5th Regiment, California Infantry (Union)

United States   U.S. Military    California     California Military    California in the Civil War    5th Regiment, California Infantry (Union)

Brief History
The 5th Regiment, California Infantry was organized in California at large September to November, 1861. After service in various places, it mustered out November 27 to December 14, 1864.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section, 5th Regiment Infantry, (accessed 8 June 2012).
 * The Wikipedia article, 5th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry, (accessed 8 June 2012),

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,365 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘California in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * California in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for California, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Bowie, George Washington. Address delivered before the Society of California Volunteers, at its Second Annual Celebration, at San Francisco, April 25th, 1867. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1993),