5th Infantry Regiment
Civil War
National Zouaves; Advance Guard Zouaves; Duryee Zouaves

History

Mustered in: May 9, 1861
Mustered out: May 14, 1863

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.
This regiment, Col. Abram Duryee, was accepted by the State April 23, 1861; organized at Fort Schuyler, New York harbor, and there mustered in the service of the United States for two years May 9, 1861.
The companies were recruited principally: A and B in New York city and Brooklyn; C in New York city, Astoria and Poughkeepsie; D-Fifth Ward Volunteers-and E in New York city, Brooklyn and Williamsburg; F in New York city, Brooklyn, Fordham and Yonkers; G in New York city, Brooklyn and New Rochelle; H in New York city, Brooklyn, Flushing, Greenpoint, Tarrytown and West Point; I in New York city, Brooklyn, Jamaica, Long Neck and Williamsburg, and at Perth Amboy, Plainfield and Orange, N. J.; and K in New York and Jersey City.
The regiment left the State May 23, 1861; served at Fort Monroe, Va., from May 25, 1861; in Pierce's Brigade, at Newport News, Va., from May 27, 1861; at Baltimore, Md., from July 27, 1861; with the Army of the Potomac from April 11, 1862; in Sykes' Brigade, Reserve Infantry, Army of the Potomac, from May, 1862; and in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from May 17, 1862. May 14, 1863, its three years' men. were transferred to the 146th Infantry, and the regiment, having previously been ordered to New York city, was there, commanded by Col. Cleveland Winslow, honorably discharged and mustered out May 14, 1863.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 4 officers, 126 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 2 officers, 47 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 37 enlisted men; total, 6 officers, 210 enlisted men; aggregate, 216.

The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908.
Cols., Abraham Duryee, Governeur K. Warren, Hiram Duryea, Cleveland Winslow, Frederick Winthrop, Henry W. Ryder, William F. Drum; Lieut-Cols., Governeur K. Warren, Hiram Duryea, Harmon D. Hull, George Duryea, Henry W. Ryder, George L. Guthrie, William F. Drum; Majs., J. Mansfield Davis, Hiram Duryea, Harmon D. Hull, Cleveland Winslow, George Duryea, Henry W. Ryder, George L. Guthrie, Paul A. Oliver, Henry Shickhardt, Carlisle Boyd. The 5th known as the National or Duryee's Zouaves, was recruited in New York city and the immediate vicinity and mustered into the U. S. service for a term of two years, at Fort Schuyler, New York harbor, May 9, 1861. On the 23d it embarked for Fortress Monroe, camped for a few days near Hampton Bridge, then moved to Camp Butler, Newport News, and was attached to Pierce's brigade. The troops of the 5th led the force at the battle of Big Bethel and lost 5 killed, 16 wounded and 2 missing. In September the regiment was sent to Baltimore for garrison duty and remained there until May, 1862, when it was assigned to Sykes' brigade, -reserve infantry of the Army of the Potomac, and on May 17, to the 3d brigade, and division, 5th corps, with which it fought in the battles of the campaign on the Peninsula. It participated in the siege of Yorktown, the fighting near Hanover Court House, the Seven Days' battles, losing at Games' mill 55 killed, 37 wounded and 15 missing, and winning notice by the coolness with which, after heavy loss, the regiment was reformed under fire in order to fill the places of the fallen men. At Malvern hill, the 5th was active, then spent a short time at Harrison's landing, and afterward took a prominent part in the battle of the second Bull Run, where, of 490 members present, it lost 117 killed or mortally wounded, 23 per cent, of those engaged, the greatest loss of life in any infantry regiment in any one battle. The remnant of the regiment served with the division through the battles of Antietam, Shepherdstown, Snicker's gap and Fredericksburg without serious loss, and went into winter quarters at Falmouth. It was also active at the battle of Chancellorsville and then returned to New York city, where it was mustered out on May 14, 1863. The total strength of the command was 1,508, of whom 117 were killed or died of wounds, 11.7 per cent, and 34 died from other causes. During almost the entire term of service, the regiment was attached to Gen. Sykes' famous division of regulars, which contained one brigade of volunteers, in which the 5th bore a prominent and worthy part. Col. Fox names the 5th as one of the "three hundred fighting regiments" and quotes Gen. Sykes as having said it was one of the best volunteer organizations he ever saw. The reenlisted men and recruits, besides a number of the members who originally enlisted for three years, were transferred to the 146th N. Y. Vols.

