The 5th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Union, 3 years) was an infantry unit of the United States Army that served in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. Organized for a three‑year enlistment, the regiment was mustered into Federal service on 18 March 1862 and was mustered out on 22 November 1862, a period of just over eight months.
Organization and composition
The regiment was raised in Missouri and comprised companies recruited from various counties across the state. Detailed rosters of the individual companies and their counties of origin are documented in the Civil War archival records, though specific listings are not reproduced here.
Service record
During its brief existence the regiment was attached to Union forces operating in Missouri and adjacent areas. It performed duties typical of infantry regiments, including garrison work, guard detail, and participation in field operations against Confederate forces. The unit’s service concluded before the end of the war, and it was officially discharged on 22 November 1862.
Relation to other Missouri units
The 5th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Union, 3 years) is distinct from two similarly named units:
- 5th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Union, 3 months) – a separate three‑month regiment raised earlier in the war.
- 5th Missouri Volunteer Infantry (3 years service) – another three‑year regiment organized in March 1862 that does not share lineage with the subject regiment.
These distinctions are noted in contemporary regimental histories to avoid confusion in the record of Missouri’s Union contributions.
Disbandment
Following its muster‑out, the regiment’s personnel were either discharged or transferred to other Union units as the war progressed.
References
- “5th Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union).” FamilySearch Wiki. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/5th_Regiment,Missouri_Infantry(Union) (accessed 2026).
- “5th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Union, 3 months).” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Missouri_Infantry_Regiment_(Union,_3_months) (accessed 2026).
- “Missouri Union Regiments.” Civil War Index. https://civilwarindex.com/missouri-regiments.html (accessed 2026).
