5th New Hampshire Regiment Infantry

Regimental History

Fifth Infantry. — Cols., Edward E. Cross, Charles E. Hapgood, Richard E. Cross (not mustered), Welcome A. Crafts (not mustered); Lieut.-Cols., Samuel G. Langley, Charles E. Hapgood, Richard E. Cross, James E. Larkin, Welcome A. Crafts; Majs., William W. Cook, Edward E. Sturtevant, Richard E. Cross, James E. Larkin, Welcome A. Crafts, Thomas L. Livermore, John S. Ricker (not mustered). The 5th, composed of men from all parts of the state, was mustered in at Concord Oct. 12 to 26, 1861, for three years' service. The original members, not reenlisted, were mustered out at Concord, Oct 29, 1864, the reenlisted men and recruits at Alexandria, Va., June 28, 1865. The 5th was made a battalion of eight companies, original members 1,002, recruits and transferred men 1,560, total strength 2,562. The number killed or died of wounds was 295 and other deaths numbered 176. The regiment left the state for Bladensburg, Md., Oct. 29, 1861, and became at once a part of the Army of the Potomac, wintering near Alexandria, Va. It built the famous "Grapevine bridge" across the Chickahominy and met its first severe losses at Fair Oaks, June 1, 1862; was engaged at Peach Orchard, Savage Station, White Oak swamp and Malvern hill; was in advance at Boonesboro and met with heavy losses at Antietam and Marye's heights, where its dead were found near the noted stone wall. Gen. Hancock reports their conduct as "heroic." The 5th soon won a reputation for hard fighting that caused it often to be assigned to some post of danger and it never failed to acquit itself with honor. A detail of picked troops supported the cavalry at Beverly ford and Brandy station, Va., and rejoined their regiment at Sangster's station. The 5th lost heavily at Gettysburg and on Aug. 1, 1863, was ordered home to recruit. With other New Hampshire regiments it was present at Cold Harbor, again losing many men. In the actions at Petersburg and at Deep Bottom, Gen. Hancock mentions them in orders for "Gallantry in capture of an enemy's battery." The regiment was relieved and moved to the rear about Nov. 15, 1864, and on Dec. 1 it was ordered to Fort Welch. It met with slight losses at Fort Stedman, was in actions at Dinwiddle Court House and Sailor's creek, Va., and fought their final battle at Farmville, Va., April 7, 1865. Few escaped death or capture, but on April 9 Lee surrendered and the remnant of the gallant 5th participated in the grand review of the Union army at Washington on May 23.