Battles and Casualties Table from Phisterer

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

Historical Sketch from the 3rd Annual Report of the Bureau of Military Statistics

5th Infantry National Flag

5th Infantry Regimental Flag

Unit Roster

Further Reading
This is meant to be a comprehensive list. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to int-historians@ng.army.mil with the name of the resource and where it is located. This can include photographs, letters, articles and other non-book materials. Also, if you have any materials in your possession that you would like to donate, the museum is always looking for items specific to New York's military heritage. Thank you.

Bogardus, Stephen H.; Craig, Joel Gregory. Dear Eagle : the Civil War correspondence of Stephen H. Bogardus, Jr. to the Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle. Durham, NC: Paper Journey Press, 2002.

Bradley, Joseph H. ; Duryée, Hiram. ; Woodward, E. Joseph H. Bradley papers, 1861-1915.
Abstract: Papers, 1861-1915, relating to Bradley's service in the Civil War. Bradley served in the 5th New York State Volunteers, 1861-1862, reaching the rank of captain, and served as chaplain to the 10th New York Cavalry Regiment from 1864. Most of the papers are official documents of the 5th Regiment; they include minutes of officers' meetings, testimony from various soldiers to Bradley's conduct at the battle of Gaines' Mill, Colonel Hiram Duryée's report on the battle, muster rolls, returns of supplies, records of courts martial while Bradley was Judge Advocate, and other miscellaneous papers. The collection also contains Bradley's commissions, and correspondence about his pension claims and the dismissal of a charge of absence without leave in 1862. A personal letter from E. Woodward, dated 1889, contains a brief autobiography, spiritual reflections, and a holy medal.
Located at New York Historical Society.

Bradley, J.H. LeighColl Bk 49: 61 (Sketch of Capt's death, 1862).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Claxton, Robert. C.S.M. in Memoriam. Rochester: 1865.
Located at the Rochester Public Libary.

Craig, Joel. "Editor Platt Battles the Zouzve Uniform." Military Collector and Historian. V56 N4 (Winter 2004), p. 276 - 278.

Davenport, Alfred. Camp and field life of the Fifth New York volunteer infantry (Duryee zouaves), by Alfred Davenport. New York: Dick and Fitzgerald, 1879.

Davenport, Alfred. Letter books, 1861-1863, 1876-1878.
Abstract: Davenport's letter books containing copies of his letters to his family while with the 5th Regiment, N.Y.S.V., from April 1861-April 1863 during the Civil War. He gives detailed accounts of his experiences including fighting in the Peninsular Campaign of 1862. One volume also contains a history of the regiment and a copy of a portion of his diary during the Peninsular Campaign; the other includes an announcement for his book on the history of the regiment, meeting announcements for its veteran corps, and several clippings all from the late 1870s.
Owned by the New York Historical Society.

Davenport, Alfred HCWRTColl (Enlisted man's letter re rect officer corps, Apr 16, 1894).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Duryee, Harem HCWRTColl (GEN's letters, Sep 26, 1862-Jun 28, 1889; Lt Philip Wilson's recollections of Duryee, Jul 19, 1901).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1979.
See pp. 1406-07 (2 pages) for a concise summary of the regiment's service.

Ferry, Sylvester. "Yankee Letters from Andersonville Prison." Georgie Historical Quarterly XXXVIII (1954), p. 394-8.

Fifth New York Volunteers Veteran Association. Scrapbook, 1861-1901.
Abstract: Scrapbook of the Veteran Association of the 5th N.Y. Volunteers (1861-1901). Contains 150 items including letters, tickets, pamphlets, announcements, etc. relating to the Fifth Regiment and the activities of the Veteran Association.
Owned by the New York Historical Society.

Fowler, Frederick CWMiscColl (Pvt's letters, Aug 1, 1861-Oct 18, 1862).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Hennessy, John. "At the Vortex of Hell." CW Times Illus 24 (Jan 1986): pp. 10-17.
On the regiment at Battle of Second Bull Run.

Kilmer, G. L. "The Fighting Fifth. Gallant battle record of Duryee's New York Zouaves..." In War Department Library Pamphlet v. 270.

