OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - HISTORY of 20th OVI Regiment (published 1908)
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April 6, 1999
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            OHIO TWENTIETH INFANTRY 
                 (Three Years) 

Twentieth Infantry. - (Three Years' Service.) Cols., Char- 
les Whittlesey, Manning F. Force; Lieut.Cols., James N. 
McElroy, John G Fry, Harrison Wilson; Majs., Edward C. 
Downs, Francis M. Shaklee, Peter Weatherby. This regi-
ment 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 Cov-
ington 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 Confed-
erate 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 Cham-
pion's hill, though the adjoining regiments on each flank 
were pushed back as the enemy moved up in mass, the 2Oth 
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 Vicks-
burg 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 Jack-
son. In Jan., 1864, twothirds of the men present reenlist-
ed, and in February the regiment crossed the Big Black and 
joined the celebrated Meridian expedition. After being fur-
loughed home, the regiment joined Sherman's army in the At-
lanta campaign and was engaged in the assault upon Kennesaw 
mountain. It marched with its corps to the mouth of Nick-
jack creek and a few days later reached the Confederate 
works before Atlanta. In the engagement of July 22, the reg-
iment lost 44 killed,56 wounded and 54 missing,and instan-
ces of personal daring were numerous.In the battle of Jones-
boro 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. 
Source: The Union Army, vol. 2 

The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65
-- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- 
Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. 
Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.


Bob


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