The 5th West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment 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 West Virginia Cavalry was organized from the 2nd West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment

2nd West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The 2nd West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Mustering:...

 on January 26, 1864. The regiment was consolidated into a single battalion at Charlestown, West Virginia in September 1864 and was absorbed by the 6th West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment

6th West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment

The 6th West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 6th West Virginia Cavalry was organized from the 3rd West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment on January 26, 1864...

on December 14, 1864.

Casualties

The 5th West Virginia Cavalry suffered 3 officers and 68 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in battle and 118 enlisted men dead from disease for a total of 189 fatalities.