William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

[445] New-Hampshire Volunteers, to guard the post which was the base of supplies for the army, while General Banks was marching through Teche country to Alexandria, at that time one of the most important posts in the department. Just before the battle of Bisland, the regiment was ordered to join the brigade before the enemy, and ‘remain till the fight was over;’ accordingly, left Brashear City April 11, on short notice, marched ten miles in the night, and next morning took its position against the enemy; participated in the two days engagement, 12th and 13th, and at sunset was sent to the extreme front to guard the line, with orders to hold until morning, at all hazards, what had been gained during the day; joined in the pursuit of the rebels in their retreat on the 14th, as far as Franklin, where the whole army rested for the night; the regiment returning next morning to Brashear City. It remained there, doing guard and fatigue duty until May 30, when it was ordered to proceed forthwith and report to Major-General Banks at Port Hudson. It there bore its share in the labors, fatigues, and hardships of the siege until the fort surrendered. In the assault on June 14, two of the companies were detailed, with others, to carry hand-grenades in the advance of the attacking column.

Captain Bartlett, who commanded the whole of the party, fell mortally wounded upon the very breastworks of the enemy, while he, and the officers and men under his command, through a storm of shot and shell, were earnestly and heroically, but hopelessly, endeavoring to scale them. The number of killed and wounded in the regiment that day was sixty-eight.

After the surrender of Port Hudson, this regiment was one of the first to enter the fort, and remained inside, performing garrison duty until the 4th of August, when it was ordered to Boston, arriving on the 17th. A furlough of ten days was then given, after which it was ordered to report at Lakeville, Mass.; and on the 24th of August, having served over eleven months, it was mustered out of the United States service. The entire loss of the regiment was upwards of one hundred and twenty-five.

The Fifth Regiment was in the Department of North Carolina.