On the 10th of December, 1864, the 55th Ohio, along with the rest of Sherman's army, came upon the defenses of Savannah, Georgia. The 55th Ohio was not involved in the action at Fort McAllister, being engaged primarily in keeping watch on the enemy's lines until they should decide to quit the city. They didn't have long to wait. By the 21st, with the fall of Fort McAllister and the successful junction of Sherman and the Union fleet, Confederate General William J. Hardee, in command of the rebel forces in the city, knew he could not hold on to Savannah. So, on this date, while a route of escape remained open, he quietly evacuated his troops, heading into South Carolina. During Sherman's occupation of Savannah, the 55th Ohio and its brigade were apparently camped about one mile to the northwest of the city.
General Sherman reviewed his command, appointing a separate day for each corps. The 20th Corps was reviewed on the 30th and 31st of December. By this point in the campaign, the Union soldiers had been out of touch with any form of a supply line and their uniforms were in the last stages of deterioration. Many of the troops during the review were wearing appropriated pieces of civilian attire and even some items were Confederate issue! But, as Hartwell Osborne later wrote in the regimental history, "There was not much display in the way of dress, but the troops had their arms in perfect condition, their marching had the free and steady stride of the veteran, and nothing could be more perfect than their alignment. General Sherman himself, who was often rather careless in dress upon the march, was resplendent in full dress, and presented a commanding and inspiring presence as he returned the salutes and cheers of his admiring columns."
The 3rd Division of the 20th Corps attempted after the review to move over to the Carolina shore but was hampered by rain and had to wait until the 1st of January to cross over.
.Sources Trials and Triumphs by Hartwell Osborne, 1904
All Brave and True by Dan Munson, 1986