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20th
Wisconsin Infantry
| Regimental History |
| Twentieth Infantry. — Cols., Bertine Pinkney, Henry Bertram; Lieut.
Cols., Henry Bertram, Henry A. Starr; Majs., Henry A. Starr, Augustus H. Pettibone,
Almerin Gillett. This regiment was organized at Camp Randall in June and July, 1862, and
was mustered in Aug. 23. It left the state on Aug. 30, going first to Benton barracks, St.
Louis, then to Rolla, Springfield and Cassville, Mo., and Cross Hollow, Ark., the enemy
falling back at its approach. On Nov. 4 the regiment started for Wilson's creek, joined
Totten's command at Ozark on the 11th and reached Wilson's creek on the 22d. In December
it made a forced march of 100 miles in three days to Fayetteville ; was in the battle of
Prairie Grove, where it charged the heights through underbrush and captured a battery of 6
guns. The cross-fire of five regiments of the enemy compelled the 20th to retire with a
loss of 209 in killed, wounded and missing. Gen. Herron wrote Gov. Salomon: "I
congratulate you and the state on the glorious conduct of the 20th Wis. infantry in the
great battle of Prairie Grove." The regiment wintered in Missouri, moved to Vicksburg
on June 3, 1863, and took position in the trenches, where it remained until the city's
surrender. It then occupied Yazoo City as provost guard, was sent to Port Hudson July 21
and remained until Aug. 13, when it was ordered to Carrollton and Morganza. It was
ambuscaded on the Simsport road to the Atchafalaya river, but lost only 1 man. It went to
the Rio Grande on the steamer Thomas A. Scott, but encountered a violent storm and had
some difficulty in landing. It was employed in fatigue, garrison and picket duty at Fort
Brown, and was sent to Matamoras, Mex., Jan. 12, 1864, to protect the American consul and
remove American goods. On July 28 it left for New Orleans, on Aug. 11 took position at
Navy cove, and assisted in reducing Fort Morgan. On Dec. 14 it sailed for Pascagoula and
started from there towards Mobile. It routed a body of the enemy at Franklin creek on the
way, and was engaged in the vicinity of Mobile during the winter. On March 27th it went
into action against Spanish Fort, being on duty and under fire several days and nights,
and after the surrender of Mobile it remained in that section until June. It was then
ordered to Galveston, Tex., and was mustered out July 14. Its original strength was 990.
Gain by recruits, 138; substitute, 1; total, 1,129. Loss by death, 227; desertion,
41;transfer, 115 ; discharge, 222; mustered out, 524. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 4
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