Two of my 2nd great grandfathers were in the Civil War. Amos Boultinghouse was a member of Company E, 55th Illinois Infantry. He enlisted when he was 43 years old. (He had previously been in the Army when he was 19 years old.) My other grandfather was William Henry Stevens, originally from London, England. He had previously served in the British Navy. When he came to the U.S., he enlisted at the age of 20 in the Union Navy. I am very proud of these grandfathers. I want to learn more about their experiences...I want to know more than dates. This is the reason I have joined this group. I appreciate all that you have to offer and the knowledge you wish to share. Thank you!
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ILLINOIS
FIFTY-FIFTH INFANTRY
(Three Years)
Fifty-fifth Infantry. - Cols., David Stuart, Oscar Malm-
borg; Lieut.-Cols., Oscar Malmborg, Theodore C. Chandler, Char-
les A. Andress; Majs., William D. Sanger, Theodore C. Chandler,
James J. Hefferman, Giles F. Hand. This regiment was organized
at Camp Douglas, Chicago, and was mustered into service Oct.
31, 1861. It was one of the two regiments raised by David Stu-
art under act of Congress, and called the "Douglas Brigade,"
though the two regiments never served together. The 55th Ill.
was principally made up from bodies of recruits raised in Ful-
ton, McDonough, LaSalle, Grundy, DeKalb, Kane and Winnebago
counties, and its members were largely young men reared upon
farms. The regiment left Camp Douglas Nov. 9, 1861, over the
Chicago & Alton railroad for Alton, thence by steamboat for St.
Louis, and arrived at Benton barracks Nov. 11. It received its
baptism of fire at Shiloh, where upon the first day of the bat-
tle, with one other regiment, it held an important position for
over 2 hours, and after being nearly surrounded and suffering
terribly it retreated from point to point and took its position
with its organization still complete in the last line formed in
the evening near the landing. It participated in the second
day's battle, acting on the right, and suffered some loss.
During this terrible conflict, the first in its history, the
55th lost the heaviest of any Federal regiment in that engage-
ment except the 9th Ill., its loss being 1 officer and 51 en-
listed men killed, 9 officers and 19O men wounded, and 26 men
captured. The regiment was engaged in the advance on Corinth
and lost 1 killed and 8 wounded on May 17. In December it de-
scended the Mississippi river, took part in the battle of
Chickasaw bluffs, where it lost 2 killed and 4 wounded, and was
also at the battle of Arkansas Post in January, losing 3 men
wounded. In the spring of 1863 it proceeded with the army to
the rear of Vicksburg and was under fire at Champion's hill,
but suffered no loss. It participated in the early assaults on
Vicksburg, and bore its full share during the siege, losing 14
killed and 32 wounded. It lost 1 man killed while scouting
near the Big Black river, and after being present at the
surrender of Vicksburg proceeded with Sherman's expedition to
Jackson, where it lost 1 killed and 2 wounded. It made the la-
borious march to East Tennessee, during the night of Nov. 23
with the rest of its brigade it manned a fleet of pontoon boats
in North Chickamauga creek; and in the intense darkness crossed
the Tennessee and captured the enemy's pickets - one of the
most daring operations of the war. At the battle of Missionary
ridge the regiment lost 3 wounded. It encamped successively at
Bridgeport, Bellefonte and Larkinsville, during the winter, and
while at the latter place, after exacting the right to elect
officers, the regiment veteranized, at which time the existing
field officers all failed of election and at the end of their
term quit the service. The veterans were granted a 30-days'
furlough and at the opening of the Atlanta campaign the regi-
ment took its place as usual in the 2nd division of the 15th
corps. It shared in the manifold labors and dangers of that
famous campaign, including the movement on and battle of
Jonesboro, losing 36 killed and 86 wounded, which was about
one-half of its number engaged. The heaviest loss was at the
assault upon Kennesaw mountain, when 14 were killed and 33
wounded. It marched the entire distance on the picnic excur-
sion, termed the march to the sea, thence north, and at the
battle of Bentonville it lost 1 man killed, 1 wounded and 6
taken prisoners. After the surrender of Johnston the regiment
marched via Richmond for Washington and took part in the grand
review. It was then ordered to Louisville, where it remained
in camp a few weeks, and then moved to Little Rock, Ark., where
it was mustered out Aug. 14, 1865. During the entire period of
its service it received less than 50 recruits, hence all its
casualties were from its original members. It lost actually
killed in battle 108 men, and its total wounded were 339, mak-
ing an aggregate of 417 struck with the missiles of war. There
are no data to state the exact number of mortally wounded
though it is known that 35 died from such cause within one year
after Shiloh.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 3
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Report of Col. Oscar Malmborg, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, including
operations since May 5.
