On August 8th, 1862, General Franz Sigel's 1st Corps departed Sperryville to link up with forward elements of the Union Army of Virginia near Culpepper Courthouse. The next day was the battle of Cedar Mountain as the forces of General Nathaniel Banks and Irwin McDowall fought "Stonewall" Jackson's Confederates. Sigel's corps, however, dawdled on the road and did not arrive until after dark and the fighting had ceased. The 55th Ohio had two men wounded in minor brushes with the rebs.From August 14th to the 18th, General John Pope discovered that the Confederates were trying to trap him between the Rapidan and Rappahannock Rivers and so began to concentrate his forces north of the Rappahannock. On the 19th, the 24 men of the 55th Ohio's regimental band were discharged as well as a small detail was dispatched back to Ohio for recruiting purposes.
From August 20th to the 25th, Sigel's 1st Corps began a series of maneuvers to move eventually from Warrenton northwards to Gainesville to cut off what Pope believed was a "raid" by Jackson in his rear (after "Jeb" Stuart's cavalry raided Catlett's Station on the 22nd and made off with one of Pope's uniforms).
August 29th began the battle of Second Bull Run. Whilst Pope and Lee were slugging it out on the old Manassas battlefield, General Schenk's division spent the day marching through Gainesville heading towards Manassas junction. Four miles east of the town, the division turned east towards Bull Run Creek.
On the next day, Nathaniel C. McClean's "Ohio Brigade" was initially posted in rear of Dogan's Farm with its left flank resting on the Warrenton Turnpike. Later in the afternoon, the brigade was ordered towards Chinn Ridge (Bald Hill) to link on General John Reynolds' division. Almost immediately, Reynolds' troops were ordered to withdraw back to the Warrenton Turnpike leaving the flank exposed. Confederate General James Longstreet chose this moment to attack the Union left. As he hit the rear of Reynolds' column, the fugitives streamed en masse over the Ohio Brigade's position. McClean quickly positioned his units for the assault that was to come. The layout was as follows: the 73rd Ohio on the left resting on the fence of the Chinn house, the 25th Ohio, Weidrich's battery in the center, the 75th Ohio and the 55th Ohio holding the extreme right of the line. From this position, the brigade watched the complete destruction of the 5th New York Zoaves.The Confederates moved to the right in order to avoid Union artillery fire coming from Dogan Ridge and came out of the woods on McClean's left flank, the most vulnerable spot. Confederate general John B. Hood's "Texas Brigade" came crashing down on the 73rd Ohio but the attack became somewhat disorganized because several structures broke up their lines. The Ohioans poured a galling fire into them and sent them running to the rear. The rebels came on again and themselves began to pour in a terrible fire upon the boys in blue. Since this was the first stand-up, open field fighting the brigade had ever done, they wanted to make a good show of it. However, the Confederate fire was so great that the 73rd and 25th Ohio became disorganized and fell back to the top of the ridge.
Weidrich's battery now became exposed and, on seeing their danger, limbered their guns and fled. Now the 55th and 75th Ohio were all alone on the hill. McClean ordered these regiments to change front from right to left to meet the enemy. But with the fugitives of the 25th Ohio and Weidrich's battery rushing through their ranks, the 75th Ohio could not get organized and fought as a mob. Colonel John C. Lee of the 55th Ohio wheeled the regiment from right to left into line of battle with remnants of the 25th and 73rd Ohio falling in on their right. Their stiff resistance stopped the advance of the 17th and 18th North Carolina regiments and they withdrew. Sometime during the fight, Color bearer Corporal William Bellamy of Company G was decapitated by a shell that also shredded the Regimental Colors.About this time a large body of troops wearing dark clothing appeared on McClean's left flank. He was assured that they were friendly troops coming to help. In reality they were rebel troops under General James Kemper. The 55th Ohio moved forward to a fence line and knelt behind it with their muskets poking through the rails. Colonel Lee was heard as saying "Stand to it, boys. Stand your ground." When the Virginians closed to within fifty yards the "buckeyes" poured into them a devastating fire tumbling dozens of men. The rebs, however, gave as much as they got and Luther Mesnard of Company D later wrote, "they poured into our ranks as terrible a musket fire as ever was faced." Division commander General Schenck rode up to offer assistance to the Ohioans but was soon struck by a ball shattering his right arm and he was carried from the field.
The 55th Ohio fought a good fight for over ten minutes but, alas, the Confederates renewed their attack with more troops and a battery of artillery on the 55th's right flank, crumpling it. Seeing the federals starting to buckle, the 7th Virginia, commanded by Colonel Waller T. Patton (his grand-nephew would be General George Patton of WWII fame) hit the 55th on the right flank. It became too much for the "60 Round Boys" and they broke, leaving their dead and wounded. McClean kept them in some order and was extremely angry that he received no support from General Pope. However, the Ohio Brigade bought the Union army time to reorganize on Henry House Hill, possibly saving the whole army. Historian John J. Hennessy, in his book Return To Bull Run wrote, "No Union brigade would play a more critical role in the battle than McClean's, and no regiment more than the 55th Ohio."
Of the 550 men the 55th Ohio took into the fight, 23 were killed, 51 were wounded and 21 were missing. Colonel Lee later reported that the conduct of the unit ". . . reflects much credit upon both men and company officers. In justice, I cannot distinguish between officers or soldiers for good behavior - - all brave and true." General Pope reported that the brigade ". . . fought with supreme gallantry and tenacity." McClean cited all his regimental commanders for ". . . great coolness and gallantry."
Sources:
Trials and Triumphs: A Record of the Fifty-Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry by Hartwell Osborne, 1904, A.C. Clurg & Co., Chicago.
War, As Viewed From The Ranks by William Keesy, 1898.
Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of 2nd Bull Run by John J. Hennessy, 1993