5th Virginia Infantry

5th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Flag of Virginia, 1861
Active May 1861 Spring 1865
Country  Confederate States of America
Allegiance  Virginia
Branch  Confederate States Army
Role Infantry
Engagements American Civil War: First Battle of Bull Run-Battle of Kernstown I-Jackson's Valley Campaign-Battle of Malvern Hill-Second Battle of Bull Run-Battle of Chancellorsville-Battle of Gettysburg
Disbanded 1865
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Colonel Kenton Harper

The 5th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought in the Stonewall Brigade, mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia.

5th Infantry Regiment was organized in May, 1861, under Colonel Kenton Harper. Eight companies were from Augusta County and two from Frederick County. The unit became part of the Stonewall Brigade and served under Generals T.J. Jackson, Richard B. Garnett, Charles Sidney Winder, Elisha F. Paxton, James A. Walker, and William Terry.

It saw action at First Manassas, First Kernstown, and in Jackson's Valley Campaign. Later the 5th participated in the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, then was active in Early's Shenandoah Valley operations and around Appomattox.

It reported 9 killed, 48 wounded, and 4 missing at First Kernstown, had 4 killed, 89 wounded, and 20 missing at Cross Keys and Port Republic, and suffered 14 killed and 91 wounded at Second Manassas. The unit sustained 120 casualties at Chancellorsville and of the 345 engaged at Gettysburg, sixteen percent were disabled. It surrendered 8 officers and 48 men.

The field officers were Colonels William S.H. Baylor, John H.S. Funk, William H. Harman, and Kenton Harper; Lieutenant Colonel Hazel J. Williams; and Majors Absalom Koiner and James W. Newton.

References