Infantry Units: 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
The biographical sketches here show only those members of the unit who wrote letters to their local newspapers. Information may be drawn from the unit roster, newspaper obituaries, or other biographical sources.
Field and Staff
Colonel John Calvin Lee
John Calvin Lee was born March 7, 1828 in Brown Twp., Delaware Co., Ohio and
entered the war as a lawyer from Tiffin, Ohio. He was mustered in as Major of
the 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry September 11, 1861 and was quickly promoted to
Colonel to date November 20, 1861. He led the regiment through the battles of
McDowell, Cross Keys, and was particularly distinguished by his services at the
battle of Second Bull Run, August 29-30, 1862. He led the 55th Ohio through
Chancellorsville but resigned his commission effective May 8, 1863. A year later,
he served as Colonel of the 100 days 164th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, mustering in
May 2, 1864 and mustering out August 27, 1864. He was given a brevet promotion to
Brigadier General to date March 13, 1865 for meritorious services rendered during
the war. He was twice elected Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, in 1867 and 1869. He
later joined the law firm of Lee, Brown, and Lee and died March 24, 1891 in
Toledo, Lucas Co., Ohio.
Wyandot Pioneer- March 27, 1863 pg. 1
Speech: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: June 5, 1863
Lieutenant Colonel Charles P. Wickham
Enlisted 9/13/1861 as 1st Lieutenant of Company D, promoted to Captain 10/2/1862
and transferred to Company I, promoted to Major 6/27/1864, promoted to brevet
Lieutenant Colonel 3/13/1865, mustered out with regiment 7/11/1865 at Louisville, KY.
Toledo Blade- 12/29/1863
Lieutenant Colonel George Huntingdon Safford
George H. Safford enlisted as a 37 year old Lieutenant Colonel in the 55th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry on September 11, 1861, mustering into service the same
day. He resigned his commission March 4, 1863.
Letter: Norwalk Reflector: May 27, 1862
Norwalk Experiment: February 24, 1862, April 7, 1862
Major Daniel F. DeWolf
Daniel F. DeWolf enlisted as the 37 year old Adjutant of the 55th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on September 18, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He was promoted
to Major to date November 25, 1861 and resigned his commission October 2, 1862.
Following his return to civilian life, he was Colonel of the 49th Regiment, Ohio
National Guard from Seneca County but was not commissioned to go into the field
in May 1864.
Letters: Seneca Advertiser: March 28, 1862
Tiffin Weekly Tribune: November 22, 1861, March 28, 1862, May 5, 1864
Assistant Surgeon Henry K. Spooner
Henry K. Spooner enlisted as a 24 year old Assistant Surgeon in the 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on October 3, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He
was discharged for promotion to Surgeon of the 61st Ohio Volunteer Infantry on
November 21, 1863, and was mustered out March 31, 1865.
Letter: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: May 29, 1863
Roster - Company A, 55th OVI
Captain Charles M. Smith
Charles M. Smith enlisted as a 24 year old Sergeant in Co. A, 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on September 15, 1861. He was commissioned a Second
Lieutenant to date August 7, 1862, then again promoted to First Lieutenant
to date March 16, 1863. He was promoted to Captain and transferred to Co. I
on May 9, 1864. He was mustered out with the regiment July 11, 1865 at
Louisville, Kentucky.
Letters: Fremont Journal- September 18, 1863, April 7, 1865, May 19, 1865
Private John Gleason
John Gleason enlisted as a 19 year old Private in Co. A, 55th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on September 30, 1861, and served with the regiment through the entire
war. He participated in the Valley, Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville,
Gettysburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Georgia campaigns. He was captured
March 28, 1865 near Goldsboro, North Carolina, but was soon released and
mustered out with his regiment June 27, 1865 at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio.
Letter: Fremont Journal- April 3, 1863
Roster - Company B, 55th OVI
Corporal William C. Brinkman
William C. Brinkman enlisted as a 20 year old Private in Company B, 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on September 19, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
Promoted to Corporal during his service, he was transferred to Co. A, 6th Battalion,
Veteran Reserve Corps on August 24, 1863. His further service record is unclear.
