This regiment was organized at Camp Randall, Madison, and was mustered into the United States service on July 13, 1861, and left the state on July 26^th for Washington. The following was the roster of the regiment:

    They arrived at Washington on August 8^th, and were assigned to the brigade of General King, and went into camp on Meridian Hill.

    With the brigade, the regiment, on September 3^rd, marched to Chain Bridge, where the Second and Fifth Wisconsin, and Nineteenth Indiana, crossed to the Virginia side, and were placed temporarily under command of General Smith, and were employed in the construction of fortifications, outpost duty, and, the usual camp duties. During the month, the regiment was transferred from King’s brigade, to that of General W. S. Hancock, in General Smith’s division, and went into winter quarters at "Camp Griffin," near Lewinsville, where it remained, engaged jn picket and outpost duty, until the March 10, 1862, when the brigade and division took part in the advance of McClellan against Manassas, proceeding as far as Fairfax Court House, and on the news of the evacuation of the rebel position, marched to Alexandria, and embarked in the famous Peninsula campaign of General McClellan, being part of the Fourth Army Corps, under General Keyes. They disembarked at Hampton, opposite Fortress Monroe, and on the 27^th, the brigade made a reconnaissance in force, and drove the enemy, and camped within their lines. On April 4^th, they advanced to Young’s Mills, driving the rebels before them, and on the 6^th, Company F, Captain Bean, had a brush with the enemy, routed him, and had one man wounded – Private Vreeland.

    The command advanced opposite the enemy’s fortifications, on Warwick River, near Lee’s Mills, which was the center of the enemy's line of works. An attack was made on a strong fort of the rebels, near Lee's Mills, on the 16^th, in which the Fifth took no part, but afterwards took position in the rear of a battery, which had been posted opposite the fort. On the 24^th, Charles L. Fourt, of Company K, was wounded while on picket, and on the 30^th, Burton Millard, Commissary Sergeant, was mortally wounded, and died the same day.

    On May 3^rd, the rebels evacuated their works around Yorktown, and retreated towards Williamsburg. With the rest of the army, the Fifth marched, on the 4^th, in pursuit of the enemy. The roads were almost impassable, from the swampy character of the ground. At night, they bivouacked near Whittaker's plantation, three miles from Williamsburg. The next day, at eight o'clock, General Hooker commenced the battle of Williamsburg, on the left. At 10 o'clock, General Hancock's brigade was sent to the right, to make an attack on the enemy's left. With the Fifth Wisconsin in the advance, the brigade reached Queen's Creek, and found, on the opposite side, an earthwork. The Fifth Wisconsin was ordered to cross, and occupy the work, which was done. A second earth work about 800 yards from the first was also found to be abandoned. These works proved to be within range of three similar works, which were filled with the enemy's infantry and sharpshooters, who opened a galling fire on the skirmishers thrown out by Colonel Cobb, which consisted of Companies A, E, and G, under command of Captain Bugh. Pursuant to orders, Colonel Cobb advanced four hundred yards from the main line, and sent forward Companies D and K, as support for his skirmish line, under Lieutenant Colonel Emery. The battery took position near some farm buildings, and opened on the enemy's works, and Colonel Cobb, with the other five companies, acted as support, being covered by a slight elevation, his men lying down to avoid the enemy's shots. About half past four o'clock, the enemy opened fire on his skirmish line, and soon advanced, the skirmishers slowly retiring. The battery immediately limbered up, and passed to the rear. The skirmishers checked the cavalry advance, and Colonel Cobb formed line of battle with his five companies, and opened fire on the advancing' infantry. Here receiving an order to "fall back fighting," Colonel Cobb gradually withdrew from the shelter of the buildings, and became fully exposed to the enemy's fire. The skirmishers, under Lieutenant Colonel Emery, rejoined the regiment, and the whole fell back slowly and deliberately, fighting all the while, with as much coolness as if on ordinary duty. Having joined the main line of the brigade, General Hancock gave the order to fire and charge, which was followed by such a volley and rush, that the enemy were checked, and fled from the field in the wildest confusion, leaving one of their battle flags. For the coolness and bravery displayed, Colonel Cobb and the regiment were complimented by their superior officers, and on the 7^th, General McClellan addressed the regiment as follows:

    "My lads, I have come to thank you for the bravery and discipline which you displayed the other day. On that day, you won laurels of which you may well be proud – not only you, but the army, the State and the country to which you belong. Through you we won the day, and 'Williamsburg' shall be inscribed upon your banner. I cannot thank you too much, and I am sure the reputation your gallantry has already achieved, will always be maintained."

    Captain Bugh, of Company G, was dangerously wounded in the thigh, and lay on the field till the enemy were driven back. His wound disabled him for further military service.

    The rebel force engaged was Ewell's crack brigade, of which the Fifth North Carolina was nearly annihilated.