IN THE FIELD, BEFORE VICKSBURG, MISS.,
May 25, 1863.
SIR: I respectfully submit the following report of the part taken by
the Fifty-fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteers in the operations against
Vicksburg since leaving Milliken's Bend, La.:
May 5, the regiment marched 6 miles to a plantation, where it remained
in bivouac thirty-six hours. Thence it marched, having been joined by the
rest of the brigade May 7, to Hard Times Landing, where it arrived May 10;
crossed the river to Grand Gulf in the afternoon of May 11, and resumed
the march on the Jackson road the next day. It reached Raymond, Miss.,
May 157 and in the battle of Champion's Hill on the 16th maneuvered with
the brigade, being for a short time under fire of the enemy and
experiencing no loss.
May 17, the regiment crossed the Big Black on the pontoon bridge,
and, leading the brigade, on the following day marched to the vicinity
of the first line of fortifications around Vicksburg, skirmishers being
thrown forward, who engaged the enemy in front.
A general assault having been ordered on May 19, at 2 p.m. The
regiment advanced in line under a heavy fire to within 30 or 40 yards
of the enemy's works, when the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-seventh Ohio
Volunteers, being the only regiments in the line with me, were halted
by command of the brigadier. In this position they held their ground,
keeping up a constant fire until dark. At 3 a.m. of May 20 they were
withdrawn by order to their original position.
May 22, the regiment again took part in the assault, supporting the First
Brigade, and remaining in position near the enemy's rifle-pits until
ordered back, on the morning of May 23. Since that time the regiment
has remained in bivouac in its present position. The whole number of
casualties in both actions was 42, a full report of which has been before
forwarded to the brigade headquarters.
With three or four exceptions, which will hereafter be reported, the
regiment has, during its recent marches, fatigues, and assaults upon the
enemy's works, fully sustained its well-earned reputation. I feel,
nevertheless, constrained to mention a few particular cases of skill and
bravery on. The part of officers and men of my command.
Maj. James J. Heffernan, who, especially during both assaults, displayed
all the coolness, bravery, and capacity required of a field officer on
such important occasions.
Capt. Jacob M. Augustin, who, during' all our advances upon the enemy,
and especially during these assaults, with coolness, skill, and
discretion covered our advance with his company.
Capt. Francis H. Shaw, who, during the protracted action before the
enemy's works on the 19th, did all an officer could do to encourage the
men and increase the effect of their fire. In regard to Capt. N. S.
Aagessen, I can make the same report.
Sergt. Maj. Joseph Hartsock deserves especial praise for bravery and
constant effort to encourage the men during action.
The following non-commissioned officers and privates I have also to
report as especially deserving honorable mention:
Sergt. W. H. Burnaugh, color-bearer; Corpls. Joseph Corby, James Gay, and
Henry Hart, of the color-guard; Corpl. Frank Fisher, of Company B; Corpls.
Amos Sanford and Jacob Sanford, of Company F; Corpls. John Warden, John
Smith (wounded), and Christian Leibungarth, of Company E; Sergt. J. W.
Larabee, of Company I (wounded); Corpls. Robert M. Cox, Robert A. Lower,
and Jerome Morford, of Company K, volunteers in the storming party.
A full report of the conduct and casualties of the 12 men composing the
contribution of the Fifty-fifth to the storming party of the 22d has
already been submitted by its brave and daring leader, Lieut. Porter,
Company E, whose valuable services 1 need but allude to here.
Among the killed who distinguished themselves in the two assaults, I feel
it my duty to the friends and relatives of the deceased to make particular
mention of Lieut. Levi Hill, Orderly Sergt. John C. Glass, and Sergt. John
Burns, of Company A; Corpls. Michael Ainsbury and R. A. Hamer, of Company
C; Corpl. James W. Curry, of Company D; Sergt. Richard Haney and David A.
Sullivan (my orderly, killed at my side in the, charge of May 22), of
Company F; Milton Bellwood and James Donehue, of Company K.
The wounds I received on the 19th and 22d being of a slight nature, I have
remained with and in command of the regiment without interruption.
O. MALMBORG,
Col., Commanding Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteers.
Capt. G. MOODIE WHITE,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Brig., Second Div., Fifteenth A. C.
Report of Lieut. William C. Porter, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry.
IN THE FIELD, BEFORE VICKSBURG, May 23, 1863.
