On the 10th of October, 1861, the 55th Ohio Volunteer infantry was officially established at Camp McClellan, one and a half miles west of the town of Norwalk, Ohio, on the Isaac Underhill farm on high ground overlooking the Huron River. On the same date, Lieutenant Colonel George H. Safford issued the following orders:

General Order Number One
Headquarters 55th Reg. O.V.U.S. Army.
Camp McClellan, Oct. 10, 1861

By command of Lieut. Col. G.H. Safford,
D. F. Wolf, Adjutant,
No Colonel of this regiment having reported for duty, Lieut. Col. Safford hereby assumes command.

In entering upon the duties of the organization of this regiment he trusts that every individual of the command fully appreciates the importance of observing the first duty of a soldier: Obedience to command - without which there can be no efficiency.

Cleanliness is next in importance and captains of companies are especially enjoined to see that men under their charge pay especial attention to the duty with this view - frequent inspection will be made to see that the request is complied with. The hair will be kept short.

The officers are required to appear at all times in uniform when on duty.

No member of the regiment will be permitted to leave their quarters until in camp, and after which time the camp except on duty, without a written consent setting forth the necessity of absence, signed by the company commander, countersigned by the Col. or Adjutant, and with officer's verbal authority, for a time less than twelve hours, when they must register their name with the adjutant when and time of return, in a book to be kept for that purpose, for longer time the army regulations will be strictly followed.

The attention of the regiment is called to the Articles of War that will be read to them from time to time and especially to those portions relating to desertion, profanity and drunkenness, the observance of the Sabbath. Officers are enjoined to surpress all irregularities.

The following calls are established until further notice:
1st. Reville at 6 A.M.
2nd. Breakfast, 6:30 to 7:30 A.M. alternating each day with the several companies assigned.
3rd. Drill at 8 A.M.
4th. Guard mounting at 8:15 A.M.
5th. Recall at 9 A.M.
6th. Drill for officers, 2 P.M.
7th. Drill, 10 A.M.
8th. Recall, 11:30 a.m.
9th. Dinner, 12 A.M. to 1 P.M.
10th. Drill, 3 P.M.
11th. Recall, 5 P.M.
12th. Supper, 5 and 6 P.M.
13th. Reville at sunset.
14th. Tattoo, 8:30 P.M.
15th. Taps, 9 P.M.

All commissioned officers are expected to attend Reville, Tatto and Roll Call as often as possible when it will not interfere with their duties as recruiting officers.

The companies continued to grow and the rigors of camp life and drill were established.

Sources:
Trials And Triumphs: The Record Of The Fifty-Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry
by Captain Hartwell Osborne And Others, A.C. McClurg & Co., 1904

All 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)

The Firelands Pioneer, The Magazine of the Firelands Museum, Norwalk, Ohio. Submitted by John Doing.

 

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