    The following casualties were officially reported:
Killed or died of wounds: Company A – Corporal Jacob Cotherns, Privates David Woodcock and David C. Eddy. Company B – Private James W. Allen. Company C – Corporal Philip Ziegler, Private Adolph A. Sherwin. Company E - First Sergeant Hartwell C. Hern. Company F - Privates Charles J. Cole and Lucius Hall. Company H – Privates Henry M. Johnson, Edwin Austin, Henry E. Walker and George W. Moore. Company I – Corporal W. A. Read, Private Thomas H. Wheelock – total l5.
Wounded: Company A – First Lieutenant Horace Walker, Privates Goetlib C. Hennan and Joseph Allen. Company B – Color Sergeant G. W. Madison, Privates James Conlon, George W. Adams, Marshall W. Patton, George H. Cooper, William H. Decker, T. B. Riddle, James Young L. Taylor and Malcolm McNie. Company C – Sergeant Charles Baumbach, Privates Charles Harting, John Michael and Joseph Trubner. Company D – Privates Brainard Worthington, Peter Anderson and Benjamin Farringer. Company E – Sergeant A. W. Hathaway, Corporals R. W. Walker and George Thorngate, Privates Thomas H. Richardson, Rodway S. Johnson, Bush B. Webster, W. C. Stevens, S. F. Smith and Jesse Anson. Company F – Corporal Willard Ward, Privates Samuel Gower, George A. Smith, Gustus F. Heath, Thomas Parkinson and Luke Chaplain. Company G – Captain W. A. Bugh, Privates T. C. Ryan, A. Dawes, George W. Baldwin, G. M. Chamberlain, Stewart J. Fay and James R. Strong. Company H – Captain R. C. Hawkins, Sergeant G. Laws, Privates J. D Jones, William Sandmyer, Jonathan Spry and William Smith. Company I – Sergeant Butler Talmadge, Privates John J. Daniels, Dwight Haywood, John Simons, Dallas Casey, William Dolan, Edward R. Shoemaker, George Whiteman, James Walt and Benjamin Eills. Company K – Corporal John Nolan, Private A. B. Moore – total 60.

    The rebels evacuated Williamsburg on the night of May 5^th. Smith's division marched to Cumberland Landing on the 9^th, and was assigned to Franklin's Sixth Corps, and marched to the Chickahominy and encamped on the May 24^th, near Gaines' Mill, where the regiment was engaged, till June 26^th, in building roads, bridges, and etc. On that day, Porter was driven back by the enemy, and on the evening of the 27^th, the pickets of the Fifth Wisconsin were driven in. Hancock's brigade held a strong position, very annoying to the enemy, and this was an attempt to drive him from it. The brigade soon formed line of battle, just below the crest of a hill, on which they lay down, and when the enemy appeared on the hill, they poured in a staggering fire, at the same time that the artillery opened. The fight lasted about an hour, when the rebels were routed. This is known as the battle of Golden's Farm.

    The casualties in the Fifth as officially reported, were:
Wounded: Company A – Captain Horace Walker, Sergeant Morris Mullens, Privates William Turpin, James Anderson and John Thoreau. Company D – Privates Lewis Coty and James Watson. Company E – Corporals Reese Walker and Daniel O. Ripley. Company G –Corporal R. S. Vanorman. Company H – Privates Henry J. Lawton and William McPheeters. Company I – Private Henry A. Sanders. Company K – Captain Evans, mortally – total 14.

    The next day, McClellan began his famous "change of base," in which Smith's division formed the rear guard of the grand army, being under fire at Savage Station, and the Fifth Wisconsin, with Hancock's brigade, were among the last to cross White Oak Swamp bridge, where five of Company F, were taken prisoner. The brigade was also under fire at the battle of Malvern Hill, but suffered no loss, and went into camp near Harrison's Landing, where it remained until the final evacuation of the Peninsula, on the August 16^th. Arriving at Alexandria on the 29^th, Franklin's corps marched toward Manassas, but did not reach General Pope in time to afford any assistance, and returned to Alexandria, where it remained until the September 6^th.

    Major Larrabee resigned on the July 25^th, and Captain Behrens was appointed Major.

    In the movement to check the progress of General Lee in Maryland, the regiment was in the reserve when Slocum's division drove the enemy from Crampton's Gap, on the 14^th. They were present at the Battle of Antietam, Franklin's corps reinforcing Generals Hooker and Sumner. Smith's division being in support of artillery, the regiment lay on the ground nearly all day, under the terrible fire of the enemy, with little loss, Colonel Cobb was in command of the brigade. After a fruitless attempt to intercept Stewart's cavalry, on his celebrated raid around McClellan's army, they rejoined the army at Falmouth, and on the December 12^th-15^th, participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg, though not much exposed. Here Corporal H. Pigg, of Company B, and Corporal Amos W. Miller and John Duncan, of Company H, were wounded, and William Lyon, of Company D, was mortally wounded. The regiment went into winter quarters at White Oak Church, near Belle Plain. Colonel Cobb being elected to Congress, resigned his position, and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas S. Allen, of the Second, was appointed Colonel of the Fifth. On the death of Lieutenant Colonel Emery in October, Captain T. B. Catlin, of Company D, was appointed Lieutenant Colonel. Major Behrens resigned on December 26^th, and Captain H. M. Wheeler was appointed Major. Colonel Allen reported for duty on January 26^th, Lieutenant Colonel Catlin having command of the regiment in the meantime.

    The "Light Division " was organized from the Sixth Corps, in February 1863, by General Pratt, including the Fifth Regiment, which was intended to march, and be ready to undertake reconnaissance’s and movements which required great activity, unencumbered by the usual impedimenta. This "Light Division" remained in camp at Belle Plain until April 28^th, when it moved to the Rappahannock, crossed on pontoons, and took position before the enemy, below Fredericksburg, and on May 2^nd, while, skirmishing, lost First Lieutenant John McMurtry, of Company H, who was mortally wounded by rebel sharpshooters. Moving up to the city, the Sixth Corps took position in front of the enemy's fortifications on the heights.