Letter: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: April 3, 1863
First Lieutenant John R. Lowe, Companies B and C
John R. Lowe enlisted as a 21 year old Sergeant in Company B, 55th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on September 17, 1861, mustering into service the same day. Promoted to
Sergeant Major on March 4, 1863, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant at an
unknown date. He was promoted to First Lieutenant of Company C to date March 19,
1864, but his further record is unclear.
Letter: Norwalk Reflector: January 24, 1865
Private Homer Augustus Durfee
Homer A. Durfee enlisted as an 18 year old Private in Company B, 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on September 22, 1861. Wounded in the abdomen August 30, 1862
at the Battle of Second Bull Run, he was hospitalized in Washington, D.C. where
he died of his wounds September 12, 1862. This dirge was composed in his honor.
Dirge: Seneca Advertiser: December 19, 1862
Obituary: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: March 13, 1863
Poem: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: April 3, 1863
Sergeant Adam Cramer
*There are two Sergeant Adam Cramer's in this company, unsure which is
correct.
Letter: Fremont Journal- March 18, 1864
Private Edwin Van Doren
Edwin Van Doren was born October 14, 1829 in Fremont, Sandusky Co., Ohio
to Abraham and Mary (Bates) Van Doren. He married Zeuriah Gray on May 1, 1851
and had seven children. Drafted as a 35 year old Private into Co. B, 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on September 24, 1864, he served with the regiment for the
required nine months' service, and was discharged June 9, 1865 at Washington,
D.C.
Letter: Fremont Journal- June 9, 1865
Roster - Company C, 55th OVI
Private Rush R. Sloan, AKA "Rush"
Rush R. Sloan was born in 1841 in Seneca Co., Ohio to William and Celia
(Williams) Sloan. He married Mary E. Weeks in 1861, having one daughter. He
enlisted as a 20 year old Private in Co. C, 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on
September 20, 1861. He died of disease March 8, 1862 at Grafton, Taylor Co.,
Virginia.
Letters: Fremont Journal - January 17, 1862, February 14, 1862
Roster - Company D, 55th OVI
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Preston Wickham, Company D
Charles P. Wickham enlisted as a 25 year old First Lieutenant in Company D, 55th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry on September 13, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
He was promoted to Captain of Company I to date October 2, 1862 and to the rank
of Major to date June 27, 1864. Wickham was given a brevet promotion to Lieutenant
Colonel to date March 13, 1865 and was mustered out July 11, 1865 at Louisville,
Kentucky.
Norwalk Reflector: February 4, 1862, February 11, 1862, February 25, 1862,
March 11, 1862, April 8, 1862, April 22, 1862, April 29, 1862 (2), May 27, 1862,
June 24, 1862, July 8, 1862, August 5, 1862, August 12, 1862, September 30, 1862,
November 4, 1862, November 18, 1862, January 6, 1863, April 14, 1863, May 12, 1863,
July 28, 1863, December 31, 1863, May 10, 1864, May 24, 1864, July 12, 1864,
August 9, 1864, November 1, 1864, November 22, 1864,. January 31, 1865,
March 28, 1865
Captain Frederick Augustus Wildman, Company D
Frederick A. Wildman enlisted as a 48 year old Captain of Company D, 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on September 13, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
He resigned his commission February 12, 1863.
Letters: Norwalk Reflector: February 4, 1862, February 11, 1862, February 18,
1862 (2), April 29, 1862, May 13, 1862, May 20, 1862, June 3, 1862, June 24, 1862,
December 2, 1862
Captain William Samuel Wickham, Companies D, C, B, and I
William S. Wickham enlisted as a 21 year old Private in Company D, 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on September 13, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company C in early 1862, then transferred back to Company D. He promoted to First Lieutenant and transferred to Company C on June 1, 1863, then was transferred to Company I on March 19, 1864. He was promoted to Captain of Company D to date September 26, 1864 and mustered out with the regiment July 11, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.
