5th Independent Battery, Wisconsin Light Artillery

Brief History
The 5th Independent Battery, Wisconsin Light Artillery was organized at Racine, Wisconsin, and it mustered in October 10, 1861. It marched to Washington, D. C., via Richmond, April 29-May 17. It was in the Grand Review May 24. It was mustered out June 6, 1865.

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


 * The Civil War Archive section, 5th Independent Battery Light Artillery, (accessed 23 November 2012).
 * The Wikipedia Article, 5th Independent Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery, (accessed 23 November 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 347 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.


 * The Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, found on the Internet Archives web site, shows the men who served in this battery, their residences, dates of enlistment and mustering out, and other remarks.

-5th Battery, Light Artillery - Roster page 219. Many men were from Green County and Racine County.

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 'Wisconsin 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.


 * Wisconsin in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Wisconsin, 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.