55th US Colored Infantry

The 55th USCI was first organized as the 1st Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment (African Descent) in May 1863, serving on garrison duty at Corinth, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee. It was redesignated as the 55th United States Colored Infantry in March 1864, continuing its garrison service in Tennessee and fighting at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads. After the end of the war, the regiment was mustered out in late 1865 after garrison duty in Louisiana.

OVERVIEW: Organized March 11, 1864, from 1st Alabama Infantry (African Descent). Attached to 1st Colored Brigade, District of Memphis, Tenn., 16th Corps, to April, 1864. Fort Pickering, Post and Defences of Memphis, District of West Tennessee, to June, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Infantry Division, Sturgis' Expedition, to June, 1864. 1st Colored Brigade, District of Memphis, Tenn., District of West Tennessee, to January, 1865. 2nd Brigade, Post and Defences of Memphis, Tenn., to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, United States Colored Troops, District of Morganza, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to April, 1865. District of Port Hudson, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to December, 1865.

SERVICE: Post and garrison duty at Memphis, Tenn., till June 1, 1864. Sturgis' Expedition from Memphis into Mississippi June 1-13. Battle of Brice's Cross Roads, near Guntown, June 10. Ripley June 11. Davis' Mills June 12. Duty at Memphis till August 1. Smith's Expedition to Oxford, Miss., August 1-30. Action at Waterford August 16-17. Garrison duty at Memphis, Tenn., till February, 1865. Ordered to New Orleans, La., February 23; thence to Morganza, La., February 28, and duty there till April. Garrison duty at Port Hudson, Baton Rouge and other points in Louisiana till December, 1865. Mustered out December 31, 1865.

Predecessor unit: ALABAMA VOLUNTEERS. 1st REGIMENT INFANTRY (AFRICAN DESCENT). Organized at Corinth, Miss., May 21, 1863. Attached to 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps, Dept. Tennessee, to November, 1863. Post of Corinth, Miss., 16th Army Corps, to January, 1864. 1st Colored Brigade, District of Memphis, 5th Division, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1864.

SERVICE: Served as Garrison at Corinth, Miss., till January, 1864, then on duty at Memphis, Tenn., till March, 1864. Designation changed to 55th U.S. Colored Troops March 11, 1864.

Battle of Brice's Crossroads.

"The colored troops made for themselves on this occasion a brilliant record. Their gallant and soldierly bearing, and the zeal and persistence with which they fought, elicited the warmest encomiums from all officers of the command. Their claims to be considered as among the very best soldiers of our army can no longer, in my opinion, be seriously questioned." Excerpt from report by Major General C. C. Washburn, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tennessee, July 20, 1864.

Four men from Williamson County have been identified as having served in the 55th US Colored Infantry:

• Pvt. Obed Carlton was born in Williamson County around 1837. He enlisted in Company A on May 15, 1863 in Corinth, Mississippi. Pvt. Carlton was captured at Gun Town, Mississippi June 10, 1864  [the Battle of Brice's Crosssroads] and returned to his unit (escaped from POW camp) Aug 1, 1864. He mustered out Dec 31, 1865 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

• Pvt. John Collyer [Collier] was born in Williamson County around 1833. He enlisted in Company F on February 2, 1864 in Memphis, Tennessee. On May 22, 1864 he died of small pox at Memphis. No headstone has been identified for him.widow?

• Cpl. John Dodson aka John B. Baugh was born in Williamson County around 1845 to Anthony Baugh (who served in the US Navy) and Jane Dodson. He enlisted in Company F of the 55th USCI on May 5, 1863, in Corinth, Mississippi, using the name John Dodson.  He survived to muster out with his regiment in Louisiana. Soon after, he moved to Gibson County, Tennessee, where he found work as a school teacher and minister, married, and started a family. In 1874, Baugh was a delegate to the State Colored Convention in Nashville. Much of the convention's work was spent advocating for the passage of a federal Civil Rights Act, which ultimately was passed in 1875. In November 1915, at the age of 73, Baugh moved with his family and youngest children to Pomona, California, where he founded the Mount Zion Baptist Church, which is still in existence today. Baugh was active in veterans and civic organizations until his death in 1939 at the age of 93. 

• Pvt. George Brown was born in Williamson County around 1828. He was either sold or taken to Mississippi where he was enslaved in Reipley, Mississippi. He enlisted in Company I on November 19, 1863 in Pocahontas, Tennessee.  He survived to muster out Dec. 31, 1865 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Following the War, he settled in Friars Point, Mississippi where he married and raised a family. He died in nearby Clarkdale, MS on July 21, 1885. No burial site has been located. His widow applied for and received his pension.

Resources:

• Battle Unit Details, NPS

• Regimental and Company Books of the 55th U.S. Colored Troops Infantry Regiment

• Approved Pension File for Sergeant Jerry Sutton (alias Jerry Suter), Company E, 55th U.S. Colored Troops Infantry Regiment (C-2472033)

• Approved Pension Application File for the Dependent of Calvin Newlan, Company K, 55th USCT Infantry Regiment (Application No. WC87446)

• Approved Pension Application File for Hixie Pride, Widow of James Pride, Company A, 55th USCT Infantry Regiment (Application No. WC92942)

• Approved Pension Application File for Minney Spright, Mother of Perry Spright, Company I, 55th USCT Infantry Regiment (Application No. WC112579)

• Approved Pension Application File for Ellen Brown, widow of George Brown.