Norwalk Reflector: March 4, 1862, March 11, 1862, March 18, 1862, April 15, 1862, May 6, 1862, June 3, 1862, July 8, 1862, July 15, 1862, July 29, 1862, August 12, 1862, November 25, 1862, December 30, 1862, May 12, 1863, August 18, 1863, November 10, 1863, December 7, 1863, May 31, 1864, April 18, 1865
Second Lieutenant Philetus C. Lathrop, Companies D and A
Philetus C. Lathrop enlisted as a 24 year old Private in Company D, 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on September 13, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He was promoted to Corporal on September 1, 1862 and to Sergeant Major to date July 1, 1863. Commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company A to date April 1, 1864, he was wounded during the Atlanta campaign and was discharged for wounds October 27, 1864.
Letter: Norwalk Reflector: April 14, 1863
Private Sebastian E. Whyler, Company D
Sebastian E. Whyler enlisted as a 24 year old Private in Company D, 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on January 23, 1864, mustering into service the same day. Captured October 2, 1864, he was mustered out by order of the War Dept. June 19, 1865 at camp Chase, Ohio.
Letter: Norwalk Reflector: January 24, 1865
Roster - Company F, 55th OVI
Captain Charles D. Robbins
Charles D. Robbins enlisted as a 25 year old First Sergeant in Co. F, 55th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry on October 8, 1861 and was quickly commissioned Second
Lieutenant to date October 16, 1861. He participated with his regiment in the
battles of McDowell, Cross Keys, Second Bull Run, and others, and was promoted
to First Lieutenant to date July 23, 1862. Following the disastrous losses at
the battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, he was promoted to Captain to date
May 8, 1863. He resigned his commission on March 24, 1864.
Wyandot Pioneer- February 28, 1862 pg. 2, October 17, 1862 pg. 2, March 13, 1863 pg. 2
Captain Butler W. Case
Butler W. Case enlisted as a 22 year old First Sergeant in Company F, 55th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry on October 10, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
He was commissioned Second Lieutenant to date July 23, 1862, and to First Lieutenant
to date March 10, 1863. On May 15, 1863 he was transferred to Company B. He resigned
his commission April 10, 1864; however, 4 days later he was promoted to the rank of
Captain.
Letter: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: May 1, 1863
Sergeant William H. Ashbrook
(see 15th OVI for biography)
Private William C. Law
William Law enlisted as a 21 year old Private in Co. F, 55th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on October 10, 1861 and served with the regiment through the campaigns
of 1862. He was discharged April 20, 1863.
Letter: Fremont Journal- March 6, 1863
Roster - Company G, 55th OVI
Private Henry M. Kellogg
Henry M. Kellogg enlisted August 5, 1862 as a 21 year old Private in Co. G,
55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served with the regiment for the remainder of
the war and was mustered out May 29, 1865 in Washington, D.C.
Wyandot Pioneer- January 2, 1863 pg. 2
Tiffin Weekly Tribune: September 18, 1863
Private Wilmot A. Mills
Wilmot A. Mills enlisted as an 18 year old Private in Company G, 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on August 11, 1862, mustering into service the same day.
Wounded November 23, 1863 at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, he was mustered out
June 9, 1865 at Washington, D.C.
Letters: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: May 29, 1863, July 31, 1863
Private James K. Sheiterly
James K. Sheiterly enlisted as an 18 year old Private in Company G, 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on August 6, 1862, mustering into service the same day. Wounded
at the Battle of Resaca on May 15, 1864, he was mustered out June 9, 1865 at
Washington, D.C.
Letters: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: November 14, 1862, December 5, 1862
Private Henry Troxel
Henry Troxel enlisted as a 19 year old Private in Company G, 55th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on September 27, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He was
killed in action August 30, 1862 at the Second Battale of Bull Run. The letter
listed here has an example of his poetry.