5th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment

The 5th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment lost 18 officers and 277 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 2 officers and 176 enlisted men to disease. This is the greatest loss sustained in battle of any regiment of infantry or cavalry in the Union Army during the Civil War. The regiment is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
	Organized at Concord, N. H.
October 22	Mustered in
October 29	Left State for Washington, D.C. In camp at Bladensburg, Defenses of Washington, D.C., attached to Howard's Brigade, Sumner's Division, Army of the Potomac
November 3-11	Expedition to Lower Maryland
November 27	At Camp California, near Alexandria, Va.
1862
January 17	Scout to Burke's Station (Company A)
March 10-15	Advance on Manassas, Va. attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 20	Reconnaissance to Gainesville
March 28-29	To Rappahannock Station
March 28	Warrenton Junction
April 4	Moved to the Virginia Peninsula
April 5-May 4	Siege of Yorktown, Va.
May 28-30	Temporarily attached to Woodbury's Engineer Brigade to construct Grapevine Bridge over Chickahominy
May 31-June 1	Battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines
June 25-July 1	Seven days before Richmond
June 28	Orchard Station
June 29	Peach Orchard, Allen's Farm and Savage Station
June 30	White Oak Swamp and Glendale
July 1	Malvern Hill
July-August	At Harrison's Landing
August 16-30	Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Alexandria and to Centreville, Va. to cover Pope's retreat from Bull Run
September-October	Maryland Campaign
September 14	Battle of South Mountain (Reserve)
September 15	Antietam Creek, near Keadysville
September 16-17	Battle of Antietam
September 21 - October 29	Duty at Harper's Ferry, W. Va.
October 16-17	Reconnaissance to Charlestown
October 29-November 17	Advance up Loudon Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va.
December 12-15	Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
January 20-24	Burnside's Second Campaign, "Mud March"
February-April	Duty at Falmouth
April 27-May 6	Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5	Battle of Chancellorsville
May	Colonel Cross takes command of the brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Hapgood takes command of the regiment
June 9	Reconnaissance to Rappahannock
June 13-July 24	Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3	Battle of Gettysburg When Colonel Cross was mortally wounded by a Confederate sharpshooter, Lt. Colonel Hapgood pointed out the man to Sergeant Charles Phelps, who dropped the hapless Rebel. Phelps, in turn, was himself mortally wounded. From the monument: "Here July 2nd, 1863 from 5 p.m. till 7 the 5th N.H. Vols. stood and fought. Total engaged 182. Killed or mortally wounded 31. Total killed and wounded 81." On this spot fell mortally wounded Edward C. Cross, Col. 5th N.H. Vols. Comdg. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps, July 2nd, 1863" "Killed or mortally wounded: 2nd Lieut. Ruel G. Austin; Sergeants Oscar D. Allen, Samuel Dolbear, Charles H. Phelps, William B. Welch; Corporals Charles F. Burrell, Edwin B. Cilley, George H. Hackett, Warren M. Parker, George W. Sylvester, Edward G. F. Stinson, Joseph Tricky; Privates Byron Bennett, Horace Bolii, Joesph Bond Jr., George H. Bucknam, James Burns, Joseph Craig, Charles A. Damon, Lucius Feeney, Andrew J. Foss, Samuel R. Green, Charles Kimball, George Kimball, Charles A. Lovejoy, Nathan B. Osmer, Eliph. B. W. Stevens, Roland Taylor, Nathan B. Thompson, Otis Thompson" "The State of New Hampshire erected this monument July 2nd, 1886 to commemorate the valor of her sons."
July 26-August 3	Moved to Concord, N.H., Dept. of the East for duty at Draft Rendezvous, Concord, N.H.
November 8-13	Moved to Point Lookout, Md. and duty there guarding prisoners. Attached to Marston's Command, Point Lookout, Md.
1864
May 27-June 1	Moved to Cold Harbor, Va., attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
June 1-12	Battles about Cold Harbor
June 16-19	Before Petersburg, Va.; Siege of Petersburg begins
June 22-23	Jerusalem Plank Road
July 27-28	Deep Bottom, north of James River
July 30	Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve)
August 13-20	Demonstration north of James River
August 14-18	Strawberry Plains
August 25	Ream's Station
October 12	Non-Veterans mustered out
December 9-10	Reconnaissance to Hatcher's Run
February 5-7	Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run
March 25	Watkins' House
March 28-April 9	Appomattox Campaign
March 29-30	On line of Hatcher's and Gravelly Runs
March 31	Hatcher's Run or Boydton Road and White Oak Road
April 2	Sutherland Station; Fall of Petersburg
April 6	Saylor's Creek
April 7	High Bridge and Farmville
April 9	Appomattox Court House. Surrender of Lee and his army.
May 2-12	Moved to Washington, D.C.
May 23	Grand Review
July 28	Mustered out
August 8	Discharged

Regimental history from A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, by Frederick Dyer:

Organized at Concord, N. H., and mustered in October 22, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., October 29, 1861. Attached to Howard's Brigade, Sumner's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1863. Concord, N.H., Dept. of the East, to November, 1863. Marston's Command, Point Lookout, Md., to May, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.--Camp at Bladensburg, Defenses of Washington, D.C., until November 27, 1861. Expedition to Lower Maryland November 3-11. At Camp California, near Alexandria, Va., until March 10, 1862. Scout to Burke's Station January 17, 1862 (Co. "A"). Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. Reconnaissance to Gainesville March 20, and to Rappahannock Station March 28-29. Warrenton Junction March 28. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula April 4. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 5-May 4. Temporarily attached to Woodbury's Engineer Brigade. Construct Grapevine Bridge over Chickahominy May 28-30. Battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Orchard Station June 28. Peach Orchard, Allen's Farm and Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria and to Centreville, Va., August 16-30. Cover Pope's retreat from Bull Run. Maryland Campaign September-October. Battle of South Mountain, Md., September 14 (Reserve). Antietam Creek, near Keadysville, September 15. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. Duty at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., September 21 to October 29. Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16-17. Advance up Loudon Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 17. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Burnside's Second Campaign, "Mud March," January 20-24, 1863. Duty at Falmouth until April. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Reconnaissance to Rappahannock June 9. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 13-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Moved to Concord, N.H., July 26-August 3. Duty at Draft Rendezvous, Concord, N.H., until November. Moved to Point Lookout, Md., November 8-13, and duty there guarding prisoners until May 27, 1864. Moved to Cold Harbor, Va., May 27-June 1, and join Army of the Potomac. Battles about Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg, Va., June 16-19. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1865. Deep Bottom, north of James River, July 27-28. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Reserve). Demonstration north of James River August 13-20. Strawberry Plains August 14-18. Ream's Station August 25. Non-Veterans mustered out October 12, 1864. Reconnaissance to Hatcher's Run December 9-10. Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkins' House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. On line of Hatcher's and Gravelly Runs March 29-30. Hatcher's Run or Boydton Road March 31. White Oak Road March 31. Sutherland Station April 2. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Saylor's Creek April 6. High Bridge and Farmville April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 2-12 Grand Review May 23. Mustered out July 28, and discharged July 8, 1865. This Regiment sustained the greatest loss in battle of any Infantry or Cavalry Regiment in the Union Army. Total killed and wounded 1,051.

