The 5th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry

Cavalry

Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...

 regiment

Regiment

A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...

 that served in the Union Army

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

.

Service

The 5th Illinois Cavalry was mustered into service at Camp Butler, Illinois on August 31, 1861.

The regiment was mustered out on October 27, 1865.

Total strength and casualties

The regiment suffered 28 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 5 officers and 414 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 447
fatalities.

Commanders

• Colonel Hall Wilson: mustered 12 Dec. 1861, resigned 19 Jan. 1863 because of typhoid and diarrhea.
• Colonel John McConnells - mustered out October 27, 1865