Letter: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: November 14, 1862
Roster - Company H, 55th OVI
Captain Hartwell Osborn
Enlisted 11/20/1861 as 2nd Lieutenant of Company I, promoted 2/12/1863 to 1st
Lieutenant of Company H, wounded and captured 5/2/1863 at the Battle of
Chancellorsville, promoted to Captain of Company B 8/4/1863, mustered out with
the regiment 7/11/1865 at Louisville, KY.
Toledo Blade- 3/21/1862, 7/23/1862, 1/10/1865, 4/7/1865
Captain Robert William Pool
Robert W. Pool was born August 18, 1837 in Richland Co., Ohio to Ira and Margaret (Mitchell) Pool. He enlisted originally in Co. G, 15th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on April 20, 1861, being mustered into service April 27, 1861. He served with that regiment throughout the summer campaign as a Sergeant until his mustering out on August 28, 1861. He enlisted in Co. H, 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on September 25, 1861 and was elected then commissioned Second Lieutenant to date October 24, 1861. He served with the 55th in the battles of McDowell, Cross Keys, and Second Bull Run before he was promoted to First Lieutenant, and assigned as regimental Adjutant to date October 3, 1862. He served in this responsible position through the bloody Chancellorsville and Gettysburg campaigns before he was promoted to Captain to date August 1, 1863 and transferred to command of Company A. He served through most of the Atlanta campaign in the summer of 1864 before resigning his commission August 29, 1864.
He returned to Wyandot Co. after the war and was active in veterans' affairs.
He married Rachel E. Armstrong March 26, 1863 in Richland Co., Ohio and died
April 21, 1925, burial at Nevada Cemetery, Wyandot Co., Ohio.
Wyandot Pioneer- May 23, 1862 pg. 2, June 10, 1864 pg. 2
Second Lieutenant Henry Harrison Ragon
Henry Harrison Ragon was born on March 8, 1837 in Tymochtee Township, Wyandot Co., Ohio to John and Elizabeth (Duddleston) Ragon, pioneers of Wyandot County who settled there in 1827. The Ragon family moved from Tymochtee Township to Crane Township in 1842 where John was elected Justice of the Peace, a position he held for 18 years. Henry was one of 12 children, four of whom served in the Civil War: William M., Eli B., Irene, Mary J., Eliza A., Lydia M., George W., Harvey B., Julia, Rebecca, and Albert. Henry grew up working on the family farm and he married Leefe C. Stephens on September 25, 1860 in Wyandot County, Ohio. The marriage produced 4 children: Elmer E., twins Allen and Almon, and Minnie Lucille. The family worked a portion of land near Upper Sandusky, Ohio for several years.
Ragon was one of the first to answer Lincoln's call for volunteers in 1861. He enlisted as a sergeant of Co. H, 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on September 28, 1861. His regiment was actively engaged with General Thomas J. Jackson's army at the Battles of McDowell and Cross Keys before moving to join General John Pope's army and fighting at Cedar Mountain and Second Bull Run. He was promoted to second lieutenant to date October 3, 1862 and moved with the Army of the Potomac to Fredericksburg but did not participate in the battle. He then endured the agony of the Mud March in January 1863 and resigned his commission March 24, 1863 due to poor health at Falmouth, Virginia.
After his return home, Ragon became active in the government's secret service. He also helped to organize Co. A, 19th Battalion, Ohio National Guard in the summer of 1863 and was elected captain of Co. A, 144th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He mustered into service again May 2, 1864, just 3 weeks after the birth and death of his twin boys Allen and Almon. He served his 100-day enlistment creditably and was involved in the fighting at Berryville, Virginia. He was mustered out with his company on August 31, 1864.
With the close of the Civil War, Ragon returned to civil life and soon separated from his first wife on October 26, 1866, a divorce which was not completed until March 1870 by which time Ragon had moved to Lake Co., Indiana. He remarried on April 13, 1871 to Jennie A. Smith at Lowell, Indiana and six children were born to this union: Leonard Wilbur, Lola Montey, Mertie Elizabeth, John Clifford, George Vernon, and Cordie Uiral.
