On the 4th of July, 1865, while stationed at Louisville, Kentucky, the remnants of the 20th Corps were visited by General William T. Sherman and congratulated for their conduct. By the 11th of July, the rolls were completed and the 55th Ohio was mustered out of service. The next day, the regiment left Louisville for Cleveland, Ohio, being saluted by the members of the 73rd Ohio Infantry, with whom they had brigaded with for so long.Upon reaching Cleveland, the regiment made camp for the final time while all the necessary pay rolls and paperwork were filled out. Finally, at noon on the 20th of July, 1865, the regiment was drawn up in line for the last command. The following is told by Hartwell Osborne, the regimental historian . . . "The names of more than 500 officers and men were on the rolls, but absences on sick leave, in hospital, and on detached service had reduced the number of fit for duty; only 298 officers and men of the 1,384 who had at one time or another been counted as members of the regiment.
"Colonel E. H. Powers made a short address as follows:
'Officers and soldiers of the Fifty-Fifth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry: The hour has come when this regiment is to disband, and its members to return to civil life. Its history as an organization is completed. When you break ranks now, there will be no longer a Fifty-Fifth Regiment in existence. You will then, each and all, be private citizens of this great nation which you did so much to preserve from destruction. Let it be the proud aim of every member of this grand regiment to return to civil life better prepared, if need be, to discharge the duties of citizenship than before joining the army, because the sacrifices made to preserve our liberties have been so great that we are better fitted to properly appreciate their value.'The Fifty-Fifth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry is one that Ohio may well be proud of. It participated in many great battles of the war, and scores of smaller engagements, as well as in some of the severest marches. It was many times on short rations; but notwithstanding its great loss of life in killed and died of wounds, its loss by disease and the hardships of camp-life was very small - the percentage of desertions much less than is ordinarily the case in regiments that see such hard service.
'It was the Fifty-Fifth's great privilege to serve at the front during four years of as hard fighting as this world has ever seen, and the service was rendered cheerfully and joyfully. We soldiered in the Eastern Army two years, and in the Western Army two years, and in both were always at the front, and we know what active campaigning means. We can proudly point to our record of deeds well done. Many of our brave comrades - Colonel Gambee, officers and men - have given their lives to perpetuate our glorious Union, while we have been graciously spared. Let us keep their memories green; and as we return to our several homes, let us show to our neighbors, and the world that patriotic citizen-soldiers are not necessarily demoralized and unfit for the ordinary avocations of life by war's desolutions
'With these parting words I now declare the Fifty-Fifth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry disbanded.'
"There was a moments pause, the company officers gave the command 'Break Ranks!' - and the long term of patriotic service was ended. The members of the regiment hastened to join their friends, some of whom had come to Cleveland to see the final ceremony, and others of whom had gone to seek them at their homes, where many a joyful reunion took place."
John Brown!
Sources:
Trials And Triumphs: The Record Of The Fifty-Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry
by Captain Hartwell Osborne And Others, A.C. McClurg & Co., 1904All Brave And True: A History Of The Marches And Battles Of The 55th Ohio (Veteran) Volunteer Infantry Regiment by Dan Munson, March 1987, (2nd Edition)