    On May 3^rd, the "Light Division" was ordered to storm the enemy's position on Marye's Heights, where, in December, General Burnside lost 5,000 men in a similar attempt, which had given the place the name "the Slaughter Pen." The "Light Division," commanded by Colonel Burnham, of the Sixth Maine, moved to obey the orders. The right wing of the Fifth, Companies A, B, F, H and I were to lead the storming party, under Colonel Allen. The Sixth Maine and Thirty-first New York were placed in the rear of the right wing of the Fifth, and the left wing of the Fifth in rear of the Thirty-first. The plan of the charge and arrangement of the troops was made by Colonel Allen. The enemy's works consisted of a battery in front on the heights above, with a battery on the left, and two other batteries on the right, which could pour a terrible cross fire into the attacking force. In front of the right wing was a gentle slope, on ascending which, the force became fully exposed to the fire of the enemy, and at about 450 yards in front of their starting point was a stone wall or fence forming one side of a cross road, behind which the enemy had placed a regiment or two of sharpshooters. Beyond the wall, the hill rose very steep, on top of which was the battery and rifle-pits which the Light Division were ordered to take. Two regiments were to advance up a road to the right, in order to draw the fire of the enemy while the charge was being made.

    Forming in line, as arranged, the right wing of the Fifth lay for three hours, protected by the slope of the ground, before orders were received to charge. The men were rather serious, for they felt it to be an almost hopeless task, where so many had failed before. Colonel Allen, to change the current of feeling, addressed his men, saying – "Boys! You see those heights! You have got to take them! You think you cannot do it; but you can! You will do it! When the order 'Forward' is given, you will start at double quick – you will not fire a gun – you will not stop until you get the order to halt! You will never get that order!" At last came the command "Forward," and every man advanced with undaunted bravery up that sheltering slope and into the deadly fire which met them when about one hundred yards from the stone wall or fence. Then it came with terrible fury and effect from musketry behind the wall and rifle-pit above, in front, and from batteries on all the crests of the hills, from rifles in houses and rifle-pits on the right flank. Shot, shell and canister tore through the ranks of the gallant storming party, but without stopping to return a shot, the band of heroes rushed on, surmounted the stone wall, where they bayoneted some of the foe, and scattering the others like chaff, clambered up the steep pitch and into the enemy's works at the top, and, were soon in possession of the famous Washington Battery of New Orleans, whose commander surrendered his sword to Colonel Allen, at the same time complimenting him for his daring and the bravery of his men. The column which was to charge the batteries on the right, failed to reach them, and the Light Division proceeded to secure them, capturing in all nine guns, several hundred prisoners, and many small arms. The battery on the left was taken by a Vermont brigade. The casualties in the men killed or mortally wounded, and eight commissioned officers and eighty-four enlisted men wounded, and twenty-three missing, out of a force of about four hundred men.

    The killed and wounded, as officially reported, were:
Killed or died of wounds: Company A – Privates Thomas Olcott, Frederick Salsman, Francis Harlich, James Bride, Abraham Riley, Albert Sommer, Albert Boissart, Samuel H. Whaling, Henry Stick and Robert Bride. Company B – Sergeant Charles J. Kavanaugh, Corporal Dodge Prevo, Privates William M. Kelly, George W. Adams, Thomas McKittrick, John Smith, John J. Parkinson, and James McLaughlin. Company E – Privates Royal R. Pitts and John D. Valentlne. Company F – Corporal Volney B. Gee, Private William Ackert. Company G – Captain Lewis G. Strong, Privates Robert Irving, William Smith and George E. Raymond. Company H – Captain J. J. Turner, Second Lieutenant A. H. Robinson, First Sergeant E. C. Hungerford, Sergeant William F. Hoyt, Privates Byron Tripp and John Frowley. Company I –Sergeant William Norton, Corporals George R. Bennett and Austin T. Ra1ris, Privates Andrew P. Barstead, Bidwell Pedley, Elijah B. Shoemaker, Edward R. Shoemaker, Aaron Vasey, William T. White and George B Thomas. Company K – Privates August Pelengo and Andrew McRae – total 44.
Wounded: Field Officer – Major H. M. Wheeler. Company A – First Lieutenant Horace Walker, Second Lieutenant A. B. Gibbon, Sergeant Maurice Mullens, Corporals William Turpin, J. K. Lycom, Albert Burbick and Francis Stirn, Privates Wlll1am C. Crocker, Samuel E. Dexter, Gotlab Herman, Lewis Lacount, Ole Nelson, Peter Perrauld, Michael Pelcher and Joseph Cox. Company B – Sergeants Oscar H. Pierce, Henry Pigg and Washington L Carver, Corporals Rollin R. Wheeler, James Young and Leander L. Hatch, Privates M. M. Bailey, William Byrne, William George, Jeremiah Merrils, Malcolm McNie, Joseph McDonald, Edward O'Brien, John L. Parkinson, Jeremiah Shelden and J. S. Parker. Company C – Captain C. W. Kempf, First Lieutenant L. F. Muller, Second Lieutenant C. H. Meyer, Privates Joseph Bob, Dietrick Dierolf. Franz Kurtzner, Joseph Lesaulmier, Joseph Thiefault, Christon Rudarer and Hugo Richter. Company D – Corporals E. Charnock, C. P. Jones, Holland Smith and L. A. Hovey. Company E – First Lieutenant Asa W. Hathaway, Sergeant James Hugg1ris, Corporals W. W. Wiggins, H. S. Ames and C. T. Hackard, Privates R. D. Coon and George Pederson. Company F – Sergeant F. L. Ladue, Corporal George Klock, Privates John Ross and A. J. Smith. Company G – Sergeant Robert Berry, Corporals James F. Elliott, Ruben H. Shumway, Charles Knudson and Henry V. Strong. Company H – Corporals A. Y. Robb and W. B. Walker, Privates A. C. Bell, John Douglas, Martin Morrison, D. W. McCarty, T. J Shannon. John Berland and John McGregor. Company I – Second Lieutenant Richard Carter, Privates Edward F. Flynn, John Anderson, T. J. Keys, Charles Bartlett, Alfred Kelley, William Duriff, Thomas Adkins, Abraham Adkins, George Thomas, A. P. Brown, Henry Osborn, John Simons, Peter Sable, John Thompson and James Walt. Company K – Corporal J. B. Kendall, Privates John H. Bolton, Francis Lee, Frederick Britenather and Frederick Messner – total 92.

