William F. Fox's Regimental Losses is an often-used exhaustive primary study (1889) of Union casualties suffered during the American Civil War. Fox had this to say about the Fifth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers:
There were over two thousand regiments in the Union armies. On some of these the brunt of battle fell much heavier than on others. While some were exempted from the dangers of active service, others were continually at the front. While some were seldom called upon to face the enemy's fire, others were repeatedly ordered into the thickest of the fight. While in some regiments the number of killed was small, in others the Roll of Honor was unequalled in the records of modern war. Who were these men who fought so well in defence of their flag? What were the names and numbers of their regiments? What were the losses in those regiments? What limit is there to the toll of blood exacted from a regimental thousand during a long and bloody war?
The one [infantry] regiment, in all the Union armies, which sustained the greatest loss in battle during the American Civil War was the Fifth New Hampshire Infantry. It lost 295 men killed or mortally wounded in action, during its four years of service, from 1861 to 1865.* It served in the First Division, Second Corps. This division was commanded, successively, by Generals Richardson, Hancock, Caldwell, Barlow, and Miles; and any regiment that followed the fortunes of these men was sure to find plenty of bloody work cut out for it. The losses of the Fifth New Hampshire occurred entirely in aggressive, hard, stand-up fighting; none of it happened in routs or through blunders. Its loss includes eighteen officers killed, a number far in excess of the usual proportion, and indicates that the men were bravely led.
In addition, the regiment suffered 178 losses due to disease, bringing the death total to 473. A further 756 men suffered wounds, for an overall casualty count of 1051 men; this out of a total of 2562 officers and men who served in the regiment during the five years of service.
Killed or Mortally Wounded
* Some artillery units, with the First Maine Heavy Artillery being foremost, sustained losses heavier than those of the Fifth New Hampshire. In May 1864, the First Maine Heavies were transferred by General Grant from duty guarding Washington, DC, to serving as an infantry regiment in the reorganized Army of the Potomac. The First Maine Heavies lost 423 officers and men, all in the span of just ten months.
There were over two thousand regiments in the Union armies. On some of these the brunt of battle fell much heavier than on others. While some were exempted from the dangers of active service, others were continually at the front. While some were seldom called upon to face the enemy's fire, others were repeatedly ordered into the thickest of the fight. While in some regiments the number of killed was small, in others the Roll of Honor was unequalled in the records of modern war. Who were these men who fought so well in defence of their flag? What were the names and numbers of their regiments? What were the losses in those regiments? What limit is there to the toll of blood exacted from a regimental thousand during a long and bloody war?
The one [infantry] regiment, in all the Union armies, which sustained the greatest loss in battle during the American Civil War was the Fifth New Hampshire Infantry. It lost 295 men killed or mortally wounded in action, during its four years of service, from 1861 to 1865.* It served in the First Division, Second Corps. This division was commanded, successively, by Generals Richardson, Hancock, Caldwell, Barlow, and Miles; and any regiment that followed the fortunes of these men was sure to find plenty of bloody work cut out for it. The losses of the Fifth New Hampshire occurred entirely in aggressive, hard, stand-up fighting; none of it happened in routs or through blunders. Its loss includes eighteen officers killed, a number far in excess of the usual proportion, and indicates that the men were bravely led.
In addition, the regiment suffered 178 losses due to disease, bringing the death total to 473. A further 756 men suffered wounds, for an overall casualty count of 1051 men; this out of a total of 2562 officers and men who served in the regiment during the five years of service.
Killed or Mortally Wounded
- Fair Oaks, Virginia, 1862 - 33
- Allen's Farm, Virginia, 1862 - 8
- Glendale, Virginia, 1862 - 8
- Malvern Hill, Virginia, 1862 - 2
- Antietam, Maryland, 1862 - 13
- Picket Duty, Virginia, 1862 - 1
- Fredericksburg, Virginia, 1862 - 51
- Chancellorsville, Virginia, 1863 - 5
- Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1863 - 34
- Cold Harbor, Virginia, 1864 - 69
- Petersburg, Virginia, June 15, 1864 - 15
- Petersburg Trenches, Virginia, 1864 - 14
- Jerusalem Plank Road, Virginia, 1864 - 4
- Strawberry Plains, Virginia - 1864 - 2
- Deep Bottom, Virginia, 1864 - 5
- Reams' Station, Virginia, 1864 - 5
- Sailor's Creek, Virginia, 1865 - 6
- Farmville, Virginia, 1865 - 20
* Some artillery units, with the First Maine Heavy Artillery being foremost, sustained losses heavier than those of the Fifth New Hampshire. In May 1864, the First Maine Heavies were transferred by General Grant from duty guarding Washington, DC, to serving as an infantry regiment in the reorganized Army of the Potomac. The First Maine Heavies lost 423 officers and men, all in the span of just ten months.