At the close of the active operations of 1863 the fifth went into camp at Stevensburg, Virginia, passing the winter there and along the line of the Rapidan. About the 1^st of March it took part in the raid of general Kilpatrick to the defenses of Richmond, where it was attached, March 2, by the enemy in large force, and obliged to retire to New Kent Court House, where it joined General Butler.

A detachment of the regiment had accompanied Colonel Dahlgren in the famous raid in which he lost his life. It advanced to within five miles of Richmond, and drove the enemy from his first and second lines of defense, but was finally compelled to retreat behind the Chickahominy. At Old church the body containing the detachment of the Fifth was attacked and compelled to cut its way to White House Landing, which was reached on the following day. On the 11^th it embarked at Yorktown, moved by the York and Potomac rivers to Alexandria, and thence to the camp at Stevensburg. It was then transferred from the Third tot he First Cavalry Division at Culpepper Court House.

The Fifth took active part in the memorable campaign of General Grant in 1864. It crossed the Rapidan May 5, and on the 6^th and 7^th was hotly engaged with the enemy in the Wilderness. It was in Sheridan's great cavalry expedition against the rebel communications, fighting at Beaver Dam Station, May 9, at Yellow Taverns, May 10 and 11, and at Meadow Bridge on the 12^th. On the 14^th it crossed the Chickahominy at Bottom's Bridge, marched thence to Malvern Hill, and from there to Hanover Court House, destroying railroad tracks and bridges. It crossed the Pamunkey river at White House on the 22^nd, and marching by way of Aylett's and Concord Church, rejoined the Army of the Potomac near Chesterfield on the 25^th.

It was in the action at Hawes' Shop, May 28, at Baltimore Cross-Roads on the 29^th, and at Cold Harbor and Old Church Tavern on the 30^th. Again, on the road along the line of the Virginia Central Railroad, it fought at Trevillian Station, June 11, where the enemy were driven several miles, leaving in the hands o the Union troops about six hundred prisoners, fifteen hundred horses, one stand of colors, six caissons, forty ambulances, and fifty wagons. On the 12^th it was engaged a few miles nearer Louisa Court House, on the Gordonville road, and, passing thence towards the James river, crossed that stream and marched to Jerusalem plank-road, south of Petersburg. On the 4^th of August it embarked for Washington, and moved thence through Maryland and across the Potomac, to Halltown and Berryville, Virginia. It fought at Winchester on the 11^th and at Front Royal on the 16^th of August. On the 19^th a squadron of the regiment was attacked by Mosby's guerrillas, and was driven to the main body, with a loss of sixteen killed and mortally wounded.

Among the subsequent engagements of the regiment during the Valley campaign of 1864 were Leetown and Shepardstown, August 25; Opequan Creek, August 28; Smithfield, august 29; Berryville, September 3; Summit, September 4; Opequan, September 19 (where it routed the enemy's cavalry, broke his infantry lines, and captured two battle-flags and four hundred prisoners); Mount Crawford, Virginia, October 2; Woodstock, October 9; Cedar Creek, October 19 (capturing a great number of prisoners and driving the enemy in great confusion); and Newton, November 1`2, where it fought an entire brigade of the enemy.

After the last named action the regiment returned to Camp Russell, near Winchester, where it remained until February 27, 1865, when it moved southeast, as part of Sherman's force, on the famous raid of that general to the James river. It was engaged inaction at Louisa Court House, March 15, 1865, and joining the Army of the Potomac before Petersburg, fought under Sheridan at Five Forks, Virginia, March 30 and 31 and April 1. On the 2d of April it was engaged with the enemy on the Southside railroad; on the 4^th, at Duck Pond Mills'; on the 6^th, at Sailor's creek; and then took part in the closing events at Appomattox Court House, from the 6^th to the 9^th of April, 1865.

After the surrender of Lee the Fifth moved with the cavalry corps to Petersburg, and was ordered thence shortly afterwards to North Carolina. It returned to Washington, D. C., in time to participate in the grand review of the Veterans armies of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, in the latter part of May. Immediately after this it was moved west with the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, by the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, to St. Louis; thence by steamer on the Missouri river to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. There the men having two years or more to serve were transferred to the First and Seventh Michigan Cavalry, and then, on the 22^nd of June, the Fifth was mustered out of service. The regiment reached Detroit on the 1^st of July, where the men received their pay and dispersed.