    The list of killed and wounded in this assault on Marye's Hill, which has justly been considered as one of the most gallant acts of the war, shows the desperate character of the enterprise. The brave men who lost their lives in this attempt, where thousands failed but a few months before, are worthy of a monument enduring as the granite hills, and those who suffered and languished from wounds received in the undertaking are entitled to our warmest sympathies, and, with those who came off unscathed, will receive the grateful homage of the present and future generations for the gallantry and devotion which they there displayed in the effort to conquer and wipe out the rebellion.

    We here insert a diagram of the battlefield, drawn by an officer who was present at the assault, and visited the spot after the close of the war, for the purpose of getting a correct view of the situation:

    Without rest or refreshments, or going back to care for the killed and wounded, the "Light Division" were ordered to march with the Sixth Corps at once, to Chancellorsville. During the evening the enemy retook possession of the Heights so dearly won, and followed up the Sixth corps, which, at Salem Church, had Lee's army in their front, and Jackson and Longstreet on their flank and rear. The enemy's fire slackened against Hooker, during the 3^rd and 4^th, his attention, being devoted to Sedgwick's Sixth Corps, who were fighting three times their number. No relief came, and nothing was left but to cross the river. In order to do this the Fifth Wisconsin and Sixty-first Pennsylvania, under Colonel Allen, moved to the right and went to the assistance of Brooks' and Howe's divisions, who were fighting to open a way to Banks' Ford. They succeeded, the Fifth losing several men in a few minutes. Arriving at the Ford, the Fifth was detailed as rear guard, and the Sixth Corps crossed in safety, on the 5^th. The Light Division returned to their old camp, and were soon after broken up; the Fifth Wisconsin, and Sixth Maine, being assigned to the Third brigade under Brigadier General David A. Russell, First Division, Sixth Army Corps.

    The casualties on May 4^th, as officially reported were:
Wounded: Company A – Corporal A. Burbridge. Company B – Private James Young. Company C – Corporal Peter Spies, Private Adam Muhlenbein. Company F – Sergeant Henry B. Lowe, missing, Corporals Charles O. Brown, Richard M. Welsh and Private James Bogue. Company G – Corporal Oscar H. Beal. Company H – Jarrett Spencer. Company I – Corporal William Dolan, Privates Charles Clapp and Samua1 Dyer, missing. Company K – Private Robert Phillps – total l4.
Missing: Company B – William H. McFarland. Company D – Frank Brown. Company F – Leonard Sherman, Fendinand Kussner, Russel Brown, Alfred Lugan and T. W. Ewing – total 7.

    It having been ascertained that General Lee was moving towards Pennsylvania, the Sixth Corps was again put in motion, and marched rapidly through Virginia, reaching Gettysburg, Pa., on July 2^nd, having marched all the previous night. Here they were placed as a reserve in the rear of the left of General Meade's line of battle, where they remained without becoming actually engaged, although exposed to the artillery fire on the 3^rd. The Fifth sustained no loss. The Sixth Corps went in pursuit of the enemy, and skirmished with his rear guard, but he escaped, and the regiment proceeded with the army to Warrenton, and a few days after, was ordered to New York City to aid the United States Provost Marshal in executing the draft, quartering at Governor's Island, and performing duty in the city four days, and was afterwards stationed in detached companies at Albany, and other places up the river. Reuniting at Governor's Island, on October 17^th, they arrived at Fairfax Station on the 20^th, and rejoined the Third Brigade, First Division, Sixth Corps.

