in prison, 11 died from accident, and 248 were discharged for disability.
Source: The Union Army: States and Regiments