OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - HISTORY of 55th OVI Regiment (published 1908)
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Bob
graynag@apk.net
April 16, 1999
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                      Regiment History      
                 OHIO FIFTY-FIFTH INFANTRY 
                      (Three Years) 

Fifty-fifth Infantry. Cols., John C. Lee, Charles B. Gambee;
Lieut.Cols., George H. Safford, James M. Stevens, Edwin H. Powers; Majs.
Daniel F. De Wolf, Rodolphus Robbins, Charles Wickham. This regiment was
organized at Norwalk, from Sept. to Dec.,1861, to serve for three years.
In Jan.,1862, it left for Grafton, W.Va.,and after a short stay there
moved to New creek. In the battle of McDowell it constituted the reserve
and served as support to a battery, which could not be brought into
action owing to the nature of the ground. 
It was present at the battle of Cross Keys, but was not engaged. It was
under severe artillery fire at the second Bull Run, but was not engaged
with the enemy's battle-line. It spent the following winter 
at Brooks' station, employing the time in inspections, drills and picket
duty. In the engagement at Chancellorsville the regiment lost 153 men
killed, wounded and missing. It marched into Pennsylvania 
with the army and was present at the battle of Gettysburg, losing about
50 men. The regiment was then sent to Tennessee and in the battle of
Missionary ridge formed a part of the corps that drove the Confederate
skirmish line beyond the East Tennessee railroad. In Jan. 1864, 319 men
of the regiment re-enlisted and were furloughed home, but they were
present at the opening of the Atlanta campaign, parti- cipating in all
the battles in which the 20th corps was engaged. At the battle of Resaca
it suffered severely, losing upward of 90 men. 
It was also engaged at Cassville and Kennesaw mountain, and in the siege
of Atlanta the regiment occupied its place in the lines, sometimes on
the right and sometimes on the left, assisting in the gradual but sure
advancement of the parallels toward the city. It 
left Lookout valley with about 400 men and during the campaign lost over
200. The regiment joined in the march to the sea and up through the
Carolinas, losing at Averasboro 36 men and at Bentonville 33. 
It was mustered out on July 11, 1865. 

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2 

The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65
-- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- 
Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. 
Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.

Bob---Ravenna,OH.


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