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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 361
of service. Company C was mustered out on June 22 by J. M. Eyster,
captain Eighteenth Infantry United States Army.
THE FIFTY-FIFTH INFANTRY
To the numerical strength of this regiment Erie County contributed
as largely as to any represented by the county in the three years service.
Companies A, C, D and I AA'ere recruited in this and Huron counties,
while the field and staff of the regiment AA'ere also in part composed of
men from the sections named.
The regiment Avas raised during the months of September, October
and November, 1861, and rendezvoused at NorAvalk, the county seat of
Huron County. It Avas not until the latter part of January, 1862, that
the Fifty-fifth broke camp at NorAvalk and proceeded to Grafton, West
Virginia, Avhere it remained for a short time, and thence Avent to NCAV
Creek. Here the men experienced some severe marching service and
engaged in a brisk skirmish at Moorefield, but in February the regiment
returned to Grafton.
Like all commands of northern troops, unused to the cliinate of the
South, the men of the Fifty-fifth suffered severely from contagious and
infectious diseases; many died and others AA'ere rendered Avholly unfit
for active service.
During the latter part of April the regiment, except companies D,
E and G, moved with Schenck's Brigade, to which it Avas attached, to
McDoAvell, in the battle* at AA'hich place they AA'ere engaged, acting in
support of a battery and not under heavy fire. At Cross Keys the
regiment Avas on the field but not engaged. After this they moved to"
MiddletOAvn, near Winchester, Avhere the regiment AVIIS brigaded with the
TAventy-fifth, Seventy-third and Seventy-fifth Ohio regiments and AA'as
attached to General Schenck's Division.
On August 9. 1862, the brigade participated in the fight at Cedar
Mountain and suffered some loss. Again at the Second Bull Run, on the
30th of the same month, they lay in support of a battery when the
rebels appeared on their flank, Avith whom they at once engaged and
continued until dark AVhen the Avhole line fell back to CentreA'ille. After
this the regiment Avent into camp for a feAV days on Munson's Hill, but
on September 22 returned to Centreville. From this point a number of
reconnoissances Avere made but no general engagement AA'as participated
in until the battle of Chanccllorsville, May 2, 1863, with the Eleventh
Corps, to Avhich it had been assigned. In the Chancellorsville fight the
Fifty-fifth lost 153 men in killed and AA'ounded and missing. The regiment
AVIIS then assigned to the Second Brigade of the Second Division
and so remained until the end of its terms of service.
From Brook's Station the Fifty-fifth. Avith its brigade, marched to
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where it again AA'as engaged, first being
posted onVemetery Hill; hut afterAvard moving to the left of the Baltimore
Pike?L While not in the regular battle line, the regiment AA'as
continually exposed to a severe fire and lost fifty men. The regiment