55th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry (Colored)

Organized at Readville and mustered in June 22, 1863. Left State for Newberne, N. C., July 21, 1863, arriving there July 25, thence moved to Folly Island, S. C., July 30-August 3. Attached to Wild's African Brigade, Vodge's Division, North End, Folly Island, S. C., 10th Army Corps, Dept. of the South, to October, 1863. 3rd Brigade, Vodge's Division, Folly Island, 10th Army Corps, to February, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Ames' Division, District of Florida, to April, 1864. Folly and Morris Islands, S. C., Northern District, Dept. of the South, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Coast Division, Dept. South, to January, 1865. 1st Separate Brigade, Dept. of the South, to March, 1865. 1st Separate Brigade, District of Charleston, Dept. South, to June, 1865. District of Charleston, S. C., Dept. South Carolina, to August, 1865.

SERVICE.--Fatigue duty on north end of Folly Island, S. C., and in trenches on Morris Island August 9 to September 5, 1863. Fatigue duty on Forts Wagner and Gregg, Morris Island, S. C., and operations against Fort Sumpter and Charleston September 17-October 28. Camp on Folly Island till February, 1864. Expedition to John's Island February (Co. "F"). Moved to Jacksonville, Fla., February 13-16, and Provost duty there till March 11. Advance to Baldwin February 19-20. (Co. "F" detached as garrison at Fort Fribley, Jacksonville, February to April.) Companies "B" and "I" at Yellow Bluff February 28 to April 17. Regiment ordered to Palatka, Fla., March 11, and duty there till April 17. Moved to Folly Island, S. C., April 17-18. Duty there till November 27. Demonstration on James Island May 21-22. Expedition to James Island June 30-July 10. Action on James Island July 2. Moved to Hilton Head, S. C., November 27-28. (Co. "G" detached at Battery on Long Island, and Co. "H" at Fort Delafield, Stono Inlet, till February 12, 1865.) Hatch's Expedition up Broad River to Boyd's Neck November 29-30. Battle of Honey Hill November 30. Demonstration on Charleston Camp; Savannah Railroad December 6-9. Deveaux's Neck December 6. At Boyd's Landing till January 11, 1865. Moved to Hilton Head, thence to Fort Thunderbolt, near Savannah, Ga., January 11-13. Duty at Forts Jackson, Bartow and Battery Lee till February 1. Moved to Hilton Head, S. C., thence to Beaufort, S. C., February 1. Expedition up South Edisto River February 1-6. Moved to Stono Inlet February 6. Expedition to James Island February 9-10. Expedition to Bull's Bay February 11-15. Moved to Mount Pleasant February 19-20. Expedition to Santee River February 21-March 10. Duty at and near Charleston till May 7. Expedition to Eutaw Springs April 6-12. Moved to Sumpterville May 7-8, thence to Orangeburg May 19, and Provost duty there till August. Mustered out August 29, 1865. Discharged at Boston, Mass., September 23, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 64 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 128 Enlisted men by disease. Total 197.