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HISTORY OF THE 20th O. V. V. I. REGIMENT, AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST REUNION MT. VERNON, OHIO WOOD
Go 973.74 0h3ohi 1645424
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00825 1412
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/historyof20thovv00wood
HISTORY
-
-OF THE-
2011 0. 0. U. I. Regiment,
-AND-
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST REUNION
At mt. Vernon, Ohio,
April 6, 1876.
COMPILED AND ARRANGED FOR PUBLICATION BY D. W. WOOD, MT. VERNON, CHIO.
COLUMBUS PAUL & THRALL, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS
1876.
F8349.6406
1
1645424
To the Officers and Members of the Twentieth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment :
I submit to you the first written history of the 20th Ohio Regiment.
After a lapse of nearly eleven years we gathered at our first reunion. The cup of joy in all our hearts was made to overflow, and we passed full twelve hours in the highest state of pleasure.
Feeling and knowing that this pamphlet contains but a brief and faint outline of the true history of the. gallant old 20th Regiment, I hope what I have collected and arranged may serve to aid some one more able to write a full and complete history of the regiment. I would be proud, if my time would permit, and my ability was adequate to the task, to immortalize the bravery and heroism of the men and officers that composed the 20th Regi- ment. Trusting that this work will be accepted and duly appreci- ated by all my comrades, I herewith present my comrades with a brief history of the services of the regiment, and the proceedings of the first reunion, at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, April 6th, 1876.
Respectfully Yours,
D. W. WOOD. Mt. Vernon, Ohio, June Sth, 1876.
0
Reunion of the 20th O. D. V.
REPORT OF SECRETARY.
DELAWARE, O., January 18th, 1876.
At the preliminary meeting, Major J. H. McEl- roy was elected Chairman, and W. C. Manson elected Secretary. Capt. V. T. Hills, Co. D., W. A. Nutt, Co. E., J. E. McCrackin, Co. A. and D. W. Wood, Co. G. were appointed a Committee to select the place of holding the first reunion. After deliberation, reported in favor of Mt. Vernon, O., which report was received and adopted. On mo- tion of D. W. Wood, Co. G., the time of holding the reunion was fixed for April 6th, 1876.
According to announcement and due preparation, the surviving members of the Twentieth Regiment Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry assembled in Mt. Vernon, on Thursday, April 6, 1876. As this occasion was the first meeting of the regiment since it was disbanded at the close of the war, the at- tendance was very good, and it was estimated that fully two-thirds of the survivors were present-in all some two hundred.
The business houses and private dwellings throughout the city were gaily decorated with flags, banners and streamers, which gave assurance to the hearts of the boys, that Mt. Vernon extended them a hearty welcome to its precincts. .
After dinner the boys were ordered to form into ine before the Rowley House, and with our superb
4
Silver Cornet Band at the head, took up their line of march to the depot of the C., Mt. V. & C. Rail- road, to meet Generals M. F. Force, of Cincinnati, and M. D. Leggett, of Cleveland. After their ar- rival the line was again formed under command of Capt. D. W. Wood, and they were escorted through the streets to Kirk Hall, where the exercises of the day took place.
The hall was tastefully and appropriately decor- ated with flags, emblems, mottoes and evergreen. The stage, on one side, contained a stack of arms, the other a tasty memorial monument, while at the rear had been erected a camp tent beautifully or- namented with evergreens. On the walls at the north and south sides of the hall in gilt letters, were the names of the battles in which the regi- ment participated, as follows : Fayetteville, Golds- boro, Ackworth, Atlanta, Bolivar, Raleigh, Ken- nesaw, Jackson, Raymond, Cheraw, Iuka, Cham- pion Hill, Chattanooga,' Orangeburg, Jonesboro, Savannah, Columbia, Port Gibson, Last Point, Grand Gulf, Vicksburg, Marietta, Shiloh.
At 2 o'clock P. M., the meeting was called to order by Capt. D. W. Wood, Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements.
Col. C. Garis, of Washington, O., W. A. Nut, of Quincy, O., and J. A. Tilton, of Mt. Vernon, were chosen Secretaries.
Hon. R. C. Kirk was introduced to the meeting, and in a few well chosen remarks welcomed the members of the regiment to the hospitalities of the city.
