20th South Carolina Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * South Carolina

1862
January 11 The 20th South Carolina Infantry Regiment was organized at Orangeburg for 12 months service under the command of Colonel Lawrence M. Keitt, Lieutenant Colonel Olin M. Dantzler and Major A. Mimms. Assigned to the 2nd Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
Company  A – Captain Stephen M. Boykin
Company B – Captain Jas. M. Jones
Company C – Captain G. Leaphart
Company D – Captain J.A. Cowan
Company E – Captain P.A. McMichael
Company F – Captain R.V. Danelly
Company G –  Captain J.M. Kinard
Company H – Captain E. Kinsler
Company I – Captain W.D.M. Harkins
Company K – Captain J.M. Partlow
March 4 Moved to James Island, near Secessionville
April 4 Captain Boykin was promoted to major. R. L. Herriot was promoted to captain and took command of the company.
April 7
Charleston Harbor

Four companies of the regiment withstood bombardment from Federal ironclads on Sullivan’s Island and while manning the siege guns on Battery Marshall.
April 29 Reorganized for the duration of the war under the command of Colonel Lawrence M. Keitt, Lieutenant Colonel Olin M Dantzler and Major Stephen Boykin.
Company A – Captain Partlow
Company B – Captain McMicheal
Company C – Captain Leaphart
Company D – Captain Danley
Company E – Captain Cowen
Company F – Captain Kinard
Company G – Captain Moseley
Company H – Captain Ruff
Company I – Captain Gunter “Gunter Company*”
Company K – Captain Harmon
Company M – formed as “Keitt’s Mounted Rifles”
* Company I’s captain, three lieutenants, seven NCOs, and 17 enlisted men were named Gunter, hence “the Gunter Company.”
June-December Assigned to the 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
December-July Assigned to the 2nd Sub-division, 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
1863
July-September Assigned to the 3rd Sub-division, 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The regiment lost lost 9 men killed and 24 wounded on Morris Island out of 24 officers and 283 enlisted men available for duty.
August-September
Charleston Harbor
August 30 When returning by steamer from pickett duty on Morris Island their steamer was misidentified as a Federal ironclad and came under bombardment from Confederate batteries.  Sixteen men were killed or drowned.
September-May Assigned to the 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
1864
April 29 Lieutenanr Colonel Dantzler was transferred to the 22nd South Carolina Infantry Regiment. Major Boykin was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Captain John M. Partlow of Company A was promoted to major.
May 25-30 Moved to Virginia and assigned to Kershaw’s Brigade, Kershaw’s Division, 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. The regiment mustered over 1,000 men.
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor

The regiment lost 10 men killed, 44 wounded and 6 missing in a charge against entrenched Federal cavalry  with repeating rifles. Colonel Keitt was mortally wounded leading the charge. Lieutenant Colonel Stephen M. Boykin was promoted to colonel. Lieutenant Colonel Dantzler, who had been with the regiment until April 29, was killed. Paul A. McMichael was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
June
Siege of Petersburg
July 28
Battle of Deep Bottom

Major Partlow was wounded.
August Assigned to Kershaw’s-Conner’s Brigade, Kershaw’s Division
September 3 & 13
Berryville
September-October Assigned to Conner’s Brigade, Kershaw’s Division, Army of the Valley District
October 1
Hupps Hill
October 7 Near Port Republic
October 14
Near Strasburg

Lieutenant Colonel Paul A. McMichael was captured.
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek

The regiment lost 11 men killed, 76 wounded (many of whom were captured) and 59 missing (captured unwounded.) Colonel Boykin was wounded and captured.
November-January Returned to the Richmond area and was assigned to Kennedy’s Brigade, Kershaw’s Division, 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
1865
January-February Moved to the Salkehatchie River Line in South Carolina. Assigned to Kennedy’s Brigade, McLaws’s Division, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
February-April
Carolinas Campaign

Assigned to Kennedy’s Brigade, McLaws’s-Walthall’s Division, Hardee’s Corps
March 16
Battle of Averasboro
March 19-21
Bentonville

The regiment lost 7 casualties. It would report 243 men available after the battle.
April 9 The regiment consolidated with the 2nd South Carolina Infantry Regiment and parts of the1st, 2nd, 6th, and 7th Battalions of Blanchard’s South Carolina Reserves to form the (new) 2nd South Carolina Infantry Regiment.
April 26
Greensboro

The 20th South Carolina Infantry Regiment surrendered with the Army of Tennessee. They would receive their paroles on May 2.