5th Infantry Regiment was organized at Atlanta, Georgia, and mustered into Confederate service at Richmond, Virginia, in October, 1861. The men were recruited in the counties of Troup, Haralson, Bartow, Walton, Chattooga, Harris, and Gwinnett. It was first assigned to General French's Brigade and in April, 1862, had a force of 545 effectives. Later the regiment served under Generals Pettigrew, J.R. Anderson, and E.L. Thomas, Army of Northern Virginia. It fought in numerous battles from Seven Pines to Cold Harbor, then was active in the long Petersburg siege south of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign. The unit sustained 70 casualties at Second Manassas, 89 at Fredericksburg, and 33 at Chancellorsville. Of the 331 engaged at Gettysburg, more than twenty-five percent were killed or wounded. It surrendered with 15 officers and 121 men. The field officers were Colonels Bolling H. Holt and Edward L. Thomas; Lieutenant Colonels Gustavus A. Bull, W.H. McCullons, and Edward L. Thomas; and Majors William L. Groves, J.T. McElvany, and Lee A.J. Williams.