5th Heavy Artillery Regiment

Nickname: Second Regiment Jackson Heavy Artillery

Mustered in: April 1862.
Mustered out: July 19, 1865.

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.

Col. Samuel Graham, being so authorized, proceeded to recruit a regiment of heavy artillery — the 2d Regiment Jackson Artillery; Col. Edward Murray received authority from the State in November, 1861, to recruit the Jackson Heavy Artillery. These two organizations were consolidated March 6, 1862, Colonel Graham's men forming Companies A, B, C and D, and Colonel Murray's E, F, G and H of the new regiment, the two colonels being appointed Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel, respectively. The 70th Militia furnished a number of men to the regiment. The companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years, in New York harbor, in April, 1862. December 31, 1862, the 6th Battalion of Artillery—3d Battalion of Black River Artillery — was transferred to the regiment, forming its Companies I, K, L and M, and thereby completing the regimental organization. These companies had been mustered in the United States service for three years; I and K September 11; and L and M September 12, 1862, at Sackett's Harbor. At the expiration of the term of service of the original eight companies, the men entitled thereto were discharged, and the companies retained in service.

The companies were recruited principally: A and B at Brooklyn and New York city; C at New York city, Brooklyn, Monterey, Big Flats, Valhalla, Catskill, Horseheads, Elmira, Armonk and Quarrytonville; D at Brooklyn, New York city and Rondout; E at New York city, Afton and in Ohio; F at New York city, Liberty, Turin, Fort Edward, and in the counties of Dutchess and Sullivan; G in New York city and in New Jersey; H at New York city, Ancram, Poughkeepsie, Fremont Centre and Liberty, and in New Jersey; I at New Bremen, Martinsburg, Lowville and Greig; K at Turin, Leyden, Highmarket, Greig and Theresa; L at Lowville, Watson, Denmark, Martinsburg, Diana and Montague; and M at Denmark, Harrisburg, Pinckney, Montague, Champion, Croghan and Wilna.

The eight companies, then organized, served in New York harbor at Forts Hamilton, Lafayette, Wood, Gibson, Richmond and Schuyler, from March 11, 1862; at Baltimore, Md., and other points of the Middle Department, from May 28, 1862. Companies A and F served at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., from June 19, 1862, where they were surrendered in September, 1862; they rejoined the regiment after being paroled, at Baltimore, Md. The 3d Battalion served in the defenses of Washington north, and later south, of the Potomac, 22d Corps, from December, 1862, and at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., from November 24, 1863; the 1st and 2d Battalions were also ordered to Harper's Ferry, 8th Corps, April 19, 1864. The 1st Battalion, Companies A, B, C and D, served with the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of West Virginia, 8th Corps, in the field from May, 1864; it was relieved by the 2d Battalion, July 29, 1864, and returned to Harper's Ferry. The 2d Battalion, Companies E, F, G and H, served in the field in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of West Virginia, until October 28, 1864, when it returned to Harper's Ferry. The regiment served as infantry and heavy artillery.

June 24 and 25, 1863, Companies I, K, L and M were mustered out at Harper's Ferry, but at once reorganized of men transferred from Companies A, B, C and D, and July 19, 1865, the regiment, commanded by Colonel Graham, was honorably discharged and mustered out at Harper's Ferry, W. Va.

During its service, the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 66 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 32 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 293 enlisted men; total, 1 officer, 391 enlisted men; aggregate, 392; of whom 76 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers, Volume II: New York, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908.

