55th Illinois Infantry

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and mustered in October 31, 1861. Moved to Benton Barracks, Mo., November 9-11, 1861, and duty there until January 12, 1862. Moved to Paducah, Ky., January 12-22. Attached to District of Paducah, Ky., to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 5th Division, Army of the Tennessee, to May, 1862. 1st Brigade, 5th Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, 5th Division, District of Memphis, Tenn., to November, 1862. 4th Brigade, 5th Division, District of Memphis, Right Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Department of the Tennessee, November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Memphis, 13th Army Corps, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Sherman's Yazoo Expedition, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 15th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to September, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 15th Army Corps, to August, 1865.

SERVICE.--

March 3, 1862 - Action at Columbus, Kentucky
March 3, 1862 - Occupation of Columbus, Kentucky
Moved from Paducah, Ky., to Savannah, Tenn., March 6-10.
March 14-17, 1862 - Expedition from Savannah to Yellow Creek, Mississippi and Occupation of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee
April 6-7, 1862 - Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee
April 8, 1862 - Reconnoissance from Shiloh Battlefield, Tennessee

Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Russell's House May 17. Occupation of Corinth May 30. March to Memphis, Tenn., June 3-July 21, and duty there until November 26. Expedition from Memphis to Coldwater and Hernando, Miss., September 8-13. Sherman's Tallahatchie March November 26-December 13. Sherman's Yazoo Expedition December 20, 1862, to January 2, 1863. Chickasaw Bayou December 26-28. Chickasaw Blur December 29. Expedition to Arkansas Post, Ark., January 3-10, 1863. Assault and capture of Fort Hindman, Arkansas Post, January 10-11. Moved to Young's Point, La., January 17, and duty there until March. Expedition to Rolling Fork, via Muddy, Steele's and Black Bayous and Deer Creek March 14-27. Demonstration on Haines' and Drumgould's Bluffs April 29-May 2. Haines' Bluff May 1. At Milliken's Bend until May 5. Moved to Join Army in rear of Vicksburg, Miss., May 7-16. Battle of Champion's Hill May 16.

May 18-July 4, 1863 - Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi
- May 19, 1863 - Assault on Vicksburg, Mississippi
- May 22, 1863 - Assault on Vicksburg, Mississippi
Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 5-10.
Siege of Jackson July 10-17.
Brandon Station July 19.
At Big Black until September 25.
September 26-November 20, 1863 - Expedition from Vicksburg, Mississippi to Chattanooga, Tennessee
Operations on Memphis & Charleston R. R. in Alabama October 20-29.
Bear Creek, Tuscumbia, October 27.
November 23-27, 1863 - The Chattanooga/Ringgold Campaign
- Brown's Ferry November 23.
- Foot of Missionary Ridge November 24.
- Tunnel Hill November 24-25.
- Mission Ridge November 25.
- Pursuit to Graysville November 26-27.
March to relief of Knoxville November 28-December 6.
Expedition to Tellleo Plains December 6-13.
March to Chattanooga December 13-17, thence to Bridgeport, Ala., December 19, and to Bellefonte, Ala., December 26.
To Larkinsville, Ala., January 6, 1864, and duty there until April.
Expedition toward Rome, Ga., January 25-February 5.
Veterans on furlough April 16-June 10.
Rejoined Army at Big Shanty June 19.
Non-Veterans attached to 116th Illinois Infantry
May 1-September 8, 1864 - The Atlanta Campaign
- Demonstration on Resaca May 8-13.
- Near Resaca May 13.
- Battle of Resaca May 14-15.
- Movements on Dallas May 18-25.
- Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5.
- Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2.
- Assault on Kenesaw Mountain June 27.
- Nickajack Creek July 2-5.
- Chattahoochie River July 5-17.
- July 22, 1864 - Battle of Atlanta, Georgia
- July 22-August 25, 1864 - Siege of Atlanta, Georgia
- Ezra Chapel, Hood's second sortie, July 28.
- Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30.
- Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1.
- LoveJoy Station September 2-6.
Pursuit of Hood into Alabama October 3-26.
Non-Veterans mustered out October 30, 1864.
November 15-December 21, 1864 - The Savannah Campaign
- Near Clinton November 21-23.
- Oconee River November 25.
- Statesborough December 3.
- December 10-21, 1864 - Siege of Savannah, Georgia
  - Assault and capture of Fort McAllister December 13.
January 1-April 26, 1865 - The Carolinas Campaign
- Duck Creek February 2.
- Salkehatchie Swamps, S.C., February 3-5.
- Holmes' Bridge, South Edisto River, February 9.
- North Edisto River February 11-12.
- Congaree Creek February 15.
- Columbia February 16-17.
- Fayetteville, N. C, March 11.
- Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 20-21.
- Occupation of Goldsboro March 24.
- Advance on Raleigh April 10-14.
- Occupation of Raleigh April 14.
- Bennett's House April 26.
  - Surrender of Johnston and his army.
March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19.
Grand Review May 24.
Moved to Louisville, Ky., June 2, thence to Memphis, Tenn., and Duvall's Bluff and Little Rock, Ark., June 30-July 6.
Mustered out August 14, 1865.