Gen. Manning F. Force, of Cincinnati, was then introduced, and delivered the annual address, giv-
5
ing a chronological history of the regiment, from the time of its organization at Camp Chase, in 1861, until it was disbanded in Columbus, in 1865.
Col. Chas. Whittlesey, of Cleveland, the "Father of the Regiment," then came to the front, and gave a more detailed account of the organization of the regiment, and its movements up to the time of his resignation, after the battle of Shiloh.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Wm. J. McFeeley, of Mt. Vernon, volunteered and sang the "Union Forever."
Maj. Gen. M. D. Leggett, was then introduced, and entertained the audience in a speech of con- siderable length, in which he gave the 20th Regi- ment great credit for the part it took during the war, and which, as their division commander, he was enabled to do with justice and precision.
Col. Harry Wilson, the first junior Lieutenant at the organization of the regiment, and its last Colonel, was then introduced, and made a few happy remarks, calling vividly to mind the many eccentricities of different individuals. His speech was well received.
At the conclusion of the specches, the audience rose and joined in the chorus, " Rally 'Round the Flag."
A business meeting then took place, and the fol- lowing officers were elected for the ensuing year :
President-Gen. Manning T. Force.
Secretary-Col. Harry Wilson.
A committee of five was appointed to have the proceedings of the meeting published in pamphlet form, and also to procure the names of all members of the regiment who have died since its organiza-
.
6
tion, and draft suitable resolutions to their mem- ory, reporting at the next annual meeting. The following gentlemen were appointed said com- mittee: J. C. Gordon, B. A. F. Greer, D. W. Wood, J. A. Tilton, and J. G. Stevenson.
It was decided to hold the next reunion at Sid- ney, Ohio, July 22, 1877.
The President and Secretary were instructed to appoint a suitable person to deliver the next an- nual address.
Adjourned to supper.
The banquet was held at Banning Hall, which was beautifully trimmed for the occasion with flags and flowers. After doing ample justice to the delicacies prepared by the ladies, the following toasts were read and responded to in their order:
1. " The Enlisted Men."-Gen. M. F. Force.
2. " The Army of the Tennessee."-Gen. M. D. Leggett.
3. "One Union and One Flag."-Hon. R. C. Kirk.
. 4. "The Army and Navy."-Gen. Geo. W. Morgan.
5. " The Generals of the Army."-Rev. J. H. Hamilton.
6. "Gen. J. B. McPherson."-Col. Chas, Whittlesey.
7. " The Tree of Liberty," accompanied by a letter, proposed by Mrs. R. Raymond, aged 78 years-Response by Col. Harry Wilson.
8. "Our Ladies."-Capt. L. Y. Mitchell.
9. "The Bummers."-Private Leroy G. Hunt.
10. "The Officers of the 20th Ohio Regiment, and the Seven- . teenth Army Corps."-Capt. D. W. Wood.
11. " The Widows and Orphans."
It was intended that the response to this toast should be given by Chaplain Geo. W. Pepper, but that gentleman not being present, the response was omitted.
The following resolution was unanimously adopted at the conclusion of the exercises :
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Resolved, That the most hearty thanks of the Veterans of the Old 20th O. V. V. I. are due and are hereby tendered to the citi- zens of Mt. Vernon, and the Committee of Arrangements, for the magnificent reception given to us this day.
The day's festivities closed by a grand social Hop at Kirk Hall in the evening, which was largely attended by the "beauty and the chivalry." The music was good, and unalloyed pleasure reigned throughout the evening.
20th Ohio Regiment,
Field and Staff-Non-Veteran.
CHARLES WHITTLESEY, Colonel from August 19, 1861, to April 19, 1862.
M. F. FORCE, Colonel, April 19, 1862, Brigadier General, April 11, 1863.
JOHN R. BOND, Adjutant, promoted to Major 67th O. V. I., Octo- ber 1, 1861.
E. N. OWENS, Adjutant, promoted to Major 9th La. Vol., African Descent.
P. M. HITCHCOCK, Reg't Quartermaster, mustered out August 20, 1864.
E. L. HILL, Surgeon, mustered out October 11, 1864.
JAMES R. KNAPP, Chaplain, resigned April 19, 1862.
