20th Ohio Infantry - 3 Years Service
​in the American Civil War

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​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.Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 2