Death losses during service 18 Officers and 277. Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 176 Enlisted men by disease. Total 473.

5th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment

1861
	Organized at Concord, N. H.
October 22	Mustered in
October 29	Left State for Washington, D.C. In camp at Bladensburg, Defenses of Washington, D.C., attached to Howard's Brigade, Sumner's Division, Army of the Potomac
November 3-11	Expedition to Lower Maryland
November 27	At Camp California, near Alexandria, Va.
1862
January 17	Scout to Burke's Station (Company A)
March 10-15	Advance on Manassas, Va. attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 20	Reconnaissance to Gainesville
March 28-29	To Rappahannock Station
March 28	Warrenton Junction
April 4	Moved to the Virginia Peninsula
April 5-May 4	Siege of Yorktown, Va.
May 28-30	Temporarily attached to Woodbury's Engineer Brigade to construct Grapevine Bridge over Chickahominy
May 31-June 1	Battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines
June 25-July 1	Seven days before Richmond
June 28	Orchard Station
June 29	Peach Orchard, Allen's Farm and Savage Station
June 30	White Oak Swamp and Glendale
July 1	Malvern Hill
July-August	At Harrison's Landing
August 16-30	Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Alexandria and to Centreville, Va. to cover Pope's retreat from Bull Run
September-October	Maryland Campaign
September 14	Battle of South Mountain (Reserve)
September 15	Antietam Creek, near Keadysville
September 16-17	Battle of Antietam
September 21 - October 29	Duty at Harper's Ferry, W. Va.
October 16-17	Reconnaissance to Charlestown
October 29-November 17	Advance up Loudon Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va.
December 12-15	Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
January 20-24	Burnside's Second Campaign, "Mud March"
February-April	Duty at Falmouth
April 27-May 6	Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5	Battle of Chancellorsville
May	Colonel Cross takes command of the brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Hapgood takes command of the regiment
June 9	Reconnaissance to Rappahannock
June 13-July 24	Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3	Battle of Gettysburg When Colonel Cross was mortally wounded by a Confederate sharpshooter, Lt. Colonel Hapgood pointed out the man to Sergeant Charles Phelps, who dropped the hapless Rebel. Phelps, in turn, was himself mortally wounded. From the monument: "Here July 2nd, 1863 from 5 p.m. till 7 the 5th N.H. Vols. stood and fought. Total engaged 182. Killed or mortally wounded 31. Total killed and wounded 81." On this spot fell mortally wounded Edward C. Cross, Col. 5th N.H. Vols. Comdg. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps, July 2nd, 1863" "Killed or mortally wounded: 2nd Lieut. Ruel G. Austin; Sergeants Oscar D. Allen, Samuel Dolbear, Charles H. Phelps, William B. Welch; Corporals Charles F. Burrell, Edwin B. Cilley, George H. Hackett, Warren M. Parker, George W. Sylvester, Edward G. F. Stinson, Joseph Tricky; Privates Byron Bennett, Horace Bolii, Joesph Bond Jr., George H. Bucknam, James Burns, Joseph Craig, Charles A. Damon, Lucius Feeney, Andrew J. Foss, Samuel R. Green, Charles Kimball, George Kimball, Charles A. Lovejoy, Nathan B. Osmer, Eliph. B. W. Stevens, Roland Taylor, Nathan B. Thompson, Otis Thompson" "The State of New Hampshire erected this monument July 2nd, 1886 to commemorate the valor of her sons."
July 26-August 3	Moved to Concord, N.H., Dept. of the East for duty at Draft Rendezvous, Concord, N.H.
November 8-13	Moved to Point Lookout, Md. and duty there guarding prisoners. Attached to Marston's Command, Point Lookout, Md.
1864
May 27-June 1	Moved to Cold Harbor, Va., attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
June 1-12	Battles about Cold Harbor
June 16-19	Before Petersburg, Va.; Siege of Petersburg begins
June 22-23	Jerusalem Plank Road
July 27-28	Deep Bottom, north of James River
July 30	Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve)
August 13-20	Demonstration north of James River
August 14-18	Strawberry Plains
August 25	Ream's Station
October 12	Non-Veterans mustered out
December 9-10	Reconnaissance to Hatcher's Run
February 5-7	Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run
March 25	Watkins' House
March 28-April 9	Appomattox Campaign
March 29-30	On line of Hatcher's and Gravelly Runs
March 31	Hatcher's Run or Boydton Road and White Oak Road
April 2	Sutherland Station; Fall of Petersburg
April 6	Saylor's Creek
April 7	High Bridge and Farmville
April 9	Appomattox Court House. Surrender of Lee and his army.
May 2-12	Moved to Washington, D.C.
May 23	Grand Review
July 28	Mustered out
August 8	Discharged