    On November 7^th, they took a prominent part in the charge on the enemy's works at Rappahannock Station. When General Lee returned from the pursuit of Meade, in October, he left a strong outpost at Rappahannock Station and Kelly's Ford. On the morning of the 7^th, the Sixth Corps marched to Rappahannock Station, and on examination of the enemy's works, General Russell remarked that he "had two regiments in his brigade that could take those works!" He received permission to make the attempt. At once ordering up the Fifth Wisconsin and Sixth Maine, he deployed the whole of the latter regiment as skirmishers at short intervals, and ordered the Fifth to support the line closely, and take the works in front. They advanced at double quick, with orders to rely entirely on the bayonet until the works were reached. With a yell they rushed forward, over smooth rolling ground, and then across a low flat in front of the works, covered with stumps and crossed by deep ravines and ditches filled with water. Onward they went, while the rebel shell, canister, and musketry, cut through their ranks. When the Fifth arrived at the works, it was about dark, and very difficult to distinguish between friend and foe. Our men fired their pieces and crossed bayonets. The right of the line was driven back, but soon regained the lost ground. Getting possession of the center redoubt, our men turned their fire towards the flanks, which cleared the way for the whole line to take possession. The first man in the redoubt was Sergeant Goodwin, of Company A, who with assistance, turned a gun upon the enemy, and when he was about firing, was shot through the heart. Just as the men were going over into the center redoubt, and taking possession, Colonel Allen was struck by a bullet which shattered his left hand so badly as to render him unfit for duty. The day was won, but at a severe loss to the regiment. Major Wheeler was mortally wounded, and Captains Walker and Ordway, were killed. The enemy attempted to escape by a pontoon bridge above, but they were met by such a concentrated fire on the bridge, that they were glad to surrender. Eight regiments were captured, with their colors and arms, and seven pieces of artillery.

    The casualties at Rappahannock Station, on November 7^th, as officially reported, were:
Killed: Company A – Captain Horace Walker, Sergeant Joseph Goodwin and Private Joseph Barth. Company B – Marcns Bailey. Company D - Captain James Ordway. Company E –John B. Russell. Company G – James Bates and Kearn Cantwell. Company I – Isaac Johnson. Company K – Corporal John Green and Private William Phil1ps – total 12.
Wounded: Field and Staff – Colonel Thomas S. Allen, Major Horace M. Wheeler, died of wounds. Company A – James H. Leonard, A. J. Burbridge, Fred Merrier and John Schwaker. Company B – First Lieutenant Calvin T. Hutchinson and Private W. B. White. Company C –Anton Zintel and Henry Deuster. Company D – John D. Buckley, John Gustaveson and George Burr. Company E – James McDaniels, J. B. Newkirk, T. B. Weed, W. C. Stuck, died, Roswell Beach, died, and George Montgomery. Company F – Willard B. Ward, William Foley, W. W. Harrington and John Hattery, died. Company H – Charles w. llickox and James Austin. Company I – Adelbert Norton and Elliott Shadfelt. Company K – First Lieutenant Henry C. Farwell, John H. Seewy, John Malcom, Edmund Ange and Harvey S. Root – total 32. Died of wounds – 4.

    On the death of Major Wheeler, Captain Enoch Totten, of Company F, was appointed Major.

    The enemy was pursued as far as Brandy Station, where the regiment went into camp until November 24^th, when they took part in the fruitless expedition to Mine Run, being in the engagement at Locust Grove, when they had two men wounded, (names not reported,) and returned to winter quarters at Brandy Station, and engaged in camp and drill duty, and in a few reconnaissance’s and short expeditions, until the opening of the campaign of 1864.

    During the winter, 204 veterans reenlisted. This was not a sufficient number to make the Fifth a veteran regiment. The reenlisted veterans came home on furlough, returning in time for the spring campaign.

    On May 4^th, the regiment left camp, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Catlin, Colonel Allen being on detached duty at Washington, and took part in the celebrated Wilderness campaign. They crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, marched eighteen miles and bivouacked. The correspondence in regard to the operations of the Fifth Regiment in the battles of the Wilderness, is very meager, and we avail ourselves of the report of the Adjutant General, as affording the best information of its movements. They followed the movements of the Sixth Corps, which are described in the chapter on general military operations. On the morning of the 5^th, with the brigade and division, the regiment moved forward into line of battle. The right wing was deployed as skirmishers, under Major Totten, to the right of the line, and the engagement soon became general. A heavy force of the rebels forced back a. portion of the line on the left of the regiment. In doing so, the rebel flank was exposed, which was taken advantage of by Companies D and G, under command of Captains White and Hilton, who attacked and captured the entire Twenty-fifth Virginia Regiment, with its colors. The right, under Major Totten, was heavily engaged in skirmishing all day, while the left wing fought in the brigade line, the whole regiment losing heavily. The fight was continued next day, with a loss of thirty-eight in killed and wounded. At one time during the night, the enemy turned the right flank of the Sixth Corps, and was forcing back a portion of the Third Brigade, when the Fifth Regiment, under Major Totten, came to the rescue, and in a gallant manner, checked the rebels, and held the position, until the division came up. On the 7^th, a new line of battle was formed, to the left, about four miles from Chancellorsville, and awaited the enemy, who did not attack. On the 8^th, they advanced to Spottsylvania Court House, and fought in rifle pits all the afternoon, and also all day on the 9^th. On the 10^th, they were engaged on the skirmish line and in the rifle pits until near night, when they charged, and took a rebel battery and rifle pits, but were unsupported by the rear line, and compelled to full back under a flank fire, the regiment losing heavily. On the 11^th, the regiment, under command of Captain Kempf, of Company C, Lieutenant Colonel Catlin being off duty, on account of disability, and Major Totten being wounded, who had been in command of the regiment since May 6^th.

