Hiram M. Austin 5thNew Hampshire 3X WIA Fair Oaks, Antietam, Petersburg. The ID Disc reads,” H.M. Austin, Newport, Co. E 5th Reg NHV"
The
5th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment, formed in Concord, New Hampshire, and
mustered in on October 22, 1861, under Colonel Edward E. Cross.. Attached to
the Army of the Potomac’s II Corps, it fought in major battles including Fair
Oaks, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, where Cross
was mortally wounded. The regiment suffered the highest combat losses of any
Union infantry or cavalry unit, with 295 killed and 756 wounded. After heavy
casualties at Gettysburg, it was sent to Concord for recruiting, then assigned
to guard duty at Point Lookout, Maryland, until May 1864. Returning to II
Corps, it participated in the Siege of Petersburg, Cold Harbor, and the
Appomattox Campaign, witnessing Lee’s surrender.
Hiram M. Austin
Residence Newport, NH; 18 years old.
Enlisted on 9/12/1861 as a Priv.
On 10/19/1861, he mustered into "E" Co. New Hampshire 5th Infantry.
He re-enlisted on 1/1/1864.
He was Mustered Out on 6/28/1865 at Alexandria, VA
He was listed as:
- Wounded 6/1/1862 Fair Oaks, VA
- Wounded 9/17/1862 Antietam, MD
- Wounded 6/16/1864 Petersburg, VA
Promotions:
- 1st Sergt 1/11/1865
Federal Pension Information:
- He applied for a pension on 5/31/1866 : application # 109,077
- His Widow (Melvina R Austin) applied for a pension on 10/10/1916 from the state of ME : application # 1,079,961
After the war, he lived in Newport