After moving to Lowell in the late 1860s, he proceeded to teach at a number of area schools. He retired from teaching in 1885 and founded the Lowell Tribune with A.A. Winslow. He and his son Elmer bought the paper in 1890 and operated it jointly for a year. Ragon sold out his interest but purchased the newspaper again with another son, Leonard, in 1897. He was the newspaper's editor until about 1913, when poor health forced him to retire. In addition to his activities as editor, Ragon served as a Cedar Creek Township trustee and represented Lake County in the Indiana Legislature.
Captain Ragon took an active interest in the 144th O.V.I. reunions and attended
almost all of them, often making a speech. He was a founding member of Burnham
Post G.A.R. in Lowell, and worked tirelessly at erecting the soldier's monument
in his hometown. Ragon was also a member of Colfax Lodge, F & A.M. Captain
Ragon died at his home in Lowell May 3, 1918 and was buried in nearby Lowell
Cemetery with full G.A.R. and Masonic honors.
Wyandot Pioneer- January 10, 1862 pg. 2, May 2, 1862 pg. 2
Wyandot Pioneer- August 19, 1864 pg. 2
Private George Harkcom
George Harkcom enlisted as a 33 year old Private in Co. H, 55th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on August 12, 1862 and was mustered in the same day. He was mustered out
by order of the War Dept. on June 19, 1865 at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio.
Bucyrus Journal: October 22, 1864
Wyandot Pioneer- March 27, 1863 pg. 2
Sergeant Arthur A. Graham
Arthur A. Graham enlisted as a 23 year old Sergeant in Company H, 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on September 18, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
He was transferred to the Co. B, 21st Veterans Reserve Corps on September 16,
1863.
Poem: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: April 18, 1862
Letters: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: October 25, 1861, December 27, 1861, March 14, 1862, May 30, 1862 (2), June 20, 1862
Private Bondy B. Gaines
Bondy B. Gaines enlisted as a 20 year Private in Company H, 55th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on September 25, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He died of
disease March 8, 1862 at Grafton, Virginia.
Resolution: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: March 21, 1862
Private John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin enlisted as a 26 year old Private in Company H, 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on October 24, 1861, mustering into service the same day. Captured July 2, 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg, he was mustered out October 23, 1864.
Letters: Bucyrus Journal: November 28, 1862, December 12, 1862, December 19, 1862, January 9, 1863, April 24, 1863, May 15, 1863
Poem: Bucyrus Journal: July 22, 1864
Private Lewis B. Mesnard, Company H
Lewis B. Mesnard enlisted as a 23 year old Private in Company H, 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on October 24, 1861, mustering into service the same day. Wounded in action August 9, 1862 at Freeman's Ford, he was mustered out June 22, 1865 at Camp Dennison, Ohio by order of the War Dept.
Letter: Norwalk Reflector: May 26, 1863
Roster - Company I, 55th OVI
First Lieutenant Richard F. Patrick, Company I
Richard F. Patrick enlisted as a 35 year old Second Lieutenant in Company I,
55th Ohio Volunteer on September 20, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
Promoted to First Lieutenant to date October 7, 1861, he resigned his commission
June 11, 1863.
Letter: Norwalk Experiment: August 11, 1862
First Lieutenant Benjamin F. Evans, Companies I and B
Benjamin F. Evans enlisted as a 22 year old Sergeant in Company I, 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on November 20, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
He was promoted successively to First Sergeant on January 1, 1863, to Sergeant
Major on May 1, 1863, and commissioned Second Lieutenant to date May 8, 1863.
He was promoted to First Lieutenant of Company B to date April 1, 1864 and was
mustered out July 11, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.
Letter: Norwalk Reflector: November 8, 1864
Private Warren V. Franklin, Company I
Warren V. Franklin enlisted as a 19 year old Private in Company I, 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on December 7, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
Reenlisting as a veteran in 1864, he was mustered out July 11, 1865 at Louisville,
Kentucky.