    Accompanying the movements of the Sixth Corps, the regiment took an active part in the operations of the campaign. After leaving the vicinity of Spottsylvania, they engaged in destroying the Virginia Central Railroad, with occasional skirmishing as they advanced, and arrived at Cold Harbor about June 18^th, somewhat exhausted from the hardships of the Campaign, and suffering for clothing and other supplies. This did not deter them front joining in a charge on the enemy’s works at Cold Harbor, and capturing the entrenchment’s, with a number of prisoners. They remained at this place, constantly exposed to the enemy’s fire, until the 12^th, when, with the rest of the Sixth Corps, they marched to and crossed the James River, and took their position in the trenches before Petersburg. In the charge of the 22^nd, they participated, capturing a portion of the enemy's works, and on the 29^th, moved to Reams' Station, on the Welden Railroad, ten miles south of Petersburg, where they were occupied in fatigue and picket duty, until July 11^th.

    The casualties for the months of May and June, as officially reported, were:
Killed or died of wounds: Field and Staff – Sergeant Major James R. Strong. Company A – Private Michael Pelcha. Company B – Sergeant Henry H. Mosher, Private Hugh Hubbard. Company C – First Lieutenant Lewis F. Muller, Sergeant Jacob Wissman, Privates Henry Meyer and Lewis Bilg. Company D – Captain Samuel White, Sergeants S. W. Honey and Charles Verbeck, Privates Paul Pumville, Harry White, H. Thielke, W. Foster, Louis Coty and Charles Ketsenger. Company E – First Lieutenant Edwin P. Milia, Sergeant R. W. Walker, Privates S. C. Glover, Edward Morgan, John Pierson, John Coley, George Peterson, John Lehn and P. G. Raymond. Company F – Sergeant William Wright, Privates Chauncey Frost and Fred Klussner. Company G – Captain George E. Hilton, Sergeant R. B. Van Norman; Corporal J. R. Williams, Privates Marshal Wright, O. P. Hinson, Henry Smoley, Todd Grimm and Newell D. Jordon. Company I – Sergeant Adelbert Norton, Privates John C. C. Day, Milton Hays, James M. Brewster, Benjamin Harvey and William Gray. Company K – Second Lieutenant Henry H. Stout, Corporal James Miller, Privates Frederick Noelte, Thomas Robinson and John Crasley – total 48.
Wounded: Field and Staff – Major Enoch Totten. Company A – Lieutenant A. B. Gibson, Sergeant Jule Enert, Corporal Julius Jackson, Privates Levi Croissant, Gudio Linderman, Gottlieb Hermann, John Stahle, John Valentine, Anthony Cadwell, Jeremiah Bomysa, Jacob Meistness, George Holbrook, Joseph Cox, William Davidson and Charles Weidner. Company B – Lieutenant L. Rossiter, Sergeants Spencer G. Walt, and James Young, Corporal L. L. Hatch, Privates William Decker, Henry Pigg, Myron Perrig, William George, DeWitt C. Smith, Charles H. Allen, Samuel Harshman, Isaac Haggerty, J. S. Hebberligg, Henry Johnson, D. W. Howie August Brocker, Edwin O'Brien and William Byron. Company C – Privates William Gutchmacher, Joseph Nick, Charles Dehring, Matthew Wahl, August Aherndt, Peter Spelz, William Boldt, William Schumacher, Henry Deuster, F. Kestner and Gustave Blech. Company D – Lieutenant A. Turnbull, Sergeants Lewis A. Bacon, --- Kirby and H. H. Hickox, Privates James Powers, Isaac Sloaver, S. E. Miller, James Innenly, Conrad Groller, Shalon W. Ellis, A. P. Howe, George Hall, Peter Lindquest, John Evans, James McInley, Elijah White, Benjamin Farringer, Charles Rohan and A. B. Evans. Company E – Sergeants Charles O. Harrington and James McDonald, Corporals Ira Newkirk, Charles Packard and William Wiggins, Privates Whitney Tibbetts, H. S. Ames, W. H. Stewart, Henry Carran, N. Baker, W. Magden, E. C. Small, Joseph P. Lincoln, R. D. Coonan, Leslie Anderson, William Story, Willard Hastings, Charles Valentine, Charles C. Ames and John Huggins. Company F – Sergeant Cameron J. Walt, Corporal William Hall, J, R. Botsford, J. Ross, J. Taylor, Edward Heath, W. McNorton, C. McFarland, S. E. Orvis, Daniel C. Corbett, John Blundell, George Joyval, Henry Angle, Henry Vreeland and Henry Hudson. Company G – Sergeants Charles Moore and P. H. Soper, Corporal Foss Elliott, Privates John Orr, J. M. Chamberlain, Don A. Kendall, D. J. Spencer, Alexander Carbeman, J. H. Walt, B. F. Congden, Frank Merry and C. P. Taplin. Company H – Captain George Bissel1, Sergeant John Scanlon, Corporal George McPheters, Privates Adam C. Bell, F. Moody, G. L. Smith, Abel Spohn, Joseph Harken, J. Rosewarm, Daniel McCart, John Borland, William Fazel and William Smith. Company I – Sergeant William Dolan, Corporals S. McConnell and A. Adkins, Privates Charles Halsted, John Anderson, Oscar Johnson, S. S. Bell, A. Bovee, C. Pfeifer, John Calk, James Walt and Thomas C. Garrity. Company K – Sergeants Thomas Blair and L. Beauman, Corporal C. Rossing, Privates Thomas Kearnan, John H. Harris, David Hurley, Ole Olson, Henry Deary and George Ream – total l44.

