United States Regiments & Batteries > Indiana
The 20th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 15 officers and 186 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 113 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
1861
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July 20-22 | Organized at Lafayette, Indiana under Colonel William L. Brown, Lieutenant Colonel Charles D. Murray, Major Benjamin H. Smith and Adjutant Israel N. Stills. |
July 25 | Left for Indianapolis |
July 26 | At Camp Morton. The regiment was issued grey uniforms and elderly Springfield rifle muskets, which many men threw down in disgust. Governor Morton promised the weapons would be replaced with newer and better quality as soon as possible. |
August 2 | Mustered in and left state by train for Baltimore, Md. |
August – September | Stationed at Cockeysville, Md., guarding Northern Central R. R. to Pennsylvania line |
September | Moved to Baltimore. Colonel Brown ordered the regiment’s guns to be loaded and at half cock for the march through the city, anticipating violence from the townspeople, but the move was made without incident. |
September 26-27 | Sent by steamship from Baltimore to Fort Monroe. Then joined the expedition to Hatteras Inlet, N. C. |
September 28 | At fortifications North end of Hatteras Bank. The regiment landed without tents or supplies. |
October 1 |
Action at Chickamacomico BeachThe gunboat carrying the regiment’s supplies and heavy equipment was captured by three Confederate gunboats. Regimental Quartermaster Isaac W. Hart and a working detail of 47 men were captured. |
October 5 | Returned to Fort Hatteras |
November 3 | The regiment received the new rifles promised by Governor Morton. |
November 9 | Ordered to Fortress Monroe, Va., Dept. of Virginia |
December 28 | Lieutenant Colonel Murray resigned to become colonel of the 89th Indiana. Major Smith was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain John Van Valkenberg of Company A was promoted to major. |
1862
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January 31 | Lieutenant Colonel Smith resigned. |
February 16 | Major Van Valkenberg was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain John Wheeler of Company B was promoted to major.. |
March 8-9 | Engagement at Newport News, Va., between CSS Virginia and U.S.S. Cumberland, U.S.S. Congress and U.S.S. Monitor. The regiment aided wounded men who came ashore. |
May 10 | Occupation of Norfolk and Portsmouth. Assigned to Robinson’s Brigade, Dept. of Virginia. |
June 8 | Joined Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula; attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps |
June 19 | Charles City Cross Roads |
June 25-July 1 | Seven Days before Richmond |
June 25 |
Battle of Oak Grove (“The Orchards”)The 20th Indiana lost 144 men casualties. |
June 30 |
White Oak Swamp and Glendale1st Lieutenant John W. Andrew was killed. |
June 30 | Jordan’s Ford |
July 1 & July 5 | Malvern Hill |
July 6 | At Harrison’s Landing |
August | Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps |
August 16-28 | Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville |
August 19 | Captain James M. Lyttle of Company I died of his wounds. |
August 28 | Adjutant Israel Stiles was promoted to major of the 63rd Indiana. |
August 28 – September 2 | Pope’s Campaign in Virginia |
August 29 |
Battle of Groveton |
August 30 |
Second Battle of Bull RunColonel Brown was killed. Lieutenant Colonel Van Valkenberg was promoted to colonel, Major Wheeler was promoted to lieutenant colonel, Captain George F. Dick of Company D was promoted to major, and John F. Thomas was promoted to adjutant. |
September 1 |
Battle of Chantilly |
September 20 | Duty at Arlington Heights |
October 11 | Crossed the Potomac in pursuit of Stuart’s cavalry raid. |
October 12 | In camp at Poolesville, Maryland. |
October 29 – November 19 | Movement to Falmouth, Va. |
October 13 | Major Dick was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 86th Indiana |
October 21 | Captain James H. Shannon of Company E was promoted to major. |
December 12-15 |
Battle of Fredericksburg |
1863
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January 20-24 | Burnside’s 2nd Campaign (“Mud March”) |
January – April | At Falmouth |
February 10 | Colonel Van Valkenburg was dishonorably discharged. |