Leavitt, John, fl. 1865. ; Leavitt, George W.,; d. 1862, ; correspondent.; Leavitt, Joseph,; d. 1864, ; correspondent. Letter book, 1861-1865.
Abstract: A handwritten letter book compiled by John Leavitt of Maine ("I finished coppying these letters Oct. 7th 1865 & I coppyed them because they are of value to me and I was fearful that they might get mislaid"), two of whose sons (George W. and Joseph) served in the Union Army. John Leavitt transcribed in neat and legible handwriting letters written by his sons to various family members. Included are transcribed letters from acquaintances of George describing his death at the Second Battle of Battle of Bull Run on August 30, 1862. Also included is a transcribed excerpt from an Adjutant General's report describing the service and death of Joseph who, mortally wounded at the Battle of Spottsylvania on May 18, 1864, died in Alexandria, Virginia, on July 15, 1864. There are 39 letters from George Leavitt written between August 8, 1861 and August 9, 1862, when he served with Company F, 5th Regiment of New York Volunteers. The letters are written in great detail and cover numerous topics about current events, army life, and campaigning. Leavitt writes from Camp Federal Hill in Baltimore, Maryland, and then from various locations on the Peninsula in Virginia. From Baltimore he writes of evident Southern sympathies in the city, construction of a fort, various privations and lack of food, and that the war will be a long one. On the Peninsula he writes of slow progress to Yorktown due to roads clogged with military traffic, the evacuation of Yorktown, and the Union defeat at the Seven Days' Battles where only the "will of Providence saved the army." There are numerous letters from Joseph Leavitt written between June 30, 1861 and May 1864, when he served with the 5th Maine Regiment. The letters are written cover current events, army life, and campaigning on the Peninsula, at Antietam, at Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. There are also letters written from the Mansion House Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, where Leavitt was hospitalized for a battle wound. There are several letters from John Leavitt to his wife written in May and June 1865 from Alexandria, Virginia, where he was visiting his son Joseph in the hospital. He writes on his son's wound, prognosis, fortitude, and treatment and also describes hospital conditions. Included are two poems, "Over the River" (from the Portland Transcript of September 27, 1862) and "The Blue Coat" (to the editor of the Boston Jounral, June 2, 1866). Included are undated handwritten research notes summarizing all of George Leavitt's letters and 13 of Joseph Leavitt's letters (between June 30 and September 8, 1861).
Located at the University of Virginia.

Livingstone, Charles Brandegee; Pohanka, Brian C. Charlie's Civil War : a private's trial by fire in the 5th New York Volunteers--Duryee Zouaves and 146th New York Volunteer Infantry. Gettysburg, PA: Thomas Publications, 1997.

Lloyd, Mark and Michael Codd (illustrator). Combat uniforms of the Civil War. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1999.Author(s): , 1948- ; Contents: Ulysses S. Grant -- 5th New York Volunteers (Duryee Zouaves) -- 9th New York Volunteers (Hawkins' Zouaves) -- 39th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Garibaldi Guard) -- 79th New York (Highlanders) -- U.S. Colored Infantry -- Officer: U.S.Corps of Engineers -- U.S. Sharpshooters -- N.C.O.: U.S. Cavalry -- The Irish Brigade -- Gunner: Union Light Artillery -- U.S. Naval Officer.
Abstract: Describes the military uniforms worn by individual units of Federal and Confederate armies during the Civil War as well as the battlefield activities of these units.

McCully, Bruce. "The Civil War Diary of Samuel Tiebout, Fifth New York volunteer Infantry." New York History. V24 Nos 2 and 3.

Meloy, George MeloyColl (Enlisted man's letter, Jun 11, 1861).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Moore, J. Michael. "Second Battalion, Duryee Zouaves Officer's Uniform." Military Collector and Historian. V55 N2 (Summer 2003), p. 110 - 112.

New York (State). AGO. Annual Report...for the Year 1898. No. 17 Albany, NY: Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, Crawford, 1899. pp. 777-1244.
(Alphabetical roster of the regiment).

Pell, John Howland. "Letters of John Howland Pell." Pelliana I (1934) 29-51. illus.

Phisterer, Frederick, comp. New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. Vol. 2. Albany, NY: Weed and Parsons, 1890.
See pp. 1769-79 (13 pages) for a brief history of the regiment and a roster of officers.

Pohanka, Brian C. "'Boys, Won't I Make a Fine Looking Corpse?': Duryee's Zouaves at Second Bull Run." CW Regts Vol. 1, No. 2: pp. 29-41.

Pohanka, Brian C. "Charge Bayonets: The 5th New York Infantry at the Battle of Gaines' Mill." CW Times Illus 33 (May/Jun 1993): pp. 30-35 & 38-39.

Pohanka, Brian C. "Duryee's Zouaves: The 5th New York Infantry." CW Regts Vol. 1, No. 2: pp. 7-28.

Pohanka, Brian C. "A Zouave Sharpshooter." Mil Images Mag 23 (Jul/Aug 1991): pp. 18-19.

Pohanka, Brian C., ed. "'I Hardly Have the Heart to Write These Few Lines.'" CW Regts Vol. 1. No. 2: pp. 42-43.
Letter of Cpl. Thomas F. Maher, Co. D, to mother of slain comrade, Pvt. James McCarthy.

