56th Ohio Infantry

compiled by Larry Stevens

References for this Unit

Photo
Captain John Yochem Co. B

History

This Regiment was organized in December 1861 under Colonel Peter Kinney, and took the field in February at Fort Donelson, and in April, was at Shiloh. After the fall of Corinth it marched to Memphis, and in July went to Helena. It joined Grant's Vicksburg campaign and fought gallantly at Port Gibson and Champion Hills, capturing 2 guns and 125 prisoners at the former place. At Champion Hills it lost 135 men killed and wounded. After the fall of Vicksburg, it followed Johnston to Jackson and next moved to Natchez, joining Banks' Red River expedition. It sustained severe loss in the retreat, and when in route on veteran furlough its boat was fired on by Rebel batteries, and a number of officers and men captured. In November 1864, the non veterans filled the rest of their term on guard duty at New Orleans, where they were mustered out in March 1866.

From Dyer's Compendium

56th Regiment Infantry. Organized at Camp Morrow, Portsmouth, Ohio, and mustered in December 12, 1861. Moved to Paducah, Ky., thence to Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-15, 1862. Fort Donelson February 15-16. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. Helena, Ark., District of Eastern Arkansas, to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 12th Division, District of Eastern Arkansas, Dept. of the Tennessee, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 12th Division, 13th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 13th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, to August, 1863, and Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. Defences of New Orleans, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to April, 1866.
SERVICE.--Expedition toward Purdy and operations about Crump's Landing March 9-14, 1862. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Memphis, Tenn., June 1-13, and duty there till July 24. Germantown and Lafayette Station June 25. Ordered to Helena, Ark., June 24, and duty there till April, 1863. Gorman's Expedition from Helena to Eunice August 28-September 5, 1862. Expedition against Arkansas Post November 16-21. Ordered to Milliken's Bend, La., April 11, 1863. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson May 1. Fourteen-Mile Creek May 12. Battle of Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Ordered to New Orleans, La., August 13. Duty there till September 13, and at Berwick Bay till October. Western Louisiana ("Teche") Campaign October 3-November 30. Grand Coteau November 3. At New Iberia till December 17. Moved to New Orleans December 17, thence to Madisonville January 22, 1864, and duty there till March 1. Moved to New Orleans March 1. Red River Campaign March 10-May 5. Advance from Franklin to Alexandria March 14-26. Battle of Sabine Cross Roads April 8. Pleasant Hill April 9. Monett's Ferry, Cane River, April 23. At Alexandria April 26-May 4. Davidson's Ferry, Red River, May 4-5. Natchitoches May 5. Dunn's Bayou, destruction of Transport "Warner," May 5. Veterans absent on furlough May to July. Return to New Orleans, La., and duty in the Defences of that city till April, 1866. Expedition from New Orleans to Mandeville January 15-17, 1865 (Detachment). Non-Veterans mustered out November, 1864. Regiment mustered out April 25, 1866. Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 55 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 156 Enlisted men by disease. Total 216.

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Copyright © 1995 Larry Stevens

Last updated December 13 2010