The Michigan Fifth Cavalry Regiment was raised under the authority given by the War Department to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph T. Copeland, of the 1st. Cavalry, with the sanction of the Governor of Michigan. Its rendezvous was at Detroit, where they were mustered into the United States service on August 30, 1862. The Regiment, under the command of Colonel Copeland, left its rendezvous on the fourth of December, 1862, with orders to proceed to Washington, having a strength of 1144 officers and men. It was made a part of the Michigan Brigade under Gen. George Custer. Following the battle of Gettysburg, the Brigade was engaged with the Confederates at Monterey on the 4th., Cavetown on the 5th., Smithtown, Boonsborough, Hagerstown, and Williamsport on the 6th. Boonsborough again on the 8th., Hagerstown and Williamsport on the 10th, Falling Waters the 14th. and then Snickers Gap on the 19th. After the surrender of Lee, the Brigade, under the command of Colonel Stagg moved via Petersburg into North Carolina for a short time, then to Washington where they participated in the Grand Review the 23rd. of May. Immediately afterwards they were ordered West, proceeding via railroad and riverboats to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where the 5th. and portions of the other regiments were mustered out of service. Companies Company A - Wayne County Company B - Kent County and Ottawa County Company C - Wayne County Company D - Wayne County Company E - Macomb County and St. Clair County Company F - Muskegon County Company G - Clinton County Company H - Wayne County Company I - Allegan County Company K - Genesee County and Washtenaw County Company L - Kalamazoo County and Allegan County Company M - Branch County Unassigned Company - Wayne County and Jackson County