Prior to the war many Southern men identified themselves with a local militia unit. They had drilled in small companies and gathered afterward in social camaraderie. Local newspapers reported regularly on the militia's parades and drills, and the fairs hosted by their "ladies' auxiliaries." These events helped boost the communities' allegiances and pride. Companies took local names that reinforced their community ties, such as the West Augusta Guards, the Churchville Cavalry, the Chambers Artillery, and the Chambersburg Light Dragoons. These companies were as much social and civic organizations as they were military units.

When the war began, these militia companies were called into active service. They paraded through the towns, enlisted en masse, and prepared themselves to do their duty. These companies formed the nucleus of the first regiments raised in Augusta.

The regiment became the most important unit to the men who fought. Most regiments were built around common geographic, family, and personal ties. Brothers, cousins, and neighbors joined the same unit to fight together. In the war the regiment's battle service also provided a source of pride and identity. The regiments carried their colors to identify not just their place on the field of battle but who they were and where they'd fought together. The armies' commanders knew that this identity was a powerful motivator on the field of battle and used it to great effect from the start of fighting at Bull Run where General Thomas J. Jackson relied on regimental identity to convince his troops to stand like a stone wall.

The "Bloody Fifth" had its origin in a volunteer militia regiment organized in Augusta County on April 13, 1861. Changes were made after the regiment went into active service, and on July 1, 1861, when the 5th Virginia was accepted into the service of the Confederate States, the regiment consisted of seven companies from Augusta County, two from Winchester and Frederick County, and one from Rockbridge County.

Under Colonel Kenton Harper, the 5th Regiment with General Thomas J. Jackson's First Brigade, received its baptism of fire on July 2, 1861 at Falling Waters. The regiment was outstanding in its participation at First Manassas, where Colonel Harper was one of the individuals credited with giving the name "Stonewall" to Jackson. At the reorganization of the 5th Virginia in April 1862, a band was officially added to the regiment. It was destined to become the famous Stonewall Brigade Band which still exists by that name today. With the First Brigade, which became the Stonewall Brigade, the 5th Virginia fought through the 1862 Valley Campaign and in the Seven Days' battle. At Second Manassas Colonel William Smith Hanger Baylor of the 5th Regiment was killed while commanding the Stonewall Brigade at the unfinished railroad cut. The regiment was at Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Second Winchester, and Gettysburg, where, under Colonel John Henry Stover Funk of Winchester, they were in the desperate fighting at Wolfe's Hill. For gallantry at Payne's Farm, November 27, 1863, thirteen from the 5th Virginia were placed on the Roll of Honor.

In winter quarters on the Rapidan there were theatricals, band concerts, and other diversions to break the monotony of camp routine, but the most memorable event was the famous snowball battle of March 23, 1864. As they entered the Wilderness in May 1864, a member of the 5th observed, "the band was sent to the rear and that indicated business." Brigade casualties were reported as heavy, but Spotsylvania a week later was disastrous. The remnants of the old Stonewall Brigade were organized with the survivors of 13 other decimated Virginia units to form William Terry's Brigade, which with John B. Gordon's division, served with Jubal Early in the Shenandoah Valley. After Cedar Creek the brigade was sent into the lines at Petersburg, where they were in the battles of Hatcher's Run and Fort Stedman. Only 47 of the 5th Virginia were paroled at Appomattox Court House.

The Fifth Virginia Reenacting Unit is located in central Indiana. We are a family oriented unit. We do both battle and living history events. We also portray a Federal Unit, the 7th Indiana. The 5th has gear available for both new military and civilian members to use until they have accumulated their own. There are mentors available to assist you in choosing items to help you get started in this hobby. For more information on joining the 5th refer to the Contact Us page.

Brief History of the Regiment, The Virginia Regimental Histories Series, Robert Moore II, Jeffrey Weaver, 1998

Valley of the Shadow, Edward L Ayers, 1993-2006

5th Virginia Infantry, by Lee A. Wallace, 1998

Creed of the Living Historian

We are people to whom the past is forever speaking. We listen to it because we cannot help ourselves, for the past speaks to us with many voices. Far out of that dark nowhere, which is the time before we were born, men who were flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone, went through fire and storm to break a path to the future.

We are part of the future they died for. They are part of the past that brought the future. What they did-the lives they lived, the sacrifices they made, the stories they told and the songs they sung and finally, the deaths they died-make up part of our own experience. We cannot cut ourselves off from it. It is as real to us as something that happened last week

Bruce Catton