THE STORY OF THE FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY IN THE CIVIL WAR 1861-1865, By a Committee of the Regiment (Illinois Regimental History)

Regimental Committee

Published by Printed by W. J. Coulter, Clinton, Mass, 1887

About this Item

BOOK DESCRIPTION: 8vo, 519 pgs, appendices include unit rosters and list of causalities. Black cloth covered boards, new spine and endpapers. Gilt titled cover and spine. Presentation from the unit's Sergeant Major John T. McAuley, to Captain Philip Reade, 3rd US Infantry. With inked stamp indicating property of C. Company Reading Club on preliminary page and pg 2 of text. With three maps added; 1)Battle of Shiloh pasted on front endpaper; 2)The Atlanta Campaign passed in rear paper; 3)Gen. Thomas Operations Subsequent to the Atlanta Campaign, all executed by Edward Ruger of the Army of the Cumberland. CONDITION DESCRIPTION: The original boards are rubbed and worn on edges and corners, else the original cover is clean. The new spine and endpapers tighten the volume in its case. Pages are generally clean with some stray pencil marks in text, including notations next to John McAuley in the index. Title page has a small tear. Else clean and tight. With clear, mylar wrapper. CONTENTS DESCRIPTION: The 55th Illinois is listed in Fox s Fighting 300 and served most of the war under General Tecumseh Sherman. The 55th suffered heavily in its first battle at Shiloh, where it was isolated on the extreme left flank along with the 54th Ohio, a Zouave regiment. They stood alone for over two hours against the Rebel attack, with the 55th Illinois losing more men than any other Union regiment except the 9th Illinois. The 55th Illinois is recognized as one of the Fox 300 Fighting Regiments. Nice copy despite the new spine. The added maps come from a separate source and are not original to the book. Interesting presentation and association within the professional post-Civil War military. This regimental history in the original edition is quite scarce and seldom offered for sale. RareBook Hub has one listing since 1968, and that being a spine damaged copy. REFERENCES: DORN Ill 223; NEVINS I pg 110: "Each of the four sections of this history was the work of a different veteran; hence, the total narrative of Western service fluctuates in quality". Fox 300, pg 369: "Its dead lie buried in nine different States; and it traveled, on foot and by transports, 11,965 miles, 3240 were done on foot.". Seller Inventory # 1222053

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE STORY OF THE FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT ...

Publisher: Printed by W. J. Coulter, Clinton, Mass

Publication Date: 1887

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Edition: 1st Edition