20th North Carolina Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * North Carolina

“10th Infantry Regiment Volunteers”

1861
July The 20th North Carolina Infantry Regiment was organized as the 10th Infantry Regiment Volunteers at at Smithfield and Fort Caswell. It was under the command of Colonel Alfred Iverson, son of a U.S. Senetor and fiery sessionist; Lieutenant Colonel Frank Faison, and Major William H. Toon. It was assigned to the Department of North Carolina.

Company A – “The Cabarrus Guards” – Cabarrus County – Captain Nelson Slough
Company B – “Cabarrus Black Boys” – Cabarrus County – Captain Jason B. Atwell
Company C – “Fair Bluff Volunteers” – Columbus County – Captain Burrel Smith
Company D – “Columbus Guards” – Columbus County – Captain John B. Stanly
Company E – “Confederate Grays” – Columbus County – Captain Claudius B. Denson
Company F – “Holmes Riflemen” – Sampson County – Captain Owen L. Chesnutt
Company G – “Brunswick Guards” – Brunswick County – Captain John S. Brooks
Company H – “Independent Blues” – Sampson County – Captain Uz. W. Cox
Company I – “Sampson Greys” – Sampson County – Captain Franklin J. Faison
Company K – “Columbus Guards No. 2” – Columbus County – Captain William H. Toon
August 10 Mustered into Confederate Service.
September-June Garrison duty assigned to District of Cape Fear, Department of North Carolina.
November 14 Redesignated 20th North Carolina Infantry Regiment.
1862
May 31 Moved to Virginia mustering 1,012 men and posted along the Williamsburg Road.
June-September Assigned to Garland’s Brigade, D.H. Hill’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia.
June 25 King’s School House
June 25-July 1
Seven Days Battles
June 26
Beaver Dam Creek
June 27
Gaines Mill

The regiment fought Sykes’ Regulars. Colonel Iverson was badly wounded leading the regiment in a charge on a Federal battery. Lieutenant Colonel Frank Faison was killed and Captain Thomas Toon was wounded. Major William Toon was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Slough of Company A was promoted to major. The two Toons were half brothers.
June 30
White Oak Swamp
July 1
Malvern Hill
September 14
Battle of South Mountain

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Iverson, who had returned after recovering from his wound at Gaines’ Mill. Captain Arwell of company B was killed leading the skirnishers. After Brigadier General Garland was mortally wounded the entire brigade left the field. The regiment is honored on the North Carolina monument at Fox’s Gap.
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

Garland’s Brigade again broke after fighting at the Bloody Lane. Colonel Iverson rallied the regiment later in the afternoon.

From the marker on the Antietam battlefield just south of the Cornfield:

On the night of September 16, Garland’s Brigade bivouacked in the fields southeast of Roulette’s house. Early on the 17th, it moved to the support of Ripley and Colquitt, crossed the Smoketwon Road a few feet east of this point, made effort to form on Colquitt’s right, but was thrown into confusion and halted in the woods, under cover of boulders, rock ledges and rolling ground, a few yards in advance of this. The advance of Greene’s Division, Twelfth Corps, struck it in the flank and caused it to retire in disorder across the Mumma fields; a part of the Brigade rallying in the west end of the Sunken Road and joining a remnant of Colquitt’s Brigade, the remainder retreating to Sharpsburg, where it was partially rallied and assisted Evans’ Brigade in checking the advance of the Federals on and south of the Boonsboro Pike.

The regiment lost 11 men killed and 30 wounded in the Maryland Campaign.
September Assigned to Garland’s-Iverson’s-Johnston’s Brigade, D.H. Hill’s-Rodes’ Division, Jackson’s Command-2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
October 30 Left camp at Bunker Hill.
November 3 Arrived at Upperville
November 5-6 Arrived at Front Royal and forded the Shenandoah at night in the heavy snow.
November Colonel Iverson was promoted to brigadier general and given permanent command of the brigade.
December Went into camp at Corbin’s Farm at Port Royal.
December 12 After cooking two days rations left Corbin’s farm and reached Fredericksburg after dark.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg

Held in reserve at Hamilton’s Crossing. The regiment was commanded by Major Slough and lost 3 men wounded.
December Lieutenant Colonel William Toon resigned. Major Slough was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
1863
February 26 Thomas F. Toon

Captain Thomas F. Toon of Company K was elected colonel. Captain John S. Brooks of Company G was promoted to major.
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment lost 77 casualties. Colonel Toon was wounded three times and Lieutenant Colonel Nelson Slough took command. In Company F the Wilson twins were killed at each other’s side.
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Nelson Slough. He was wounded on July 1 in the attack on Oak Ridge, and Major John S. Brooks temporariy took command until he was also wounded. Captain Lewis T. Hicks then commanded the regiment.

The 20th North Carolina brought 372 men to the field and lost 29 men killed and 93 wounded, almost all in a few minutes time in the disastrous charge on Oak Ridge on July 1. Two hundred men were captured along with the regimental colors, but the colors and a number of prisoners were recaptured by the 45th North Carolina.
July 6
Battle of Hagerstown
October-November
Bristoe Campaign
October 11
Raccoon Ford and Stevensburg

Buford’s cavalry was repulsed and driven across the river.
November
Kelly’s Ford
November-
December
Mine Run Campaign
December Winter quarters was at Taylorville near Hanover Junction guarding the railroad bridges over the rivers.
1864
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness

Arrived on the field on the 6th and supported Gordon’s attack, capturing Federal General Seymour.
May 7 Marched to Spotsylvania Court House through the heat of the burning woods, arriving at night.
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Colonel Thomas Toon was wounded and Major Brooks was killed during the fighting on the 12th for the Mule Shoe. Captain D.J. DeVane of Company I was promoted to major.
May Assigned to Johnston’s Brigade, Early’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
May 22-26
Battle of North Anna
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June
Lynchburg Campaign

Assigned to Johnston’s Brigade, Early’s-Ramseur’s-Pegram’s Division, Army of the Valley. Colonel Toon took command of Johnston’s Brigade.
June 18 Arrived at Lynchburg and skirmished with Hunter’s Federals.
July 4 Arrived at Harpers Ferry.
July 9
Battle of the Monocacy
July 10 Passed through Rockville, Maryland.
July 11 Within sight of the Capitol dome. Skirmished with Federals “in long, dress, broadcloth coats,” office clerks and stragglers.
July 12 Retreated across the Potomac to Virginia.
July 20
Stephenson’s Depot

Fought with Crook and Averill. “We were literally run over.”
July 24
Second Battle of Kernstown
September 19
Third Battle of Winchester

Formed square to defend against Federal Cavalry until relieved by Fitz Lee’s cavalry.
September 22
Battle of Fisher’s Hill
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek
December 9
Siege of Petersburg

Returned to the main army around Richmond and assigned to Johnston’s Brigade, Pegram’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Colonel Toon was in the hospital for much of December, and Major Duncan J. Devane commanded the regiment.
1865
February 5-7
Hatchers Run
March 25
Fort Stedman

Colonel Toon was badly wounded, the last of seven wounds suffered in the war. Lieutenant Pleasant A. Smith commanded the regiment.
April 6
Saylor’s Creek
April 7
Farmville
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The 20th North Caroina surrendered 4 officers and 71 enlisted men.