20th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment

HISTORICAL NOTES:
This regiment was organized at Clinton and was mustered in Aug. 25, 1862. It left the state on Sept. 5 for Benton barracks, St. Louis, and from there moved to Rolla and later to Springfield where it was put in a brigade with the 37th 111., 1st la. cavalry and a section of the 1st Mo. light artillery, Col. Dye commanding. The brigade was attached to Totten's division, moved via Pond springs on a forced march about Oct. I to Spring river; thence toward Newtonia; took part in the pursuit of the enemy who had been defeated near Newtonia; proceeded thence to Cassville; participated in various movements in the vicinity of Pea ridge; moved back into Missouri about the close of October and finally went into camp at Camp Lyon. After a forced march of over lOO miles the regiment was in line of battle at Prairie Grove where it made a splendid charge up the hill against the enemy but was repulsed. Its action throughout the entire engagement was of the bravest, its loss being nearly 50 out of 270 engaged. It assisted in the capture of Van Buren, Ark., with a quantity of provisions, and returned to Prairie Grove. Gen. Schofield took command and the regiment moved with the troops to Fayetteville, participating in the marches and movements through Missouri and Arkansas until the following April when Rolla was reached. The regiment then moved to Pilot Knob, and in June to St. Genevieve, where it embarked for Vicksburg, disembarked at Young's point and took position on the 14th before the beleaguered city. It moved at the head of its division into Vicksburg on July 4 and was the first on the left of the army to plant the flag on the battlements. It started for Port Hudson but changed its course to Yazoo City and returned to Vicksburg on the 22nd. Three days later it moved to Port Hudson, where much sickness followed, thence to Carrollton and on to the vicinity of Morganza. Lieut. Col. Leake was captured with the detachment of the 19th la. and 26th Ind., told in the history of the 19th la., in the engagement at Stirling's farm. Col. Dye was in command of the brigade and Maj. Thompson took charge of the regiment. On Oct. 10, the regiment returned to Carrollton and on the 24th moved for Brazos Santiago, Tex. A week later it moved to Mustang island where it remained for seven months on garrison duty, and engaged in minor expeditions. Maj. Thompson resigned and Capt. M. L. Thompson took command temporarily. On June 24, 1864, the regiment moved to Brazos Santiago, thence to Brownsville for garrison duty, and sailed Aug. 2 for New Orleans. It then moved to Fort Gaines,^ Ala., and took part in the siege of Fort Morgan. Returning to New Orleans it proceeded to Morganza, where it was rejoined by Lieut.-Col. Leake who had been exchanged. On Oct. 12, the regiment went to Devall's Bluff, Ark., passing the time there and at Brownsville until Jan. 8, 1865, when it embarked for Kennerville, La., and on Feb. 16. reached Pensacola, Fla. At the opening of the Mobile campaign it marched for that place and took a prominent part in the operations. In the siege of Fort Blakely it was a part of the assaulting column which carried the works; and was then assigned to duty under Gen. Andrews, provost-marshal general, until mustered out July 8, 1865. Its original strength was 902, gain by recruits, 23; total, 925. OFFICERS:
Col., William McE. Dye; Lieut. -Col., Joseph B. Leake; Maj., William G. Thompson.
ROSTERS:

Company A - enrolled in Mitchell County and other counties

Company B - enrolled in Clayton County

Company C - enrolled in Dubuque and Scott County

Company D - enrolled in Clayton and Scott County

Company E - enrolled in Dubuque and Scott County

Company F - enrolled in Dubuque County

Company G - enrolled in Clayton and Scott County

Company H - enrolled in Delaware County &c.

Company I - enrolled in Dubuque County

Company K - enrolled in Delaware and Scott County

BIBLIOGRAPHY:


REFERENCES:

REF: Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
"The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 4