Historical Notes:
The Tennessee 20th Infantry Regiment was organized during May and June, 1861, at Camp Trousdale, Tennessee, and in July contained 880 men. Its companies were raised in the counties of Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Sumner, Perry, Wayne, Humphreys, Hickman, Smith, Macon, and Wilson. It moved to Virginia, then Cumberland Gap, and later saw action at Fishing Creek , Shiloh , and Baton Rouge . After serving in the Vicksburg area, it was assigned to General Preston's, Bate's, Tyler's, and Palmer's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The 20th fought with the army from Murfreesboro to Atlanta , returned to Tennessee with Hood, and was involved in the North Carolina Campaign. It had 505 effectives in September, 1861, suffered 110 casualties at Fishing Creek, and of the 400 engaged at Shiloh, forty-seven percent were disabled. The unit lost forty-eight percent of the 183 at Chickamauga , had few casualties at Missionary Ridge, and in December 1863, totalled 203 men and 123 arms. Only a handful surrendered on April 26, 1865.
Officers:
Colonels
Joel A. Battle
William M. Shy
Thomas B. Smith
Lieutenant-Colonels
Mosco B. Carter
John S. Gooch
Frank M. Lavender
Majors
Frederick Claybrooke
Patrick Duffy
John F. Guthrie
Hency C. Lucas
Assignments:
Assigned to General Preston's, Bate's, Tyler's, and Palmer's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. Battles:
Fishing Creek – Jan 19, 1862
Shiloh - April 6-7, 1862
Baton Rouge – August 5, 1862
Murfreesboro
Chickamauga
Missionary Ridge
The Atlanta Campaign
Franklin
Nashville
The Carolina’s Campaign
Bentonville Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2075 men.
William L. Foster, Albert C. Roberts, William E. DeMoss, William G. Ewin, Co. "A". "The Hickory Guards." Men from Nashville and Davidson County.
Joel A. Battle, W. M. Clark, Thomas B. Smith, John F. Guthrie, Charles S. Johnson, Co. "B", formerly "C". Men from Nolensville and Williamson, Rutherford, and Davidson Counties.
James L. Rice, Henry C. Lucas, Co. "C", formerly "B". "The Sewanee Rifles." Men from Davidson County.
William R. Rucker, Fred Claybrooke, Patrick C. Smithson, Co. "D". Men from Williamson County.
John S. Gooch, I. H. Ralston, William T. Ridley, Co. "E", formerly "C". Men from Rutherford County, some from Williamson and Davidson Counties.
James A. Nimmo, F. M. Davis, Co. "F", formerly "E". Men from Sumner County.
J. Lewis Shy, Robert D. Anderson, James A. Pettigrew, Co. "G", formerly "K". "The Perry Guards." Men from Perry, Wayne, Humphreys, and Hickman Counties.
Moscow B. Carter, M. Fount De Graffenned, William M. Shy, Thomas I. Carrothers, Co. "H". Men from Williamson County.
Timothy F. Dodson, John H. Watkins, William Binkley, Willis H. Cotton, Co. "I", formerly "F". "The Hermitage Guards." Men from Hermitage, Davidson County.
Patrick Duffy, M. M. (or B.) Newsom, W. J. Dyer, John W. Hargis, John B. Austin, Co. "K", formerly "I". Men from Hartsville, (then in Sumner, now Trousdale County) Smith, Macon and Wilson Counties.
Bibliography for Research: