≡ Menu

5th New Jersey Infantry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this regiment’s role at the Siege of Petersburg? Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen. We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: August 22, 18611
Muster Out: Consolidated with 7th New Jersey Infantry November 6, 1864.2

Commander(s):
Captain Henry Woolsey
HenryWoolsey5thNJ3

Captain Thomas C. Godfrey
Commander Image

Captain Thomas G. Morrow
Commander Image

Commander 4
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army4,5

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army10,11

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army15,16

  • Commander: Captain Thomas C. Godfrey (July 31, 1864)17
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army18,19

  • Commander: Captain Thomas G. Morrow (August 31, 1864)20
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 5th New Jersey had only three (3) companies at this time.21

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army22,23

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (September 30, 1864)24
  • Note: The 5th New Jersey had five (5) companies at this time.25
  • Note: The 5th New Jersey and 7th New Jersey operated in the field as one command during the Fifth Offensive, and probably until the remaining members of the 5th New Jersey joined the 7th New Jersey officially on November 6, 1864.26,27

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army28,29

  • Commander: Captain Thomas G. Morrow (October 31, 1864)30
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 5th New Jersey consisted of five (5) companies at this time.31,32

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (Nov. 1-5, 1864) (need source)

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Consolidated with 7th New Jersey Infantry November 6, 1864.33

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Was no longer an independent command.34

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Was no longer an independent command.35

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles36:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-18.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16 to November 6, 1864.
  • Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23.
  • In trenches before Petersburg until July 12.
  • In Reserve Camp July 12-26.
  • Demonstration north of the James July 27-29.
  • Deep Bottom July 27-28.
  • Demonstration north of the James August 13-20.
  • Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18.
  • Non-Veterans mustered out at Trenton, N.J., September 7, 1864.
  • Ream’s Station August 25.
  • Fort Sedgwick September 10.
  • Duty in trenches before Petersburg in lines from Fort Morton to Fort Alexander Hays September 10 to October 1.
  • Poplar Springs Church October 1.
  • Yellow House October 2-5.
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
  • Fort Morton November 5.
  • Consolidated with 7th New Jersey Infantry November 6, 1864.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    3. Image provided by John Hayward, author of “Jersey Men, Follow Me…!”: A History of the 5th New Jersey Volunteers, 1861-1865.  All rights reserved.
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 222
    5. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 544
    6. John Hayward, author of “Jersey Men, Follow Me…!”: A History of the 5th New Jersey Volunteers, 1861-1865, provided this information, and I thank him for it. His sources were, John F Lee diary Emory University June 17, 1864, Heyward Emmel diary Madison NJ Historical Society June 17, 1864, and his own book on the 5th NJ, pages 120-121. “Capt. Woolsey was talking to Major John Hancock , Ass’t Adj Gen. of the 3rd Division, explaining the position of the two companies he had deployed as skirmishers across the front. While talking, numerous Conf. sharpshooters were active. One of these took aim at Woolsey and put a bullet in him. Woolsey dropped mortally wounded.”  His last words were “I die in a glorious cause.”
    7. John Hayward, author of “Jersey Men, Follow Me…!”: A History of the 5th New Jersey Volunteers, 1861-1865, provided this information, and I thank him for it. His sources were, John F Lee diary Emory University June 17, 1864, Heyward Emmel diary Madison NJ Historical Society June 17, 1864, and his own book on the 5th NJ, pages 120-121. “Capt. Woolsey was talking to Major John Hancock , Ass’t Adj Gen. of the 3rd Division, explaining the position of the two companies he had deployed as skirmishers across the front. While talking, numerous Conf. sharpshooters were active. One of these took aim at Woolsey and put a bullet in him. Woolsey dropped mortally wounded.”  His last words were “I die in a glorious cause.”
    8. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 5th New Jersey Entry, Page 107; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    9. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 5th New Jersey Entry, Page 107; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p,. 222
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 544
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 544
    13. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 5th New Jersey Entry, Page 107; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    14. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 5th New Jersey Entry, Page 107; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 254
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 731
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 731
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 614: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 119: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 614: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 614: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    22. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1299.
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 139: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)”
    24. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 5th New Jersey Entry, Page 103; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 139: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)”
    26. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1299.
    27. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 460: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 155: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”
    30. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 460: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 460: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    32. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 155: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”
    33. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    34. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    35. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    36. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    { 0 comments… add one }

    Leave a Reply