[
300]
Fifty-fifth regiment Massachusetts Infantry.
（1)
Col. Norwood P. Hallowell.
（2)
Col. Alfred S. Hartwell,
Bvt. Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols.
| Field and Staff. | Line. | companies. | Unassigned Recruits. | Totals. |
| | | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K |
| Number on regimental rolls,— |
| Officers, | 12 | 70 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 82 |
| Enlisted men,1 | 8 | – | 121 | 119 | 107 | 113 | 101 | 125 | 107 | 102 | 116 | 113 | 12 | 1,144 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,226 |
| Enlisted men (included above) commissioned in regiment.2 | 4 | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 8 |
| Enlisted men (included above) serving elsewhere within regiment. | – | – | – | 3 | – | 2 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | 7 |
| Totals, | 4 | – | – | 3 | – | 4 | – | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | 15 |
| Actual total of members of regiment,— |
| Officers, | 12 | 70 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 82 |
| Enlisted men,3 | 4 | – | 121 | 116 | 107 | 109 | 101 | 123 | 107 | 101 | 116 | 112 | 12 | 1,129 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,211 |
The 55th Mass. Infantry, composed, like the 54th, of colored enlisted men with white officers, was organized at Readville in the spring of 1863; the recruiting committee which supplied most of the men of the 54th filling the ranks of this regiment also.
The first recruits arrived at camp May 12 and the first five companies were mustered into service May 31, two more on June 15 and the remaining three on the 22d.
Under command of
Col. Norwood P. Hallowell, the regiment left the camp July 21 and embarked for New Berne, arriving on the 25th.
It was ordered to
Charleston harbor on the 29th, became part of
General Wild's Brigade, 10th Army Corps, and served in the operations against
Charleston for the remainder of the year.
In February, 1864, the regiment, under
Col. A. S. Hartwell (
Colonel Hallowell having resigned in November from the effect of injuries received at
Antietam), was sent to join the forces at
Jacksonville, Fla., and served by detachments at
Yellow Bluff, at the forts near
Jacksonville and at
Palatka.
Returning to
Charleston harbor April 18-20, it took part in the movement against
Charleston July 2, capturing two of the enemy's guns and losing nine men killed and mortally wounded.
Eight companies were sent to
Hilton Head, S C., in November, forming part of a brigade under
Colonel Hartwell, Coast Division.
It lost heavily at the
battle of Honey Hill, where,
Colonel Hartwell being wounded, the command of the regiment was taken by
Lieutenant-Colonel Fox.
It occupied a position at
Boyd's Neck until ordered to
Savannah, Ga., in January, 1865.
Returning to
Hilton Head February 1, it entered
Charleston February 20, and shared in an expedition into the interior of
South Carolina from February 22 to March 10.
Moving, April 19, to
Orangeburg, it served by detachments in the vicinity during the remainder of its term of service, and was mustered out at
Mount Pleasant Aug. 29, 1865.
It was finally paid off and discharged at
Gallop's Island,
Boston harbor, Sept. 23, and disbanded Sept. 25, 1865.