J. W. ALDERMAN, March 22, 1863.
J. G. PURPLE, Assistant Surgeon, died at Nashville, Tennessee, May 26, 1862.
A. H. HuMISTON, Sergeant Major, promoted to Lieutenant Co. D., March 31, 1862.
J. B. WALKER, Sergeant Major, promoted to Lieutenant Co. E., April 19, 1862.
W. W. MCCRACKEN, Sergeant Major, promoted to 2d Lieutenant Co. A., Nov. 2, 1862.
H. W. NEAL, Quartermaster Sergeant, discharged on Surgeon certificato.
J. G. STEPHENSON, Quartermaster Sergeant, promoted to 2d Lieu- tenant Co. E., January 28, 1863.
J. K. WILSON, Steward Hospital, died at Holly Springs, Miss., Dec. 24, 1862.
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ROSTER TWENTIETH REGIMENT OHIO VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
| No.
NAMES.
RANK.
DATE OF COMMISSION.
DATE OF MUSTER.
POST OFFICE ADDRESS.
REMARKS.
1
Harry Wilson ....
Lieut. Colonel.
Jan. 11, 1865 ...
Jan. 27, 1865 ...
Harrietsville, Ohio
Peter Wetherby ..
Major ..
April 1, 1865. April 23, 1865.
Jefferson, Ohio Chesterville, Ohio
3
11. P. Fricker
Surgeon
Oct. 12, 1864 ... April 22, 1564.
Oct. 26, 1865. May 1, 1861 ..
Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Headquarters 3d Div. 17th A. C., S. O. No. 2, Jan. 2, 1865.
66
July 25, 1864 .. Jan. 10, 1865 ..
Sept. 30, 1864. Mar 25, 1865 ..
sidney, Ohio Sidney. Ohio
Headquarters 24 Brig 3d Div. 17th A. C., S. O. No. 28, May 26, 1865.
7
James E. MeCracken
Jan. 11, 1865 ..
Jan. 28, 1865 .. Jan. 27, 1865 ..
Sidney. Ohio
9
Mount Vernon, Ohio
10 | J. C. Haines
.6
=
Aug. 20, 1802 .. April 23, 1863.
Aug. 20, 1862 .. April 23, 1863.
Englewood, N. J
Headquarters 1st Div. 17th A. C, S. O. No. 72, March 31, 1865.
14
John W. Skillen
Sidney, Ohio
Will not accept a Captain's commission.
15
T. L. Hawley
16 4
Chany Grimes
17 .
C. W. MeCracken ..
Chesterville, Ohio
18 | S. H. Reynolds ......
Sidney, Ohio ..
10 20 Jesse S. Felt
6.
"
Mount Vernon, Ohio
21
Jesse Dickenshuts ... George Thoma .
:
Feb. 15, 1865 ..
April 10, 1865.
Headquarters 2d Brig. 3d Div. 17th A. C., S. O. No. 19, April 9, 1865.
I certify that the above is a correct Roster of the Regiment.
JESSE S. FELT,
1st Lieut. and Act. Adj. 20th Ohio.
o
J. W. Guthrie
Assistant Surgeon.
Wooster, Ohio.
11 12 13
W. HI Nogle
1st Lieutenant. 1st Lient. and R. Q. M. 1st Lieutenant
April 24, 1864. May 9, 1864 ... Jan. 11, 1865 ...
May 1, 1864 ... June 17, 1864 .. April 10, 1865. Jan. 28, 1865 ... -
Buck's P. O., Columbiana Co., O. Sidney, Ohio
...
...
Mount Vernon, Ohio
...
...
Sidney, Ohio .... Gilancy, Knox Co., Ohio
22
Captain
4
William L. Waddell ..
Renben M. Colby ..... Edmund E. Nutt ......
.€
8 | Newton R. Persinger Joshua E Clark.
...
Jan. 28, 1865 ..
Sidney, Ohio
Henry O. Dwight .....
1st Lieut. and Adj .....
Chesterville, Ohio R
Dayton, Ohio
William L. Phillips ..
...
1
9
Resolutions of Respect.