Pohanka, Brian C., ed. "'I Was There." CW 8 (Nov/Dec 1990): pp. 11 & 72 .
7 Sep 1862 letter of Sgt. Thomas E. Fish.

Southwick, Thomas Paine. A Duryee zouave, by Thomas P. Southwick of the Fifth New York volunteers. Journal and reminiscences of camp life and the personal experiences on the march and in the field, of an ordinary, common soldier of the Civil war. [Washington, D. C.: Acme print. co., 1930].

Suffolk County Historical Society.; Brady, Mathew B. Civil war collection, 1861-1978.
Abstract: Town of Brookhaven Volunteer enlistment papers, list of recruits, exemption forms, recruiting agent's receipts and certificates, 1861-1864; muster rolls for 5th and 6th regiment of Corcoran's Irish Legion, 1862; Civil War recollections, articles, and military documents of John G. Homan, 1863-1978; photocopies of correspondence and resolutions, 1861-1863; articles and membership list of 127th Regiment, Company C, New York Volunteer Infantry, 1862; photograph of 2nd Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery and survivors of Company A, 3rd New York Volunteers; copy of muster out roll of Lt. George Collins, Company H; and copies of Mathew Brady photographs, 1865-1910.
Located at Suffolk County Historical Society, Helen Raynor Hannah Library - Archives, Riverhead, NY.

United States.; Army.; New York Voluntary Infantry, 5th (Commemorative unit) ; Lee-Jackson Memorial, Inc. ; and the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Roundtable. The Battle of Cross Keys, June 1862-June 1976: a bicentennial feature. [Harrisonburg, Va.]? : s.n., 1976.
Note(s): Cover title./ Program of battle reenactment held Jun. 4-6, 1976.
Responsibility: sponsored by Duryee's 5th N.Y. Volunteer Infantry, the Lee-Jackson Memorial, the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Roundtable.
Located at James Madison University.

Veteran Association of the Fifth Regiment of New York Volunteer Infantry. Dedicatory ceremonies held on the battlefield of Manassas or Second Bull run, Virginia, October 20th, 1906, and May 30th (Memorial day), 1907, under the auspices of the Veteran association of the Fifth regiment of New York volunteer infantry "Duryee zouaves." [Brooklyn: Eagle press, 1907] 96 p. 2 plates (illus.).

Waud, Alfred R. [Federal troops driving the rebels from one of their batteries at Great Bethel].
Drawing on brown paper : pencil, black ink wash, and Chinese white ; 17.1 x 11.7 cm. (sheet).
Located online at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3g05178 [link opens new window].

Waud, Alfred R. Warrens Brigade overpowered by Longstreets advance.
Description: 1 drawing on green paper : pencil and Chinese white ; 15.3 x 33.2 cm. (sheet).
Located online at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3g09832 [link opens new window].

Williams, George Forrester. Bullet and shell, war as the soldier saw it. Camp, march, and picket; battlefield and bivouac; prison and hospital, by Geo. F. Williams. lllustrated from sketches among the actual scenes, by Edwin Forbes. New York: Fords, Howard & Hulbert, 1883. [Fiction]

Williams, George Forrester. "Lights and shadows of army life." Century magazine XXVllI (1884) 803-19. illus.

Winthrop, Frederick, et al. Papers II, 1578-1977, bulk: 1817-1910.
Description: 2 boxes and 1 oversize box.
Abstract: Papers of Winthrop family members, mostly from the 19th c., but including some earlier items of John and Margaret Winthrop, John Winthrop, F.R.S., and an estate inventory of James Winthrop; and some 20th c. items, mostly genealogical notes. The bulk of the collection is personal papers of the descendants of Francis B. Winthrop, including his will and estate inventory (1817); a will (1834) of a Mary T. Smith; and correspondence among family members Thomas C., Charles F., Grenville, Eugene, their cousins Robert C. Winthrop Sr. and Jr., Robert D. Winthrop, and others. Letters (1868-74) of Eugene Winthrop from Paris include descriptions of social life there and the effects of the Franco-Prussian War. There is much genealogical information on the Winthrop family, with a few notes on the Taylor family as well. (Cont) Also, a series of Civil War letters from Frederick Winthrop, describing his activities with the 12th U.S. Infantry and the 5th N.Y. Volunteers in the battles of Fair Oaks and Spotsylvania, and the campaigns of North Anna River, Totopotomoy Creek, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Sherman's March to the Sea. A letter written by a Daniel Schambert describes the Battle of Ball's Bluff.
Located at the Massachusetts Historical Society

Items the museum owns are in bold.

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