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20th
Ohio Regiment Infantry (3 years)
Online Books
20th
Ohio Infantry Soldier Roster - Official Roster of the Soldiers of the
State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, Volume 2, by Ohio
Roster Commission (Joseph B. Foraker, Governor, James S. Robinson, Sec'y of
State and H. A. Axline, Adjutant-General), 1886
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Twentieth Infantry. — (Three Years' Service.) Cols.,
Charles Whittlesey, Manning F. Force; Lieut. -Cols., James N. McElroy,
John C. Fry, Harrison Wilson ; Majs., Edward C. Downs, Francis M.
Shaklee, Peter Weatherby. This regiment was organized at Columbus, from
Aug. 19 to Sept. 21, 1861, to serve for three years. During the winter
it was employed in guarding several batteries in the rear of Covington
and Newport, Ky. In Feb., 1862, it participated in the battle of Fort
Donelson, Tenn., with no little credit to every man. It also
participated in the battle of Shiloh, with considerable loss, and it is
fully entitled to a share in the glory of that victory. On Aug. 30,
1862, the Confederate Gen. Armstrong, with fifteen regiments marching to
destroy railroad communications northward, was held in check the entire
day at Bolivar, Tenn., by the 20th Ohio, a portion of the 78th Ohio, and
two companies of the 2nd Ill. cavalry. The regiment assisted in driving
Price from Iuka, and in the engagement between Hurlburt and Price at Big
Hatchie river, it arrived on the field at 4 p. m., with a wagon train
loaded with supplies, having marched 28 miles since 10 a. m. The
regiment moved south the following spring, and in the battle of Raymond,
Miss., distinguished itself, losing in the engagement 12 killed and 52
wounded. At Champion's hill, though the adjoining regiments on each
flank were pushed back as the enemy moved up in mass, the 20th held its
ground without wavering till its ammunition was exhausted, then fixed
bayonets and prepared to maintain its position, but the 65th Ohio came
to its assistance from the reserve and the enemy was driven back.
Crossing the Big Black river, the regiment reached the rear of Vicksburg
and acted as support to the assaulting party. After the fall of
Vicksburg it camped at Bovina Station, but was shortly ordered to join
Sherman's army besieging Jackson. In Jan., 1864, two-thirds of the men
present reenlisted, and in February the regiment crossed the Big Black
and joined the celebrated Meridian expedition. After being furloughed
home, the regiment joined Sherman's army in the Atlanta campaign and was
engaged in the assault upon Kennesaw mountain. It marched with its corps
to the mouth of Nickajack creek and a few days later reached the
Confederate works before Atlanta. In the engagement of July 22, the
regiment lost 44 killed, 56 wounded and 54 missing, and instances of
personal daring were numerous. In the battle of Jonesboro the regiment
was on the left of the 15th corps, at a right-angle to the main line as
"refused flank," and in this position was greatly annoyed by a heavy
artillery fire. On Sept. 2 it took position on a hill near Lovejoy's
Station, where it remained for several days, exposed to some annoyance
from the enemy's sharpshooters, and finally settled down in camp on the
East Point road near Atlanta. It left Atlanta with Sherman's army ;
participated in the siege of Savannah ; then up through the Carolinas
until the surrender of Lee and Johnston put an end to its war career.
Leaving Raleigh on May 1, the regiment marched via Richmond to
Washington ; thence was sent to Louisville, Ky., and then to Columbus,
where it was mustered out on July 15, 1865.
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Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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