5th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries – New York – Infantry

“Duryee’s Zouaves”

The 5th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 6 officers and 171 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 34 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. Nine of its members attained the rank of general. The regiment is honored by a monument on the Second Bull Run battlefield at Manassas.

1861
April 23 Organized at New York City and accepted by the State of New York
Mustered in for two years United States service at Fort Schuyler, New York harbor under Colonel Abram Duryee, Lieutenant Colonel Gouverneur Warren and Major J. Mansfield Davies.
May 23 Left State for Fortress Monroe, Va.
May 25 Arrived for duty at Newport News, Va.; Attached to Pierce’s Brigade, Newport News, Va., Dept. of Virginia
June 10
Action at Big Bethel

The regiment lost 7 men killed or mortally wounded and 12 men wounded.
July 26 Moved to Baltimore, Md. and duty there attached to Dix’s Division
August 15 Major Davies resigned to become colonel of the 2nd New York Cavalry
August 17 Captain Hiram Duryea of Company E was promoted to major
August 31 Colonel Duryee was promoted to Brigadier General. Lieutenant Colonel Gouverneur Warren was promoted to Colonel and Major Hiram Duryee to lieutenant colonel.
September 3 Captain Harmon D. Hull of Company A was promoted to major
November 14-22 Expedition through Accomac and Northampton Counties, Va.
1862
March Attached to Sykes’ Infantry (Reserve), Army of the Potomac
April 11 Moved to the Peninsula, Va.
April 15-May 4
Siege of Yorktown, Va.

The regiment lost 2 men wounded
May 26 Reconnaissance to near Hanover Court House

Attached to 3rd Brigade, Sykes’ 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
May 27
Hanover Court House

One man was wounded
May 27-29 Operations about Hanover Court House
June 5 New Bridge
June 13-15 Operations against Stuart
June 13 Old Church
June 25-July 1
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
June 26 Battle of Mechanicsville
June 27 Battle of Gaines Mill
June 30 White Oak Swamp and Turkey Bend
July 1 Malvern Hill
July Duty at Harrison’s Landing
August 15-28 Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville
August 28-September 2 Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 30
Second Battle of Bull Run

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

“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:

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.
September 3 Major Hiram Duryea was promoted to lieutenant colonel
September 6-22 Maryland Campaign
September 16-17
Battle of Antietam

Commanded by Captain Cleveland Winslow, the regiment was in reserve and not engaged.
September 20
Shephardstown Ford

One man wounded
September 29-30 Lieutenant Colonel Hiram Duryea, still absent sick, was promoted to colonel, Major Hull to lieutenant colonel and Captain Cleveland Winslow of Company E to major.
September- October Duty in Maryland
October 29-November 19 Movement to Falmouth, Va.
November 12 Colonel Hiram Duryea resigned
December 4 Major Winslow was promoted to colonel and Captain George Duryea of Company I was promoted to major
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 2 men wounded and 3 missing
December 30 Lieutenant Colonel Hull resigns to become colonel of the 165th New York Infantry
December 31 Major Duryea promoted to lieutenant colonel
1863
January 20-24 “Mud March”
February-March At Falmouth
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5
Battle of Chancellorsville
May 14 Mustered out, expiration of term, at New York City under Colonel Cleveland Winslow and Lt. Colonel George Duryea. Two hundred thirty recruits were assigned to 146th New York Infantry.