Organized at New York City and accepted by the State of New York.

• Companies A and B were principally recruited in New York city and Brooklyn
• Company C in New York city, Astoria and Poughkeepsie
• Companies D (“Fifth Ward Volunteers”) and E in New York city, Brooklyn and Williamsburg
• Company F in New York city, Brooklyn, Fordham and Yonkers
• Company G in New York city, Brooklyn and New Rochelle
• Company H in New York city, Brooklyn, Flushing, Greenpoint, Tarrytown and West Point
• Company I in New York city, Brooklyn, Jamaica, Long Neck and Williamsburg, and at Perth Amboy, Plainfield and Orange, N. J.
• Company K in New York and Jersey City

Colonel Duryea had commanded the 7th New York State Militia before the war, which was nationally known for its crack drill and its colorful Zouave uniforms. He outfitted the Fifth New York in the same style. Enlisted men wore a dark blue Zouave jacket with a red trim over a dark blue shirt, also with red trim. Around the waist was a red Zouave sash with sky blue trim. Below were very baggy red pantaloons, white gaiters and leather leggings. The head cover was a red fez with a yellow tassel. The fezzes were often worn wrapped with a white turban.

Officers wore the regulation army dark blue frock coat with shoulder straps in infantry blue with large, red trousers. Head cover was a French-style red kepi with blue bands. Gold lace indicated rank.

Line officers

• Company A — Captain Harmon Daniel Hull, First Lieutenant William T Partridge, and Second Lieutenant Charles W. Torrey
• Company B — Captain Robert S. DuMont, First Lieutenant. Gouverneur Carr, and Second Lieutenant Theodore S. DuMont
• Company C — Captain Henry G. Davies, First Lieutenant J. Francis Evans, and Second Lieutenant Charles H. Seaman
• Company D — Captain James L. Waugh, First Lieutenant Wilbur F. Lewis, and Second Lieutenant John A. Cochrane
• Company E — Captain Hiram Duryea, First Lieutenant George Duryea, and Second Lieutenant Henry H. Burnett
• Company F — Captain Henry A. Swartwout, First Lieutenant Oliver Wetmore, Jr., and Second Lieutenant Carlile Boyd
• Company G — Captain Abraham Denike, First Lieutenant Jacob Duryée, and Second Lieutenant Joseph H. Bradley
• Company H — Captain Judson Kilpatrick, First Lieutenant Churchill J. Cambreleng, and Second Lieutenant James Miller
• Company I — Captain Charles G. Bartlett, First Lieutenant Joseph S. York, and Second Lieutenan. John H. Whitney
• Company K — Captain Cleveland Winslow, First Lieutenant Prescott Tracey, and Second Lieutenant William H. Hoyt.

Action at Big Bethel

The regiment lost 7 men killed or mortally wounded and 12 men wounded.

Peninsula Campaign

Moved by ship to the Virginia Peninsula.

Siege of Yorktown, Virginia.

The regiment lost 2 men wounded

Hanover Court House

One man was wounded

Seven days before Richmond

The regiment lost 2 officers and 51 men killed or mortally wounded, 3 officers and 92 men wounded, and 1 officer and 14 men missing out of 450 men engaged

Battle of Mechanicsville

Battle of Gaines Mill

White Oak Swamp and Turkey Bend

Malvern Hill

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia

Second Battle of Bull Run

The regiment was commanded by Captain Cleveland Winslow while Colonel Gouverner Warren commanded the small two regiment brigade and Major Hiram Duryea had been forced to return home with malaria. The brigade was deployed in a sacrificial delaying act on Pope’s left flank in the face of Longstreet’s overwhelming attack. Out of 490 men engaged it lost 4 officers and 115 men killed or mortally wounded, 23 per cent of those engaged. It also lost 6 officers and 131 men wounded, and 41 men missing.

“the regiment faced a musketry fire which cut down one third of its men and won praises from all who witnessed its remarkable efficiency and drill while in the thickest of that fight. It was in that battle that after having received several deadly volleys it paused at one time, while still under fire, to count off anew so that its movements might not be deranged by the absence of the fallen men.”

From the monument at Manassas on New York Avenue:

Here, about 4 p.m. August 30, 1862, the regiment, 482 strong, supported Hazlett’s Battery, “D” 5th U.S. Artillery, when attacked by a Division of the victorious Confederates. The Regiment stubbornly withstood this force, and checked its advance, until the Battery had withdrawn.

In holding this position, the regiment suffered the greatest loss of life sustained by any infantry regiment, in any battle, during the entire Civil War.

The casualties were: killed or mortally wounded, 124; wounded 223. Both color bearers, and seven out of eight of the color guard were killed; but the colors were brought with honor, off the field.

Private James Webb of Company F was awarded the Medal of Honor when he “Under heavy fire voluntarily carried information to a battery commander that enabled him to save his guns from capture. Was severely wounded, but refused to go to the hospital and participated in the remainder of the campaign.”

Maryland Campaign

Battle of Antietam

Commanded by Captain Cleveland Winslow, the regiment was in reserve and not engaged.

Shephardstown Ford

One man was wounded

Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 2 men wounded and 3 missing

Chancellorsville Campaign

Battle of Chancellorsville