5th Regiment, US Cavalry (Regular Army)

United States   U.S. Civil War    United States Military    Union Regular Army in the Civil War     5th Regiment, US Cavalry (Regular Army)

Brief History
The 5th Regiment, U.S. Cavalry was organized pursuant to authorization by Congress to create two regiments of cavalry, in 1855, as the 2nd Regiment U.S. Cavalry. It's first commander was Col. Albert Sidney Johnston, and it's second commander was Lt. Col. R.E. Lee who resigned from its command upon secession of Virginia from the Union. After organization at Louisville, Kentucky, the regiment served in 13 campaigns against Indians in in the West from 1855 to 1861. In 1861 the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Dragoons (mounted Infantry) were re-designated as cavalry and as the senior units became the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd U.S. Cavalry. Consequently the original 2nd Cavalry was re-designated the 5th U.S. Cavalry with full entitlement to the lineage and honors of its time as the 2nd U.S. Cavalry. During the Civil War the 5th Cavalry Regiment was part of the Army of the Potomac and its most significant accomplishment during that war was in saving the Union artillery in the Battle of Gaines Mill.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in 'Florida 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.


 * 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.


 * Union Regular Army in the Civil War describes Union sources, specifically about the Union Regular Army in the Civil War, and how to find them.