Fifth Artillery (Heavy).—Cols., Samuel Graham, Edward Murray; Lieut.-Cols., Edward Murray, Henry B. Mcllvaine; Majs., Henry B. Mcllvaine, Eugene McGrath, Frederick C. Wilkie, Casper Urban, Henry B. Wilder, Gustavus F. Merriam, John H. Graham, William H. Boyle. This regiment, known as the 2nd regiment, Jackson heavy artillery, was organized in New York City, the first two battalions being recruited principally in the counties of New York and Kings by Cols. Graham and Murray, and the 70th militia contributing a number of men to the regiment. These battalions were mustered into the U. S. service in April, 1862, for three years. The regimental organization was completed on Dec. 31, 1862, by the transfer of the 3d battalion of Black River artillery, forming Cos. K, L and M. These companies had been recruited in the counties of Jefferson and Lewis, and mustered into the U. S. service at Sacket's Harbor, Sept. 11-12, for three years. The members of the original eight companies, except veterans, were mustered out on the expiration of their term of service, the veterans and recruits being continued in service. The first eight companies organized were employed for the first two months in garrisoning the different fortifications in New York harbor. In the latter part of May, 1862, they went to Baltimore, Md. On June 19, Cos. A and F were detached and under the command of Maj. Mcllvaine were sent to Harper's Ferry, where they were surrendered in Sept., 1862, at the time of Stonewall Jackson's capture of that place. They subsequently rejoined the regiment at Baltimore, after being paroled. The 3d battalion was stationed in the defenses of Washington for nearly a year, but was ordered to Harper's Ferry, in Nov., 1863, where it was joined the following April by the other two battalions, the regiment being employed in guarding Maryland heights and in fatigue duties. The 1st battalion— Cos. A, B, C and D—was detached in May, 1864, for service in the field with the 1st brigade, 1st division. Army of West Virginia (8th corps), and fought at Piedmont, Lexington, Buchanan, Lynchburg, Liberty and Salem. On the occasion of Early's attack on Harper's Ferry in July, the regiment performed excellent service and sustained a considerable loss. On July 29, 1864, the ist battalion was relieved in the field by the 2nd—Cos. E, F, G and H —under command of Maj. Urban, and the latter took part in all the great battles of the valley under Gen. Sheridan, being active at Snicker's ferry, where it lost 69 killed, wounded and missing, at Winchester, Martinsburg, Cedar creek, Charlestown, Halltown, Berryville, the Opequan, where it lost 43, Fisher's hill, two actions at Cedar creek in October, loss 53, and 309 respectively, 301 being captured in the second engagement. On Oct. 28, the battalion returned to Harper's Ferry. The regiment served both as infantry and heavy artillery and was mustered out at Harper's Ferry, July 19, 1865, under command of Col. Graham. It lost during service 98 men killed and died of wounds; i officer and 293 enlisted men died of disease, accidents, and other causes; total deaths, 392, of whom 76 died as prisoners.

Other Resources

This is meant to be a comprehensive list. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to ng.ny.nyarng.list.historians@army.mil with the name of the resource and where it is located. This can include photographs, letters, articles and other non-book materials. Also, if you have any materials in your possession that you would like to donate, the museum is always looking for items specific to New York's military heritage. Thank you.

Cooper, Robert.  The Prison Pens of the South: Personal History of a Prisoner in the Hands of the Confederacy. Brooklyn, NY: Press of I W Chalmers, 270 Court Street, 1896.
This account was transcribed and donated by Jed Roman, great-great nephew of Cooper.

Hewitt Family. Frederick and Frank Hewitt letters (1863-1865).
This collection contains 15 letters that Fred Hewitt wrote to his family and friends while serving in the 5th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment during the Civil War, as well as 1 letter written by his brother Frank, who was in the same regiment. Fred Hewitt discussed several aspects of his service in army camps in Maryland and Virginia.
Held at the William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan
Thank you to Ed Worman for this reference.

New York Volunteers 5th Artillery Company M. New York Volunteers, 5th Artillery, Company M records, 1862-1865.
Abstract: Records of this Civil War company recruited from the Adams area include muster rolls and pay rolls, 1862-65; military correspondence, furloughs, list of recruits assigned, and physician's statements for discharges, 1863-65; Company Descriptive Book, undated; and a bound volume of Company Orders, 1862-64.

Smith, Henry Bascom. Between the lines, secret service stories told fifty years after, by Bvt. Major H. B. Smith. New York, Booz Brothers [1911].

Sons of Confederate Veterans (Organization). Private Hector W. Church, Co. H, 5th Regt., New York Heavy Artillery, 1864-1865. [Washington, D.C. : Michie Company, printers, 1926].

Veteran association of the Fifth New York heavy artillery, roster and report of the eleventh annual re-union at New York city, October 19th, 1889.

United Staes. Army. New York Artillery Regiment 5th (1861-1865). Company F. Records, 1862-1865.
Abstract: A collection of orders, muster rolls and other materials including several discharge certificates and regimental circulars retained by the company. A particularly interesting item is an invoice sent to the commanding officer of Company F for clothing supplied to a member of his command while held prisoner.

United States. Army. New York Artillery Regiment 5th (1862-1865). History and commemorative exercises of the Veteran Association of the Fifth New York Heavy Artillery Regiment, veteran volunteers. [New York], 1892.

Veteran Association of the Fifth New York Heavy Artillery Regiment. Reunion. Roster and report of the eleventh annual re-union at New York City, October 19th, 1889, Chelsea, Twenty-third Street. [New York] : The Association, (Gazlay Bros.),1889.

Veteran Association of the Fifth New York Heavy Artillery Regiment. Reunion.Circulars, reports and history, also commemorative exercises at the thirteenth annual re-union of the Veteran Association, Fifth New York Heavy Artillery Regiment, Veteran Volunteers, held on City: New York. [New York] : The Association, (Gazlay Bros.),1891.

Veteran Association of the Fifth New York Heavy Artillery Regiment. Reunion. Sixteenth annual reunion of the Regimental Association held Friday, October 19, 1894, at the Broadway Central Hotel, New York City. New York: The Association, 1894.

 

Items the museum holds are in bold.