    The Fifth accompanied the movement of the Sixth Corps to Washington, to assist in the defense of that city, arriving on the 12^th, on which day, the three years term of the non-veterans having expired, they volunteered for the defense of the Capitol. The danger having passed, they left Washington on the 16^th, for Wisconsin, and arrived at Madison on the 22^nd, where they received a hearty welcome from the State authorities, and were finally mustered out on the 3^rd of August. Thus ended the service of the original Fifth Regiment.

    The reenlisted veterans and recruits were organized into an "INDEPENDENT BATTALION," of three companies, under command of Captain Charles W. Kempf, of Company A. Company B, was commanded by Captain Jacob H. Cook, and Company C, by Captain M. L. Butterfield. On July 13^th, they moved with the Sixth Corps, to the Shenandoah Valley, in pursuit of the enemy, participated in the engagement at Snicker's Gap, on the 18^th – returned to Washington – on the 26^th, proceeded to Harper's Ferry, and joining in the movements of the Sixth Corps, participated in the action at Charleston, having one man wounded. Remained in Charleston, performing picket and guard duty, until September 19^th, when they moved forward, and took part in the battle of Cedar Creek, losing four killed and eleven wounded, and afterwards, with the brigade, went to Winchester, in the performance of garrison duty.

The casualties in September and October as reported, were:
Killed: Company A – Privates Henry Poehl and Dupassey Kent. Company B – Privates Eliash Nichola and Alfred T. Potter. Company C – Private John Weimsin – total 5.

    On the muster out of service of the "Old Fifth," Governor Lewis authorized its reorganization, and recommissioned Colonel Allen as the colonel. Under his supervision, seven companies were rapidly recruited, organized and mustered into the United States service, and left the State on October 2^nd, to join the battalion at Winchester. The following is the roster of the reorganized regiment:

    The seven companies arrived at Washington, received arms, and were sent to Alexandria, where they remained, doing provost guard duty, until October 20^th, when they proceeded by way of Martinsburg and Winchester to Cedar Creek, where they joined the battalion and the forces under General Sheridan, and remain at that place until December 1^st, Colonel Allen being put in command of the brigade. With the Sixth Corps, they rejoined the forces of General Grant in the trenches before Petersburg on December 4^th, where they remained until February 5, 1865, when they took part in the extension of the lines at Dabney's Mills, on Hatcher's Run, suffering little loss in that engagement, being held in the reserve. Riley C. Tryon, Company G, and Charles Berringer, Company C, were wounded.

    On March 25, 1865, the regiment participated in the general skirmish along the whole line, and succeeded in driving in the rebel outpost then in front. Here Sergeant William Hall, Company C, was killed, and Corporal James D. Splain, Company G, Edward Martin, John Morrison and H. S. Otis, Company D, and Charles O. Foot, Company, K, wounded. Edward Martin is reported as having died of his wounds.

    In the charge on the enemy's works at Petersburg, April 2^nd, the Fifth Wisconsin and Thirty-seventh Massachusetts, led by Colonel Allen, were in the extreme front, supported by two lines in the rear. At 4 am, the signal for the charge was given, and the colors of the Fifth were the first planted on the enemy's works, that regiment being the first to enter the captured works of Petersburg. Colonel Allen led a portion of the regiment two miles through the abandoned lines of the enemy to the South Side Railroad. By 8 am, the troops were reassembled, marched six miles to the left inside of the late rebel works, capturing many prisoners, then back to the right, where the regiment was engaged in skirmishing till night. The losses as officially reported were:
Killed: Company A – Captain John B. Doughty. Company E – Privates William H. Arnet and Ira Gilman. Company F – Privates H. Lysner and Albert A. Beggs. Company G – Private Hiram Billington. Company H – Private Allen Graham. Company I – Private Frank Gilbert – total 8.
Wounded: Company A – First Lieutenant Charles H. Mayer, died, Privates Ferdinand Werhle, August Ahrendt and Benjamin Mitchell. Company B – Second Lieutenant Benjamin Smith, Sergeant P. W. Lord, died; Private L Bishop. Company C – Second Lieutenant Evan R. Jones, Sergeant Thomas Larkin, Privates Hirman Brown, died; and Fred Mercier. Company D – Sergeant T.G. Troy, Corporal William L. Motratt, died; Privates P. H. Blodgett, Herbert Ward and Calvin Blood. Company E – Sergeant Thomas E. Chubbuck, Corporal Gllbert S. Main, Privates A. C. Phelps, Stephen Meridam, George H. Hutzell, John H. Park, George Knowles, M. Meutsh, Daniel S. Edson, Wiillam H. Hoskins, T. M. Ruibank, Gustavus Hirsch and George W. Barton. Company F – Captain William Bremer, Sergeant Edward A. Allen, Privates Joseph Echmau, died; Elias Mariatt, died; Jas. Bower, Peter Reuther, E. L Aber, died; A. Dorman, S. M. Manly, A. D. Cory and William M. Phelps, died. Company G – First Lieutenant Ranson D. Squires, Sergeant Samuel T. Doggett, Privates Thomas Roach, N. J. Barker, R. C. Barker, William Flynn, died; F. A. Bovee and E. Running. Company H - Corporal H. P. Cady, Privates A. W. Baswell, Luther Shooner, August Leoney, F. W. Beshel and John Rehome. Company I – Corporals George West and William Smith, Privates John Bragg, died; James Dunn, Thomas Underwood, Theophilus George, B. Tully, John Lemuel, Henry Tipp, E. M. Fessenden, George Vanderbloom, James Witlie and Spencer Hurlbut. Company K – Sergeant John S. Barger, Seymour Beaman, Joseph Leistz, D. B. Babcock and Fred Ringling – total 71. Died of wounds – 9.

