The battery was organized at New York City, New York and mustered in for a three-year enlistment on November 8, 1861 under the command of Captain Elijah D. Taft.
The battery was attached to Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to May 1862.
Unattached, Artillery Reserve, V Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September 1862.
2nd Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to November 1863.
1st Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, to March 1864.
DeRussy's Division, XXII Corps, Department of Washington, to July 1864.
Artillery Brigade, XIX Corps, to February 1865.
Artillery Reserve, Army of the Shenandoah, and Department of West Virginia, to July 1865.
The 5th New York Light Artillery mustered out of service on July 6, 1865.
Ordered to Washington May 19, and duty in the defenses of that city until July.
Duty in the Shenandoah Valley and in the Department of West Virginia until July 1865.