SIR: A call for volunteers was made, to act as a storming party in
our recent charge on the enemy's works. The call was made in our
regiment by Col. O. Malmborg (Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry), and
responded to promptly by 12 men and myself. Being the ranking lieutenant,
I assumed command of the different volunteer detachments from the
brigade, and reported to Capt., Thirtieth Ohio Volunteers,
in charge of the storming party. At 10 a.m. precisely we started, and
proceeded rapidly, occupying but three minutes from the ravine to the
bastion. Just as we entered the ditch, a captain and a lieutenant from
the Sixth Missouri were shot by sharpshooters on our flank, severely
wounding both. I immediately assumed command, and, with the colors
firmly planted in the parapet by a private of the Eighth Missouri, all I
could then do was to prevent the rebels from carrying them in (which
they tried), and wait for support, which we did not succeed in
getting. Some men of Ewing's brigade came up, but not sufficient to
warrant my thrusting them over the ramparts, to be either slaughtered
or taken prisoners. We remained in this position, exposed to the fire
from the flanks of the enemy, and a direct fire from the skirmishers of
the First Brigade, till 4.30 p.m., when about 30 of the Eleventh Missouri,
with their colonel, major, and 2 lieutenants, succeeded in reaching us
with their colors, which they planted alongside of ours. The bearing
of the two color-bearers was all that bravery and true courage could
do, waving their colors in defiance of enemies and traitors, marching
straight and unwavering to the fort through the most murderous fire I
ever experienced. The rebels, in trying to dislodge us, commenced to
use 12-pounder shells, burning the fuse and then rolling them into the
ditch. We 'succeeded in throwing back three with our bayonets, which
burst on the inside, causing the same effect they intended for us. One
shell, however, exploded, killing Sergt. Richard Haney, Company F,
Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, and wounding 4 privates severely. At about
7.30 p.m. I received a verbal order from Maj.-Gen. Blair to fall back,
which we did, but not till I had all my wounded safely removed.
Feeling the disappointment that all naturally felt in the division at
our ill-success in carrying the enemy's works, I cannot but say that the
assailing party was in no way attributable for its failure. All the men
and officers behaved gallantly and well, save one, and would have
cleared the ramparts had they seen one particle of support. Not being
furnished with the names of the party, I cannot give the due meed of
praise to those who distinguished themselves during our passage to the
fort and during the time we remained there.
The lieutenant of the One hundred and twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry
did not reach us till dark, remaining about 4 rods from the fort,
on the road, protected by its high banks, without attempting the march
to the fort.
I now inclose the list of casualties of but four regiments, the One
hundred and twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry being absent on detail, and
not having time to visit the other regiments in the division.
Command. Number who
volunteered.
L EM K W M
55th Illinois Infantry............. 1 12 2 3 1
83d Indiana Infantry............... .. 11 .. 5 ..
54th Ohio Infantry................. .. 8 1 1 ..
57th Ohio Infantry................. .. 9 2 1 ..
Total......................... 1 40 5 10 1
L=Lieutenant. EM=Enlisted men. K=Killed. W=Wounded. M=Missing.
The report of casualties is not complete, as it was almost impossible
to get through the ravines and hills to where the regiments were.
Hoping our services and efforts are appreciated by our commanding
officers, I remain, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM C. PORTER,
Second Lieut. Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, Company E.
Capt. G. MOODIE WHITE,
Assistant Adjutant. Gen.
P. S.--I forgot to mention that the lieutenant of the One hundred
and twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry kept back from the assailing party
10 men, who remained where he did during the entire day on the. Road.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 271-37 MISSISSIPPI, WEST TENNESSEE, ETC. [CHAP. XXXVI.
[Series I. Vol. 24. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 37.]
*************************************************************************************
Report of Capt. Cyrus M. Browne, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, of
operations June 16-September 5.
HDQRS. FIFTY-FIFTH REGT. ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLS.,
Camp near Lovejoy's Station, Ga., September 5, 1864.
SIR: In compliance with Special Field Orders, NO. 117, from headquarters
Department and Army of the Tennessee, dated September
4, 1864, I have the honor to transmit herewith a detailed report of
the operations of this command during the campaign ending with
the fall of Atlanta.
The Fifty-fifth Regt. Illinois Veteran Volunteers, under command
of Lieut.-Col. Chandler, arrived at Big Shanty, Ga.,
June 16, 1864, on return from veteran furlough, and reported to
Gen. Giles A. Smith for duty in the field, with a pleasant effective
strength of 300 commissioned officers and enlisted men.