WHEREAS, By the wise dispensation of Provi- dence, our beloved country has offered up a sacri- fice as an atonement for the national sin of slavery, our freedom has been secured, and our free insti- tutions perpetuated, and our country made a para- dise for the nations of the earth to concentrate and enjoy the glorious peace and happiness incident to a pure republic : and,
WHEREAS, It is right and proper that we should reverently cherish a lively recollection of the brave men who offered up their lives upon the bloody battle-field, and those who died from wounds or disease in that gigantic struggle to rescue this na- tion from the hands of its traitors ; and especially do we point with pride to the long list of names · herewith submitted, as men who made that sacri- fice necessary to complete the work of saving the union :
Resolved, That in the loss of these men we recog- nize the hand of Providence, and bow with humble submission to His divine will, but deeply mourn the sad fate of them all.
Resolved, That we admire the heroism, the pat- riotism, and true moral courage of all the dead comrades of the gallant old 20th Ohio Regiment, and the friends and relatives who mourn their loss, we commit to the hands of Him who doeth all things well. begging them to remember the great sacrifice they have made was for the good of their country's cause.
2
10
Killed and Died in Service.
COMPANY A.
W. H. Roberts Died.
Z. M. Ball
Died.
S. Brollier
66
Wm. Blackburn
P. H. Cosner 66
E. Barry
66
A. Davis
J. Carpenter
Killed.
L. B. Everats
A. Dyer ..
Died.
R. M. Fogle Killed. C. W. Galliher 66
J. Hayden
Died.
Dan. Harris
66
D. B. Janes Killed.
E. Harris
Killed.
G. M. Ranson Died.
E. Pollock
6
B. F. Wilson
Killed.
A. Skillman
H. Williams
Died.
A. J. Strong
66
A. Allison
COMPANY B.
G. H. Crawford, killed in battle. Levi Gump Died.
W. H. Brown
Died.
J. Reinhart
H. P. Hall Killed.
Benj. Bailey
Killed.
G. W. Ragan
Died.
T. M. Hall
J. H. Colman
J. Hashberger 66
John Johnson
Killed.
H. D. Much
B. Fogle
G. Pencil
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J. W. Wilson
H. O. Watts
H. Schenck
S. Wright
H. Staley
C. Baldwin
M. L. Thrush
Killed.
D. Baldwin 66
W. Walters
Died.
W. R. Campbell 66
COMPANY C.
G. A. Short
Died.
S. Roseboome
Died.
H. A. Stell
Lemuel Rightsell
66
P. B. Varner 60
C. J. Hammon 66
Wm. Miller
Killed.
T. MeClure
Ira Davis
66
O. Bucly
Peter Garris
Died.
W. A. Derby
Henry Mount
Isaac Davis 66
Jacob Rothwell
R. W. Faugh
I. W. Reed Killed.
J. A. Marion
Perry Stothart
J. R. Noral
G. H. Outen
Killed.
Joseph Stein
Died.
T. J. Goble
A. Hoffman Died.
J. C. McAlexander
G. W. Rush Died.
J. S. Schenck
John Patterson 66
11
COMPANY D.
J. W. Dear Died. Joseph Sills Died.
H. F. Gould.
66
L. C. Shuman Killed.
S. P. Hunter
H. Wilson. Died.
J. J. Herron Killed. J. W. Corwin. Killed.
M. D. Haskin Died.
Jacob Inskip
J. C. Magfield, died of wounds. F. Rowley Died.
Joel Floyd
W. P. Smith Killed.
J. S. McCoy
E. H. Saunders Died.
James R. Snodgrass
L. D. Standish ..
Killed.
COMPANY E.
Wm. Atherton. Died.
H. Buzzard
L. C. Baker Killed.
W. Workman
W. H. Clark Drowned. J. Cannavan Killed.
E. P. Downs Killed.
P. Hirsh Died.
George M. Long, killed by explosion of Steamer Sultana.
J. B. Saunders
A. Lee
H. H. Fulton, died of wounds.
W. F. Myers 66
A. McClurg
H. P. Linstead
C. Russell. 66
R. Pickard
G. Skillinger.
Died.
COMPANY F.
W. H. Coy Died.
J. Cotterral
G. Olden
Wm. Crothertiller
N. Russell
L. Ellsworth
Wm. Snanger
Wm. Edwards.
