5th Infantry Regiment was organized in May, 1861, under Colonel K. Harper. Eight companies were from Augusta County and two from Frederick County. The unit became part of the Stonewall Brigade and served undder Generals T.J. Jackson, R.B. Garnett, Winder, Paxton, J.A. Walker, and W. 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 Majros Absalom Koiner and James W. Newton.
The nucleus of the 5th Regt was a regiment of volunteer militia, identified as the 3rd Regt Va Vols, formed in Augusta County, April 13, 1861. This regiment, under Col. William S.H. Baylor, apparently included these companies:
West Augusta Guard, Staunton
Augusta Rifles
Mountain Rifles, Staunton
Staunton Artillery
Southern Guard
Co I = Ready Rifles of Augusta County, riflemen, enlisted May 11, 1861, for one year; reorganized April 17, 1862.
Captains: Oswald Flint Grinnan (dropped April 17, 1862), Edwin L. Curtis
[A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations, 1861-1865, by Lee A. Wallace, Jr.]
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