5th Louisiana Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries > Louisiana

The 5th Louisiana Infantry enrolled 1,074 men during the Civil War. Of these, 161 were killed or died of their wounds, 66 died of sickness, 2 in accidents, 1 was murdered and 1 was executed. One hundred eighteen were known to have deserted and 32 took the Oath of Allegiance.

1861
May Organized in at New Orleans
June 4 Mustered in for the duration of the war under Colonel Theodore Hunt, Lt. Colonel Henry Forno and Major William T. Dean.
Moved to Virginia and assigned to the Department of the Peninsula
December Three men were killed in two separate duels.
1862
April The regiment mustered 744 men
May Assigned to Semmes’ Brigade of McLaw’s Division
May 1- August 31 During this four month period the regiment suffered 98 desertions, One 55 man comany lost half its men.
July 27 Transferred to Hays’ (formerly Taylor’s) Louisiana Brigade of Ewell’s Division in Jackson’s Command.
July 31 Colonel Hunt resigned. Lieutenant Colonel Forno was promoted to colonel, Major Dean was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and Captain Bruce Menger of Company I was promoted to major.
August 29
Second Battle of Manassas

The regiment lost 27 men. Colonel Forno was wounded while temporarily commanding the brigade
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The regiment lost 50 men. It was commanded by Colonel Henry Forno. Major Menger and Captain Alexander Hart were wounded.
Late 1862 Lieutenant Colonel Dean left on sick leave and did not return to the regiment.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
January Captain Alexander Hart of Company E was promoted to major.
May 1-4
Second Battle of Fredericksburg (Chancellorsville Campaign)

The 5th Louisiana lost 53 men. Lieutenant Colonel Menger was wounded
May Colonel Forno was transferred to Mobile, Alabama on recruiting duty, possibly as a result of being passed over for promotion. Major Alexander Hart commanded the regiment.
June 13
Second Battle of Winchester

Hay’s Brigade circled around the west side of Winchester and assaulted the Star Fort on the northwest side of town. The 6th, 7th and 9th were in the front line with the 5th and 8th in support as the brigade stormed the fort, capturing its artillery and driving off the defenders.
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Major Alexander Hart and brought 196 men to the field. It lost 7 men killed, 30 wounded and 30 captured. Major Hart was wounded, and Captain F. Richardson was killed in the fighting on July 1.
September 14 Picketet Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan River.
October Bristoe Campaign
November 7
Battle of Rapahannock Station

The regiment was part of two brigades defending a bridgehead on the north bank of the Rappahannock River that was overrun in a rare night attack. Over 1,600 Confederate prisoners were taken from the eight understrength regiments defending the bridgehead, with only a few men swimming across the river to escape. Of the 1200 men of Hays’ Louisiana Brigade, 699 were captured. Out of the 122 men of the 5th Louisiana under Captain J.G. Angell only 1 captain answered roll call after the attack.
November-December Mine Run Campaign
1864
March 500 of the 699 men from the brigade captured at Rappahannock Station were exchanged and returned to duty
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness
May 12
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Lieutenant Colonel Menger was killed in the defense of the Muleshoe.
June 1864
Early’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign

Assigned to Hays’ Brigade (Colonel William R. Peck commanding) of Brigadier General Zebulon York’s Consolidated Louisiana Brigade in Gordon’s Division of the Army of the Valley

July 9
Battle of Monocacy

Commanded by Major Alexander Hart
September 19
Third Battle of Winchester

Major Hart was captured.
September 21-22
Battle of Fisher’s Hill
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek
October The ten regiments of the Louisiana brigade were reorganized as a battalion of six companies with less than 500 men, although it would continue to be referred to as a brigade. Colonel Raine Peck (at 6’3″ and 300 pounds known as “Big Peck”) was given command of the brigade.
November 16 Major Hart was exchanged and returned to the regiment.
December The regiment left the Army of the Valley and returned to the Petersburg defences with the remnants of the Second Corps
1865
January-March Siege of Petersburg
February 5-7
Battle of Hatcher’s Run
February 18 Colonel Peck promotd to brigadier general and transferred to the Western Theater. Colonel Eugene Waggaman of the 10th Louisiana was given command of the brigade of 400 men
March 25
Battle of Fort Stedman
April 2
Final Assault on Petersburg
April 6
Battle of Sayler’s Creek
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The 5th Louisiana surrendered 1 officer and 18 men. The entire brigade ony had 373 men.