The enemy having evacuated their first line of works, the regiment
advanced on the morning of the 19th of June, under command
of Capt. J. M. Angustin, to the base of Kenesaw Mountain, losing
1 man killed from the artillery fire of the enemy, and On the 26th
June fortified their position. Here the regiment remained, constantly
skirmishing with the enemy and exposed to artillery fire,
until the night of the 26th of June, losing 3 men wounded. On the
morning of the 27th-having the previous night marched 4 miles to
the right-the regiment participated in the assault on Kenesaw
Mountain. In this charge the regiment nearly succeeded in gaining
the enemy's works, but being subjected to a deadly cross-fire, and
its commander, Capt. Jacob M. Augustin, being shot dead while
urging on his men, they were compelled to fall back with the remainder
of the brigade to the edge of a ravine, and held the
position until dark, when they were withdrawn. The loss during
the day was as follows: 2 captains killed. 1 captain and 2 lieutenants
wounded, 12 enlisted men killed and 39 wounded.
July 2, the regiment, under command of Capt. Francis H. Shaw,
marched eight miles to the right to support Gen. Schofield. July
3, they were engaged skirmishing with the enemy, driving their cavalry
one mile from their front across Sweet Water Creek. July 4,
they supported the Sixteenth Army Corps in the advance, and from
July 5 to the 8th remained in reserve. July 8, they moved two
miles to the front, on Nickajack Creek, and intrenched on the 9th.
July 11, the regiment marched eight miles to Sweet Water Creek,
to cover the right flank of the army, and on the 12th moved eight
miles to the left, passing through Marietta at daybreak of the 13th,
and thence, seventeen miles, to Roswell. July 14, the regiment
crossed the Chattahocchee River and fortified their position. July
17, they advanced six miles to Nancy's Creek, and on the 18th
marched five miles toward Stone Mountain. July 19, they tore up
the track of the Augusta railroad and marched to Decatur, seven
miles. July 20, they moved three miles along the railroad toward
Atlanta, and intrenched during the night. July 22, the regiment
advanced half a mile, occupied the enemy's works, and remodeled
them hastily. At 3 p. m. they sustained an assault from the enemy,
and, after two hours' action, repulsed them, having been temporarily
forced to fall back in consequence of being flanked on the
right. The regiment made three distinct charges, and finally succeeded
in regaining the works. The loss sustained in this action
was: 1 lieutenant killed, 3 enlisted men killed, 14 enlisted men
wounded, and 16 enlisted men missing, including the color bearer
and the colors. July 27, the regiment marched twelve miles to the
extreme right, and on the 28th advanced one mile and a half, and
were attacked at 12 m., repulsing the enemy after four hours' action.
Our loss in this engagement was 1 lieutenant wounded, 5 enlisted
men killed, and 11 enlisted men wounded. From this date until
August 3 the regiment participated in the advance movements on
the enemy's works, throwing up three lines of earth-works.
August 3, in an advance of the pickets the regiment was ordered
to charge and take possession of a ridge occupied by the enemy; the
ridge was taken and fortified at night, with a loss of 1 lieutenant and
2 enlisted men killed and 3 enlisted men wounded. On the 4th of
August I assumed command of the regiment, and from that date
until August 26 they were engaged in advancing their lines and in
constricting earth-works in the face of the enemy, losing during
that time 4 enlisted men killed and 5 enlisted men wounded. On
the night of the 26th we evacuated our works and marched to
the right fifteen miles, and fortified on the 27th. August 28, we
advanced and occupied the West Point railroad, threw up works,
and destroyed the track. On the 30th the regiment advanced across
Flint River, skirmishing with the enemy from Shadna Church,
and threw up works by night, and on the 31st moved forward
with the brigade half a mile, occupied and fortified a hill, and at 2
p. m. were vigorously assaulted by the enemy in four distinct charges,
and repulsed them after two hours' action, losing 3 enlisted men
killed and 9 enlisted men wounded, and capturing a large number
of prisoners and arms.
September 1, the regiment made demonstrations in aid of attacking
columns on the left, sustaining a loss from sharpshooters during
the day of 2 enlisted men killed and 4 enlisted men wounded. The
enemy having retreated during the night, the regiment on the 2d
joined in the pursuit.
Our total losses during the campaign just closed are as follows,
viz: Commissioned officers-killed, 4; wounded, 4. Enlisted men--killed,
34; wounded, 76; missing, 16. Total, 134.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CYRUS M. BROWNE,
Capt., Cmdg. Regt.
Capt. JOHN T. McAULEY,
A. A. A. G., 1st Brig., 2d Div., 15th Army Corps.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. L.] REPORTS, ETC.--ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE. PAGE 201-74
[Series I. Vol. 38. Part III, Reports. Serial No. 74.]
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