5th Rhode Island Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 5th Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
as a battalion of five companies and mustered in December 16, 1861. An additional five companies were raised afterward and mustered in December 27, 1862.
The regiment was attached to Parke's 3rd Brigade, Burnside's Expeditionary Corps, to April 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Department of North Carolina, to July 1862. 2nd Brigade. 1st Division, Department of North Carolina, to January 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, XVIII Corps, Department of North Carolina, to May 1863. Lee's Brigade, Defenses of New Berne, North Carolina, Department of North Carolina, to July 1863.
The 5th Rhode Island Infantry ceased to exist in July 1863 when it was changed to 5th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery.
April 30-June 30. At Beaufort, N.C., until August 7, and at New Berne until December. Expedition to Tarboro November 2-12. Rawle's Mills November 2. Demonstration on New Berne November 11. Foster's Expedition to Goldsboro December 11-20. Kinston December 14. Whitehall December 16. Goldsboro December 17. Duty at New Berne until May 1863. Expedition to relief of Little Washington April 7-10. Duty in the defenses of New Berne until July.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The 5th Rhode Island Infantry was organized at Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
as a battalion of five companies and mustered in December 16, 1861. An additional five companies were raised afterward and mustered in December 27, 1862.
The regiment was attached to Parke's 3rd Brigade, Burnside's Expeditionary Corps, to April 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Department of North Carolina, to July 1862. 2nd Brigade. 1st Division, Department of North Carolina, to January 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, XVIII Corps, Department of North Carolina, to May 1863. Lee's Brigade, Defenses of New Berne, North Carolina, Department of North Carolina, to July 1863.
The 5th Rhode Island Infantry ceased to exist in July 1863 when it was changed to 5th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery.
Detailed service
Burnside's Expedition to Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island, N.C., January 7-February 8, 1862. Battle of Roanoke Island February 9. At Roanoke Island until March 11. Expedition up Currituck Sound February 19. Advance to New Berne March 11-13. Battle of New Berne March 14. Operations against Fort Macon March 19-April 26. Moved to Havelock Station, Atlantic & North Carolina Railroad, March 19-20. Companies A, B, and C to Newport Barracks March 23, then the battalion moved to Carolina City April 4. At Bogue Banks April 6-30. Camden, South Mills, April 19. At Fort MaconFort Macon State Park
Fort Macon State Park is a North Carolina state park in Carteret County, North Carolina, in the United States. Located on Bogue Banks near Atlantic Beach, the park opened in 1936...
April 30-June 30. At Beaufort, N.C., until August 7, and at New Berne until December. Expedition to Tarboro November 2-12. Rawle's Mills November 2. Demonstration on New Berne November 11. Foster's Expedition to Goldsboro December 11-20. Kinston December 14. Whitehall December 16. Goldsboro December 17. Duty at New Berne until May 1863. Expedition to relief of Little Washington April 7-10. Duty in the defenses of New Berne until July.
Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 119 men during service (this includes casualties after it was changed to heavy artillery); 1 officer and 8 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 4 officers and 106 enlisted men died of disease.See also
- List of Rhode Island Civil War units
- Rhode Island in the American Civil WarRhode Island in the American Civil WarThe state of Rhode Island during the American Civil War, as with all of New England, remained loyal to the Union. Rhode Island furnished 25,236 fighting men to the Union Army, of which 1,685 died. On the home front, Rhode Island, along with the other northern states, used its industrial capacity to...