More info on this regiment-My gg-grandfather Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield was a member of the Miller County, Wildcats.

The 55th Regiment completed its organization at Camp Randolph, Georgia in July 1862. Many of the men were raised in Hall, Walker, and Jackson Counties. They were sent to East Tennessee. More than 540 officers and men were captured on September 10, 1863 at Cumberland Gap. After being exchanged, it was placed on detached duty guarding prisoners at Camp Sumter, Georgia and later at Florence, South Carolina and Salisbury, North Carolina. During January 1865, there were 90 men at Florence, but the records do not give the number at Salisbury. Cols. C. B. Harkie and A. W. Persons, and Maj. D. S. Printup were its commanders. (Ref. A Georgia Soldier in the Civil War, by Robert Duncan) (Units of the Confederate State Army, by Joseph Crute) (Information received from Iva Rutledge)

The 55th Georgia Infantry Regiment was organized on May 17, 1862 at Camp Randolph, Georgia. The 1,008 men initially comprising the regiment came primarily from Hall, Jackson, and Walker Counties, Georgia. The unit was surrendered at Cumberland Gap on September 9, 1863. Those not captured (my gg Grandpa, Wilson L. McMullen was captured along with 2/3 of his company) were consolidated into three companies and served as guards at the POW camps at Andersonville, Georgia and Saulisbury, North Carolina. These companies were surrendered by General Jospeh E. Johnston on April 26, 1865 at Durham Station, Orange County, North Carolina. (Ref. Sheila Tindle)

This regiment went on a scout of five days into Kentucky, March 2, 1863, in company with "Hart's Cavalry." The right wing left Cumberland Gap, Tennessee March 30, 1863. Arrived at Clinton, Tennessee April 2, 1863. Left there for Big Creek Gap to meet a reported advance of the enemy. Remained in that vicinity, and near Jackson, Tennessee for four day. Saw nothing of the enemy. Returned to Clinton, Tennessee. (Ref. MOA)

A large portion of the 55th Regiment Georgia Infantry was captured at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee September 9, 1863. That portion of the regiment on detached service and detailed hospitals, having been ordered by the Secretary of War as Guards to prisons, was organized with three companies as follows. Company B. was composed of remnants of Companies F, G, and I under command of Lt. Thornton, assisted by Lt. Etheridge and Jr. 2nd Lt. J. N. Jackson by order of A. W. Parsons, Colonel Commanding Post. (Ref. MOA)

Greater part of this regiment was captured at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee September 1863. On February 24, 1864, that part of the regiment not captured was consolidated into a detachment of three companies, A., B., and C., known as "Detachment of 55th Regiment Georgia Infantry." (Ref. MOA)

Troops of the Department of the Ohio

The Confederate garrison at Cumberland Gap consisted of 2,500 men under the command of Brig. Gen. John W. Frazer.

Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, commanding the Department of Ohio, determined upon the reduction of the place and sent Brig. Gen. J. M. Shackelford with his cavalry brigade to invest the south side of the gap. At the same time a new division of infantry, commanded by Col. J. F. De Courcy, was ordered to occupy the north side of the mountain.

Shackelford reached his position at 8:00 A. M. on the 8th and immediately demanded the surrender of the garrison. This demand was refused and a few hours later De Courcy appeared on the north side of the gap and made similar demand.

In the meantime Burnside himself, with Gilbert's Brigade, Hascall's Division, 23rd Corps, left Knoxville, and after a march of 60 miles in 52 hours joined the forces before the gap on the morning of the 9th.

A third demand for the surrender of the garrison was now made and this time it was complied with, the entire Confederate force surrendering as prisoners of war.

At the same time there fell into Burnside's hands 36 pieces of artillery, about 3,000 stands of small arms, large quantities of ammunition, commissary and quartermaster stores, etc.

The occupation of Cumberland Gap placed the Union forces in possession of all the important points in eastern Tennessee. (Ref. "The Union Army, vol. 5, p. 333.) (April 2000)