The Fifth Maryland Infantry Regiment was organized at Baltimore City, Maryland, in September 1861, to serve three years. On the expiration of its term of service, the original members (except veterans) were mustered out and the organization, composed of veterans and recruits, retained in service until September 1, 1865, when it was mustered out of service, in accordance with orders from the War Department.
Having been assigned to 3d Brigade (Max Weber born in Baden Baden, Germany), 3d Division (William French born in Baltimore, MD), II Army Corps, at that portion of the battlefield of Antietam known as the "Bloody Lane," the 5th Regiment fought bravely and suffered severely in killed and wounded. The commanding officer for the time being, Major Leopold Blumenberg, was seriously wounded at the head of the regiment and carried to the rear, when Captain W. W. Bamberger, of Company B, assumed command of the regiment, who, in turn, was seriously wounded and taken to the rear, when the command of the regiment devolved on Capt. Salome Marsh, of Company F, who commanded the regiment during the remainder of the day. The 5th Regiment had thirty-nine men killed and one hundred and nine men wounded in the battle of Antietam.
Major Blumenberg joined the Prussian military at the age of 21 and rose to the rank of first lieutenant. But, like thousands of German Jews of the time, he found his further progress blocked by anti-Semitism. In 1854, he emigrated to Baltimore, where he established himself as a small manufacturer and joined Har Sinai, a Reform congregation that thrives to this day.
Many soldiers of German descent including the color-bearer, a gigantic man over 6 feet tall weighing about 300 lbs. He moved at such a measured and dignified pace that the 1st Delaware and 4th New York on either side move ahead of the 5th MD forming a large crescent shaped line. Opposed by Rodes brigade in the Sunken Road that waited until they got to the crest and delivered a devastating volley. 450 men in the brigade went down in 5 minutes. The color-bearer made reached to about 50 yards from the Confederate line and tried to rally the regiment that was pinned down and held off counterattack helping the 1st Delaware save their colors. However, they were forced to retreat to other side of the crest suffering a total of 163 casualties.
Much of the text above quoted from the Maryland State Archives Volume 367, Page 179-180.
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