Overview
The 20th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment from Ohio that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Columbus, Ohio, between August 19 and September 21, 1861, this regiment was mustered in for a three-year term. The unit participated in major campaigns in the Western Theater and was noted for its steadfastness in several significant engagements.
This unit is distinct from the 20th Ohio Infantry (Three Months’ Service).
Organization & Service
The 20th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Columbus, Ohio, from August 19 to September 21, 1861. After mustering in, the regiment was initially assigned to guard duty at various batteries near Covington and Newport, Kentucky, during the winter of 1861–1862.
In February 1862, the regiment participated in the battle of Fort Donelson, Tennessee. The following month, it fought at the battle of Shiloh, suffering notable losses. On August 30, 1862, at Bolivar, Tennessee, the 20th Ohio, along with elements of the 78th Ohio and the 2nd Illinois Cavalry, held off a Confederate force under General Armstrong for an entire day.
The regiment assisted in driving Confederate forces from Iuka and took part in the engagement at the Big Hatchie River. In the spring of 1863, the 20th Ohio moved south and fought at the battle of Raymond, Mississippi, incurring significant casualties. At the battle of Champion’s Hill, the regiment held its ground under heavy pressure until reinforced. It then participated in the crossing of the Big Black River and supported the assaulting party during the siege of Vicksburg.
After the fall of Vicksburg, the regiment camped at Bovina Station before joining Sherman’s forces at Jackson, Mississippi. In January 1864, a majority of the regiment reenlisted as veterans and subsequently participated in the Meridian Expedition. After a furlough, the 20th Ohio joined the Atlanta Campaign, including the assault on Kennesaw Mountain and the battles before Atlanta. The regiment suffered heavy losses on July 22, 1864, and was engaged at Jonesboro and Lovejoy’s Station.
The regiment marched with Sherman’s army during the March to the Sea, participated in the siege of Savannah, and continued through the Carolinas Campaign until the surrender of Confederate forces. The 20th Ohio left Raleigh on May 1, 1865, marched via Richmond to Washington, D.C., and was then sent to Louisville, Kentucky, before being mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, on July 15, 1865.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Fort Donelson (February 1862)
- Shiloh (April 1862)
- Bolivar, Tennessee (August 1862)
- Iuka (September 1862)
- Big Hatchie River (October 1862)
- Raymond, Mississippi (May 1863)
- Champion’s Hill (May 1863)
- Big Black River (May 1863)
- Siege of Vicksburg (May–July 1863)
- Jackson, Mississippi (July 1863)
- Meridian Expedition (February 1864)
- Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864), including Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta (July 22), Jonesboro, and Lovejoy’s Station
- March to the Sea (November–December 1864)
- Siege of Savannah (December 1864)
- Carolinas Campaign (1865)
Casualties
According to Fox’s Regimental Losses and official reports, the 20th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) suffered the following losses:
- Killed or mortally wounded: 6 officers, 86 enlisted men
- Died of disease: 2 officers, 210 enlisted men
- Total deaths: 304
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Charles Whittlesey
- Colonel Manning F. Force
- Lieutenant Colonel James N. McElroy
- Lieutenant Colonel John C. Fry
- Lieutenant Colonel Harrison Wilson
- Major Edward C. Downs
- Major Francis M. Shaklee
- Major Peter Weatherby
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of the 20th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides details on enlistment, rank, and service record for each member of the regiment.
To view the full roster, visit the 20th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 7, 10, 17, 24, 32, 38, 39
- Ohio Roster Commission, “Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion”
- Dyer, Frederick H., “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion”
- Fox, William F., “Regimental Losses in the American Civil War”
- “The Union Army,” Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 2