original 5th history

Taken from an article written by Guy Mazzerella

The 5th C.V.I. came into being May 15th 1861 when Co. A, 1st Regiment Colt's Revolving Rifles mustered and quartered in a Hartford freight depot on the Connecticut River. A catch phrase born there became the by-word of the Fifth. The question "Is Philo P. Bradley in the house?" brought memories of home. To the unlucky who later found themselves in prisons like Andersonville and Belle Isle, the phase allowed comrades to locate one another. About a month later all the companies had mustered into state service for a 30-day enlistment, a dispute arose between Samuel Colt and Governor Buckingham. The Revolving Rifles was disbanded, Colt was replaced by Colonel O.S. Ferry, most of the men reenlisted under the new unit designation of 5th regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and were mustered into U.S. service on July 22, 1861.

The regiment left for the field on the 29th. This was the start of four long years of war for the Fifth. The only Colt's Revolving Rifles the regiment ever saw were those captured with Co. H, Ashby's Cavalry, C.S.A. by a detail of the Fifth at Hudson's Corners, Virginia, on April 12, 1862. The regiment's campaign began at Sandy Hook, Maryland. It's fist duty was primarily as pickets at Ball's Bluff. In October 1862, it was assigned to the XII Corps and camped at Muddy Branch, Maryland. The Fifth occupied it's time in holding Jackson's Stonewall Brigade in check-thus earning the nickname of "Foot Cavalry". Continuing to engage Jackson's troops around Winchester, the Fifth earned a new nickname, "Bull Dogs" given by it's wily enemy.

The Fifth was in the forefront of the battle at Cedar Mountain Va. when the Federal right folded and the routed XI Corps ran back through the Fifth's lines with the enemy on their heels. The Fifth sustained over fifty percent casualties trying to stem the tide! It's remnants went on to fight at Chancellorsville, on Culp's Hill at Gettysburg and was in the vanguard of the pursuit of Lee's retreating Army. In September 1863, the XI and XII Corps were consolidated into the XX Corps and the Fifth joined "Fighting Joe" Hooker's department of the Cumberland in Tennessee. After most of the men had reenlisted for the duration of the war in March 1864, the Fifth was designated a Veteran Volunteer Regiment.

Brigadier General A.S. Williams

On it's return to duty, the Atlanta campaign began. Wearing the red star of the XX Corps, First Division the Fifth joined Sherman on his march to the sea. The Fifth had the distinction of being the first regiment in Atlanta and it's flag flew over the city after it's capture. On July 19, 1865 the Fifth Regiment of Veteran Volunteer was mustered out of service. Four years of extensive service was ended - 24 battles and 875 casualties.

The Original 5th Connecticut

Volunteer Infantry Regiment