February 11 | Lieutenant Colonel Wheeler was promoted to colonel. Major Shannon was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain William C.L. Taylor of Company H was promoted to major. |
April 27-May 6 | Chancellorsville Campaign |
May 1-5 |
Battle of ChancellorsvilleThe regiment captured the 23rd Georgia Infantry. When the 3rd Corps was cut off the 20th Indiana made a bayonet charge to reestablish communication. |
May 21 | Adjutant John Thomas was promoted to Captain of Company A. |
May 27 | John Luther was promoted to adjutant. |
June 5 | Lieutenant Colonel Shannon resigned to become colonel of the 138th Indiana. |
June 6 | Major Taylor was promoted to lieutenant colonel. |
June 11-July 24 | Gettysburg Campaign |
July 1-3 |
Battle of GettysburgAt Gettysburg the regiment was commanded by Colonel John Wheeler until he was killed on July 2. Lieutenant Colonel William C.L. Taylor then took command until he was wounded, when command fell to Captain Erasmus C. Gilbreath. The 20th brought 496 men to the field, of whom 32 were killed, 114 wounded and 10 missing. Private Oliver P. Rood of company B was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Gettysburg on July 3rd for the capture of the flag of 21st North Carolina Infantry. After the battle Lieutenant Colonel Taylor was promoted to colonel, Major Meikel was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Erasmus C. Galbreath was promoted to major. |
July 5-24 | Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va. |
July 23 | Wapping Heights, Va. |
August – September | Detached at New York City during draft disturbances |
November 7-8 | Advance to line of the Rappahannock |
November 7 | Kelly’s Ford |
November 26 – December 2 | Mine Run Campaign |
November 27 | Payne’s Farm |
1864
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January 1 | 282 men reenlisted, enough to give the regiment Veteran status. Veterans left for furlough. |
February 6-7 | Demonstration on the Rapidan |
March | Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps |
May 4-June 15 | Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River |
May 5-7 |
Battle of the Wilderness |
May 8 | Laurel Hill |
May 8-21 |
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House |
May 10 | Po River |
May 12 |
Assault on the Salient (“Bloody Angle”)Captains John Thomas of Company A and Henry Quigley of Company G were killed |
May 19 |
Battle of Harris Farm (or Fredericksburg Road) |
May 23-26 | North Anna River |
May 26-28 | On line of the Pamunken |
May 28-31 |
TotopotomoyLieutenant John C. Bartholomew of Company K died of his wounds. |
June 1-12 |
Battle of Cold Harbor |
June 16-18 | First Assault on Petersburg |
June 16 | Siege of Petersburg |
June 22-23 | Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon R. R. |
July 9 | Captain Charles A. Bell of Company B was killed in front of Petersburg and Captain Lafayette Gordon died of wounds. |
July 27-29 | Demonstration on North side of the James |
July 28-29 | Deep Bottom |
August 13-20 | Demonstration on North side of the James at Deep Bottom |
August 14-18 | Strawberry Plains |
August 25 | Ream’s Station |
September 10 |
The ChimneysLieutenant Colonel Meikel was killed. |
September 29-October 2 | Poplar Springs Church |
October 2-5 | Yellow House |
October 18 | The 19th Indiana Infantry Regiment was merged into the 20th. The 20th’s Colonel William Taylor, Major Erasmus Galbreath and Adjutant John Luther mustered out. |
October 24 | Lieutenant Colonel John Lindley, formerly of the 19th Indiana, resigned, and Major William Orr, also formerly of the 19th Indiana, was promoted to colonel. |
October 27-28 | Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run |
December 7-12 | Raid on Weldon Railroad |
1865
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February 5-7 | Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run |
March 25 | Watkins’ House |
March 28 – April 9 |
Appomattox Campaign |
March 29 | Vaughan Road, near Hatcher’s Run |
March 31 | Crow’s House |
April 2 | Fall of Petersburg |
April 6 |
Battle of Sailor’s Creek |
April 7 | Farmville |
April 9 |
Appomattox Court HouseSurrender of Lee and his army. |
May 2-12 | March to Washington, D.C. |
May 23 | Grand Review |
June 14-21 | Moved to Louisville, Ky. |
July 12 | Mustered out and discharged at Indianapolis, Ind. |