    The loss of the regiment was about one-tenth of that suffered by the whole corps, consisting of fifty regiments.

    On the afternoon of April 3^rd, they joined in the pursuit of Lee, marching with great rapidity by duty and night. The Sixth Corps encountered General Ewell's forces at "Little Sailors' Creek," on the 7^th. The lines were hurriedly formed, and they pushed forward at a double quick, the regiment marching with unbroken line through a swamp waist deep, under the fire of the enemy's musketry. They moved to the brow of a hill, where the enemy was discovered but a few paces distant, admirably posted, and fighting with the energy of despair. The regiment was in an extremely hazardous position, being subjected to a severe flank and cross fire. Colonel Allen rode in advance of the line as calmly as though danger was unknown. Company G, Captain Henry Curran, and Company C, Second Lieutenant Evan R. Jones, were deployed as skirmishers. Lieutenant General Ewell and staff, surrendered to six men of the skirmishers, under command of Sergeant Cameron, Company A, who was promoted to Second Lieutenant on the field, for his gallantry. The action of the regiment elicited high encomiums from the corps, division, and brigade commanders.

    The following were the casualties in the action of April 7^th, as officially reported:
Killed: Company A – Private Gustave Loeffer. Company B – Private John Rierdon. Company C – Color Corporal Alexander Johnson and Corporal John L Heberlies. Company D – Sergeant John Purdy, Privates John Gallagher and Lysander M. Muzzy. Company E – Privates Allen K. Augur, George Mills and J. D. Gurney. Company F – Corporal George L. Weity, Privates C. Truax and George Truax. Company G – Privates James Conlin and Stephen Smith. Company H - Private Edmund Bigfond – total 16.
Wounded: Company A – Color Corporal August Franz, Sergeant William H. Landott, Privates Christian Erickson, Duncan McLenan, Charles Sheffnet, Robert Miller and C. Spinner. Company B – Corporals William Meade and Johnson, Privates George H. Rees, J. H. Keyes and P. WeJIs. Company C – Privates Cornelius M. Bonnell and Ephraim Purdy. Company D – Privates George Ross, George Bulfan, died; James Tooney, Francis Goodness, Freedom Cromwell, John Banker, John Nelson, William Conniff, Lyman Smith and Milo Wells. Company E – Corporal E. W. Mellon, Privates Theodore Bandow, John Polar, Abram Casslar, Thomas Leet and W. Lansing. Company F – Captain William Bremer, Privates C. H. Gee, Orson Foucher, Fred Gross, Andrew McFadden, August Gessel, Rueben Stock, John Hanson, Theodore Lzeskleba, Andrew Rowe, O. Gesse and F. Otto. Company G – Corporal John W. Curran, Privates Samuel Vasnow, Lewis A. Nelson. Edward Tierney, Smith Owen, John W. Stafford, Adelbert E. Lane, Thomas Marshall, Torger Peterson, L. W. Stoner, Alexander Hamilton, Charles C. Vanalstine, died; John Stetzner, John Stichner and Simon Anderson. Company H – Sergeant Charles E. Woodridge, Privates Peter Peterson and John L Nelson. Company I – Privates Henry Goodman, Daniel Smith, Jacob Peterson and T. Czeskleba. Company K – Color Corporal John O. Holsington, Corporal George C. Lefever, Privates J. R. Whitney, H. D. Warden, Nelson Gillett, Nicholas Hammond, Albertus Hoffman, J. W. Wiggins, D. P. Howell, J. D. Crapser, M. Ware, Cordon Wyman, M. H. Parcel, died, L. Parsons and C. O. Foote – total 79. Died of wounds – 8.

    The pursuit was continued until the 9^th, when Lee surrendered. On the 10^th, the regiment commenced its return, and reached Burke's Station on the evening of the 18^th, encamped till the 23^rd, and marched to Danville, arriving there on the 27^th, left Danville, May 3^rd, by rail, arrived at Wilson's Station on May 4^th, and May 18^th, marched for Richmond, which they reached on the 20^th. On the 24^th, left Richmond, for Washington, where they arrived on June 2^nd, after a long and tedious march. Left Washington, June 16^th, and arrived at Madison, June 20^th, and were soon after mustered out, thus closing the record of the "Fighting Fifth."

    Colonel Allen was brevetted Brigadier General for gallant and meritorious services during the war.

    Regimental Statistics – Original strength, 1,058. Gain – by recruits in 1863, 210, in 1864, 684, in 1865, 25; by substitutes, 50; by draft in 1865, 25; by veteran reenlistments, 204; total, 2,256. Losses – deaths, 285; missing, 4; desertion, 106; transferred, 33; discharged, 406; mustered out, 1,424.

All the information on this page was taken from The Military History of Wisconsin: A Record of the Civil and Military Patriotism of the State in the War for the Union, by E. B. Quiner, Esq.