Hi Vikki,
While doing research this morning I stumbled across this site/newspaper.http://www.library.illinois.edu/inp/results_full_public.php?oclc=23979827
If you already have seen this paper, sorry for the repeat info, but it might contain info on the 5th, ie letters home from troopers, as well as any other related war info from the 5th ILL Cav.
bg