"The Bloody 5th"

[CoB4thTEXAS]

How the 5th Texas earned the name "The Bloody 5th"

During the winter of 1861 - 1862 The 5th Texas had been camped across the Potomac River from the 5th New York Infantry, "Duryee's Zouaves" and had traded insults and threats across the ice, offering to take the measure of the other when they met in battle.

At Second Manassas (Second Bull Run) the Texans were able to settle accounts. After the Brigade drove off the 10th New York, deployed as skirmishers, driving them through the 5th New York, The 5th Texas emerged from the woods and found themselves facing the 5th New York, which was across a creek and on higher ground. The 5th New York's first volley was high, and The 5th Texas' was not. The Texans went sent into the New Yorkers and destroyed it as a unit, as one report put it. There were not 50 unwounded men in the (New York) Regiment. Flushed with success, The 5th Texas continued to advance, tearing through the disintegrating Federal flank, out distantcing not only the rest of the Brigade, but the rest of the main army. In his official report Hood said that the 5th Texas had "slipped the bridle" and earned themselves the name "The Bloody Fifth"


*S*

[Little Powell]

I remember reading about the 5th while we were doing research for the Antietam OOB. The "Bloody 5th" got an extra experience point just for this distinction. Not a good name to have, but they were definitely hardened veterans.

[CoB4thTEXAS]

Yep, guess they did do their share of fighting that day.