April 14 the men witnessed the raising of the Union flag at Fort Sumter on the 4th anniversary of its surrender. Soon the regiment was united again at Summerville, and remained near there until the men were paid up. It started homeward October 6th, and was disbanded and mustered out on Hart's Island, New York Harbor, November 10th, but a number of the men whose terms had expired had been discharged on July 5th.
During its last campaign in South Carolina the distances the regiment had traversed were about as follows: Beaufort to Morris Island, seventy miles; to Coosawatchie by way of Honey Hill and Deveaux Neck, ninety miles; to Charleston, seventy miles; to Santee River and return, eighty miles; Kingsville raid, 390 miles; to Newberry by way of Orangeburg and Columbia, 166 miles; to Chester, forty-five miles; to Charleston by way of Winsboro, Columbia and Florence, 205 miles—all during the regiment's last year of service.
The regiment arrived in New York City October 20, 1865, was quartered in the Battery barracks until November 9, was paid up and discharged November 10.
From first to last there were 2,176 men and boys enlisted and assigned to the 56th regiment.
The incomplete record shows the names of forty-one killed in battle, twenty-three died of wounds; 216 died of disease; 170 wounded and recovered; 415 discharged for disability and wounds; sixty-seven transferred to other commands; five captured and paroled.
Following is a list of the engagements in which the regiment took part:
Engagements of the Fifty-sixth.
1. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 15 to May 4, 1862.
2. Lee's Mills, Va., April 28, 1862.
3. Williamsburgh, Va., May 5, 1862.
4. Bottoms and Turkey Island Bridge, Va., May 23, 1862.
5. Savage Station, Va., May 25, 1862.
6. Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.
7. Seven Days' Battle, June 25 to July 2, 1862.
8. Railroad and Bottoms Bridge, Va., June 28 and 29, 1862.
9. White Oak Swamp Bridge, Va., June 30, 1862.
10. Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862.
11. Carter's Hill, Va., July 2, 1862.
12. Woods' Cross Roads, Va., Dec. 14, 1862.
13. Seabrook Island, S. C., June 18, 1863.
14. Grimball's Landing, S. C., July 16, 1863.
15. Siege of Fort Wagner, S. C., July 18, 1863.
16. Siege of Charleston, S. C., August and September, 1863.
17. Johns Island, S. C., July 1 to 10, 1864.
18. Honey Hill, S. C., Nov. 30, 1864.
19. Coosawhatchie, S. C., Dec. 3, 1864.
20. Boyd's Point, S. C., Dec. 5, 1864.
21. Deveaux Neck, S. C., Dec. 6, 1864.
22. Deveaux Neck, S. C., Dec. 7, 1864.
23. Deveaux Neck, S. C., Dec. 9, 1864.
24. Deveaux Neck, S. C., Dec. 19, 1864.
25. Deveaux Neck, S. C., Dec. 29, 1864.
26. Manningsville, S. C., April 8, 1865.
27. Dingle's Mills, S. C., April 9, 1865.
REGIMENTAL AND COMPANY OFFICERS.
COLONELS.