Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia (Infantry)

Acton men who served in the 5th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia:

Warren B. Ball, 3 months, Co. G

Edward A. Davidson, 100 days, Co. E (died of disease)

Adolphus Dusseault, 9 months, Co. B

Lyman Gibbs, 9 months, Co. I

William B. Gray, 3 months, Co. G.

Samuel A. Lawrence, 100 days, Co. E

Joseph N. Robbins, 3 months, Co. G

Elbridge Robbins, Jr.,  3 months, Co. G.

J. Francis Whitney, 100 days, Co. I

Granville W. Wilder, 100 days, Co. E.

Regimental history from Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War, compiled and published by the Adjutant General:

Fifth Regiment, Three Months

The 5th Regt. Mass. Vol. Mil., "Minute Men," was ordered to report for active duty and to proceed to the city of Washington by Special Order No. 35, issued by the Adjutant General of Massachusetts, April 19,1861. To the five companies of the 5th Regt. were added four from the 7th Regt. and one from the 1st Regt., thus making up a full regiment of ten companies. On Sunday, April 21, the 5th entrained for Washington, where on May 1, its members were mustered into the service of the United States. For nearly four weeks it remained in the city of Washington, then on May 25 it was transferred to the Virginia shore, where it remained in camp near Alexandria until it marched toward Bull Run, forming a part of Franklin's brigade, Heintzelman's division, of McDowell's army. It was one of the three Massachusetts regiments engaged in the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, where it lost nine killed, two wounded, and twenty-three prisoners. After this engagement the regiment remained in Washington until the latter part of the month when it was sent back to Boston where it was mustered out of the service July 31.

 
Fifth Regiment, Nine Months

Under the call of August 4, 1862, for 300,000 militia to serve nine months, 19,080 of whom were assigned to the quota of Massachusetts, the 5th Regt. again volunteered for duty, thereby helping to avoid the employment of the draft. Its rendezvous was at Camp Lander, Wenham, Mass., where it was recruited to war strength, and where its companies were mustered into the service between September 16 and 29, 1862. Its field and staff officers were mustered in October 8. Ordered to the department of North Carolina, it reached Beaufort October 26, the same day as the 3d Regt., and there entrained for Newbern. Between November 2 and 13 it took part in the expedition toward Williamstown, N. C. On December 10 it joined the Goldsboro expedition, and during the succeeding eleven days marched 180 miles and participated in the battles of Kinston, Whitehall, and Goldsboro. It took part in two expeditions for the relief of Washington, N. C., which was besieged by the Confederates, also in the so called Gum Swamp expedition in May, 1863. On June 22 it proceeded to Morehead City, where it embarked on the steamer "Guide" for Boston. Arriving at Boston on the afternoon of the 25th, on July 2 it was mustered out of the service at Camp Lander, Wenham.
     
Fifth Regiment, One Hundred Days

During the latter part of July, 1864, the 5th Regt. was again mustered into the service, this time for one hundred days, and was sent to Baltimore, Md., where it did guard duty at Fort McHenry, Fort Marshall, Federal Hill, and other places. Companies and detachments were stationed at various points in eastern Maryland where they were needed, especially during the autumn elections. On November 7 the regiment returned to Boston, and was mustered out at Readville, Mass., November 16.

 

Regimental history from A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, by Frederick Dyer:

Fifth Regiment, Three Months

Tendered services to the government April 15, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., April 21, and there mustered in for three months May 1. Moved to Alexandria, Va., May 25. Duty at Camp Andrew until July 16. Attached to Franklin's Brigade, Heintzelman's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeast Virginia. Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21. Battle of Bull Run July 21. Ordered to Boston July 29, and there mustered out August 1, 1861.

Lost during service 9 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Enlisted men by disease. Total 11.

Fifth Regiment, Nine Months

Tendered services to government for nine months August 14, 1862. Organized at Camp Lander, Wenham, and mustered in by Company. Company "A" October 8; Companies "B," "D" and "K" September 19; Companies "C," "E," "G," "H" and "I" SepTember 16, and Company "F" September 23, 1862. Moved to Boston October 22, thence on Steamer "Mississippi" to New Berne, N. C., October 22-27, and to Washington, N. C., October 30-31. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of North Carolina, to December, 1862. Lee's Brigade, Dept. of North Carolina, to January,1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Army Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to June, 1863.

SERVICE.--Foster's Expedition to Williamston November 2-12, 1862. Duty at New Berne until December 10. Foster's Expedition to Goldsboro December 11-20. Action at Kinston December 14. Whitehall December 16. Goldsboro December 17. Duty at New Berne until June, 1863. Deep Gully, New Berne, March 13-14. (Co. "G" detached at Forts Hatteras and Clark, Hatteras Inlet, February 21 to June 22, 1863.) (Co. "D" at Plymouth February 21 to May 4.) Operations on the Pamlico April 4-6. Expedition to the relief of Washington April 7-10. Expedition toward Kinston April 27-May 1. Wise's Cross Roads April 28. Demonstration on Kinston May 20-23. Gum Swamp May 22. Moved to Boston June 22-25, and there mustered out July 2, 1863.

Lost by disease 16 Enlisted men.

Fifth Regiment, 100 Days

Tendered services to the government for 100 days July, 1864. Left State for Baltimore, Md., July 28, 1864. Camp at Mankin's Woods and garrison duty at Forts McHenry, Marshall, Carroll and other points in and about the Defences of Baltimore until November. Attached to 8th Army Corps, Middle Department. Ordered home November 6. Mustered out November 16, 1864.

Lost by disease 9 Enlisted men.

 

See also:

Bennett, Edwin C. Musket and Sword, or the Camp, March, and Firing Line in the Army of the Potomac. Boston: Coburn Publishing Co., 1900. https://archive.org/details/musketswordorcam01benn; https://archive.org/details/musketswordorcam02benn


Robinson, Frank T. History of the Fifth Regiment, M.V.M. Boston: W.F. Brown & Company, Printers, 1879. https://archive.org/details/05250996.3092.emory.edu; https://archive.org/details/historyoffifthre00robi

Roe, Alfred S. The Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in its Three Tours of Duty 1861, 1862-'63, 1864. Boston: Fifth Regiment Veteran Association, 1911. https://archive.org/details/fifthregimentmas01roea; https://archive.org/details/fifthregimentmas02roea; https://archive.org/details/fifthregimentmas00roea; https://archive.org/details/fifthregimentmas00aroerich