Pennsylvania 55th Regiment - Company A Memorial - Lilly, Pennsylvania
This memorial was placed here in 2006, during Lilly Borough's Bicentennial year and honors Company A of the Pennsylvania 55th Regiment , which was started by a farmer in adjoining Washington Township by the name Richard White, who would later become Colonel of the entire 55th Pennsylvania Regiment. He perished just days after returning home from his discharge from service.
Plaque Details
55th Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry Regiment
First Regimental Officers
[List of Officers]
Colonel Richard White died in April 1865, just days after his discharge from
active duty. Chaplin John McCosker died in Philiadelphia in 1862 and
musician Alexander Mower died at Point of Rocks, VA Jan. 27th, 1865
MAJOR CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES
1861
Mustered into service at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, PA. In the fall of 1861, embarked
to Port Royal, South Carolina. Duty with General Sherman's Army of the South
1862
Transferred to Edisto Island, South Carolina and engaged in the battle of
Pocotaligo in October
1863
Assigned to Beaufort, South Carolina for Picket Duty
1864
Embarked to Virginia for service with the Army of the James arriving at Gloucester
Point and advanded on Bermuda Hundred. On May 16th, engaged in the battle of
Drury's Bluff and on May 20th the battle of Foster Plantation. On June 1st the
regiment fought in a battle at Cold Harbor and from June 15th until 18th again fought
confederate forces , this time at Chapin's Farm, Virginia
1865
On April 2nd 1865, the remnants of the 55th regiment were involved in battles at
Fort Gregg and Fort Baldwin and continued pursuing confederate forces to
Appomattox Courthouse until April 9th when General Robert E. Lee surrendered
On August 30th, 1865, the 55th Regiment was mustered out of service . During the
course of the war the 55th regiment lost 10 Officers and 469 enlisted men to
combat, injury, or disease.
Middle Panel Wording
Sargent Augustin Flanagan of "A" Company was the
regimental color bearer on September 29th, 1864
when he led a charge into the Confederate works at
Chapin's Farm, Virginia. Rallying his men, he was
severely wounded and for his valor was awarded
the Congessional Medal of Honor
Company "A" Panel
History of Company "A"
Company "A" of the 55th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment
was recruited here in Hemlock in the fall of 1861 by Richard White, a
Washington Township farmer, who was later named Regimental
Commander and Captain James Carroll. These two men and several
others who volunteered were already veterans having served with "G"
Company of the 10th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the summer
of 1861
The ranks of the company were increased in 1863 and 1864 by
draftees. In addition, many recruits from Hemlock and Chest Springs
joined while the company was home on leave
During the course of the Civil War of the 239 officers and enlisted
men who saw service with "A" company, 51 were either killed in
action, died from injury or disease, or while prisoners of war of the
Confederacy
List of Casualties
[Listing of Casualties]
Dedicated May 29, 2006
MAJOR SPONSOR
American Legion Post 628, Lilly Pa.
ARTISTS
Scott Steberger and Stephen P. Barlick