The 5th New York Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized as a battalion of four companies with men from the old 5th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, "Duryea's Zouaves." As with other veteran volunteer regiments organizing in New York City from June to October 1863, the regiment was completed by consolidating the 31st and 37th New York Veteran Regiments which were also trying to organize into the one regiment. The consolidated battalion was mustered into United States service on October 14, 1863, at New York City, New York, under the command of Colonel Cleveland Winslow, for three years service. This small battalion was later increased during the war by the consolidation of the Veterans from the 12th New York and the 14th Brooklyn Infantry Regiments whose terms of service had not expired when those regiments were mustered out of service later in 1864.A Record of the Commissioned Officers, Non Commissioned Officers and Privates, of the Regiments which were organized in the State of New York, and called into the service of the United States to Assist in Suppressing the Rebellion caused by the secession of some of the Southern States from the Union, A.D. 1861, as taken from the Muster-In Rolls on File in the Adjutant Generals Office, S.N.Y. Volume VI. Albany, New York: Weed, Parsons, and Company, Printers, 1866.