Letter: Norwalk Reflector: April 26, 1864
Private John Sutton, Company I
John Sutton enlisted as a 19 year old Private in Company I, 55th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on October 17, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He died of
disease July 17, 1862 at Baltimore, Maryland. The following letter from his
company commander gives the circumstances of his demise.
Letter: Norwalk Experiment: August 11, 1862
Roster - Company K, 55th OVI
Captain Henry Miller
Henry Miller was born May 1, 1818 and served in the Mexican War before
enlisting October 11, 1861 in Co. K, 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was
commissioned First Lieutenant and served with Co. K through the battles of
McDowell, Cross Keys, and Second Bull Run before being promoted to Captain
and transferred to Co. C on February 12, 1863. He led that company through the
battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the battles around Chattanooga and
through the Atlanta campaign before resigning his commission effective
September 28, 1864. He died February 16, 1895 and is buried in Oak Hill
Cemetery, Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co., Ohio.
Wyandot Pioneer- April 23, 1863 pg. 2, August 14, 1863 pg. 1
Captain Augustus S. Wormley
Augustus S. Wormley enlisted as a 33 year old Sergeant on September 15, 1861
and was mustered into service November 11, 1861. He served with the regiment
through the battles of McDowell, Cross Keys, Second Bull Run, after which he
was promoted to Second Lieutenant to date August 19, 1862. Following the battle
of Chancellorsville, he was promoted to First Lieutenant to date May 8, 1863. He
reenlisted in the spring of 1864 and was promoted to Captain to date May 9, 1864.
He served with the regiment in that capacity for the remainder of the war,
mustering out with the regiment July 11, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.
Wyandot Pioneer- September 26, 1862 pg. 3, October 17, 1862 pg. 2, November 27, 1863 pg. 2, May 27, 1864 pg. 2, November 25, 1864 pg. 2
Wyandot Democratic Union- September 25, 1862 pg. 3
Captain Jesse Bowsher
Jesse Bowsher was born about 1834 to Samuel and Mary (Moody) Bowsher. He was
elected Second Lieutenant of Co. K, 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on October 10,
1861. He served with the regiment through the battles of McDowell, Cross Keys,
Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg before the regiment was
transferred to the western theater in September 1863. Following his reenlistment
in early 1864, he was promoted to First Lieutenant to date March 19, 1864 and
fought throughout the Atlanta Campaign. On July 25, 1864, he was promoted to
Captain and led Co. F through the remainder of the war. He was mustered out with
the regiment July 11, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.
Wyandot Pioneer- September 26, 1862 pg. 3
Wyandot Democratic Union- May 8, 1862 pg. 3, September 25, 1862 pg. 3
Second Lieutenant James K. Agnew
(see 34th OVI for biography)
Jesse W. Brandenberg
Jesse W. Brandenburg was born in 1831 and enlisted on April 23, 1861 as a 30
year old Musician in Co. C, 15th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, mustering in April 27,
1861 and participating the summer campaign in western Virginia before mustering
out with the regiment August 28, 1861. He enlisted as a Private in Co. K, 55th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry on October 9, 1861 and mustered in the same day. He
participated in all the battles of the 55th Ohio, including McDowell, Cross Keys,
Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg (where he was wounded on the second
day), Mission Ridge, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, and many others. He reenlisted in
1864 and mustered out with the regiment July 11, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.
His letter lists him as a sergeant but no mention of this is made in the state
roster. He died June 11, 1870 and is buried in Old Mission Cemetery, Wyandot Co.,
Ohio.
Wyandot Pioneer- June 5, 1863 pg. 1
Corporal George W. Hanks (Hawk)
George W. Hanks enlisted as a 28 year old Private in Company K, 55th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on October 22, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
Captured May 2, 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville, he was exchanged at an
unknown date and was promoted to Corporal May 1, 1865. Hanks was mustered out
July 11, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.
Letter: Bucyrus Journal: May 8, 1863