D. Vanote
Wm. Hefflemen
J. W. Vandevett
Phillip Hall 66 Elliott Mathias Killed.
Wm. Henman
(. Davenport Died.
Fred. Hines
Robt. Elliott Killed.
John Hinsker
Albert Hines.
· M. Hole
John Shaw
Thos. Jackson.
COMPANY G.
Enos Milt Died. H. H. Lockwood Killed.
George L. Mellick
S. A. Manning Died.
Saml. Davis
Isaac MeClare
J. Bostwick
16
Wm. Newton
Caleb Leedy
H. Oldaker
W. G. Balch
J. G. Pitkin
Wmn. Barrible
A. Reader
J. W. Baxter
D. F. Snider 66
J. A. Sabin 16
O. Watty Died.
T. Zimmerman
D. Mowery
Thos. Minnear Died.
16
12
J. Cochran.
Died.
W. C. Smith .. Died.
Win. Cochran 66
J. W. Tathwell .6
Samuel Cochran
Esquire Davis
66
George Duncan
Romaine White
66
Byron Dean
Jacob Waters
66
John Elder Killed.
James Dunn
T. Fitspatrick
Died.
G. M. Cochran
Jas. Grimes. 66
E. S. Boudinott
Calvin C. Hall
Joseph White
Killed.
Henry High 66
C. S. Beardsly
COMPANY H.
A. Beil
1
Died.
C. Sechler Died.
G. Canada
Killed.
H. Shively.
Killed.
Sol. Fulk Died.
Wm. Taylor
N. O. Fulk
Killed.
E. M. Quackenbush
Died.
D. F. Huxly
Died.
Joseph Fusselman ١١
A. J. Leach
Nathan Heminger Killed.
H. Lawrance Killed.
Benj. Knox
Isaac Strock
Died.
N. N. Oviatt
Lester C. Robbins
Killed.
F. Richards 66
J. M. Thomas.
S. Severns
COMPANY I.
D. L. Way Died.
Wm McClelland
Died.
T. Marion.
J. W. Newlan
G. Archer
W. H. Newlan 66
Samuel Beeny
H. Nufelt ..
A. Ball
H. Parmer 66
B. Shakleford 66
S. J. Darling J. M. Wickham 66
A. Englehart 66
W. Wells
O. Brown Killed.
R. Hughes
E. M. Evans Died.
J. A. Harbin 66 E. Campbell Killed.
A. Johnson
J. Crow Died.
P. Johns
T. G. Ailes
B. Dodds Killed.
S. Keupp
H. J. Harbin Died.
Wm. Quitt
66 H. O. Reed Killed.
J. C. Meracle
W. Trunble.
George Mercer
Clark Young Died.
P. Miller
A. N. Williams
D. Milton.
W. H. Wickham
G. McGugin
Peter McBride
66
COMPANY K.
J. W. Andrew Died. A. Lenox Killed.
S. Bryan
E. Manning 66
,
J. King
66
J. W. Garrett 66
Thos. Clogg 66
J. MeNeally
Died.
13
O. P. Bogard Died.
M. Stiugert Killed.
Thos. Baldwin
J. Wagnoy
66
C. Bunson 66
D. C. Baker
Jesse Babcock Killed.
W. D. Neal
J. O. Cole
Wm. Argood Died.
J. N. Davis
66
Wm. Dodd
J. Dalton
Thos. Gleason 66
Jesse Day 66
66
J. E. Kessler
E. S. Gallimore
66 Jas Moore .. 66
Jasper Miller 66
H. Hardisty
66
John Musshrey
J. A. Knox
Andrew Mills Died.
O. Lambort
Reunion Addresses.
After music by the Mt. Vernon Cornet Band, D. W. Wood, Chairman, addressed the comrades as follows :
Ladies, Comrades, and Friends :
This is the first reunion of the 20th Ohio Vete- ran Volunteer Regiment, after a lapse of nearly eleven years. Let me assure you that I am su- premely happy in being selected to preside over the first reunion of our regiment. I am proud of being associated with men who stood at their post of duty during the late civil war, until their coun- try needed their services no longer. I love the patriotic soldier who left his home and friends for the bloody battle field when war was raging over our country, and fought manfully in that gigantic struggle, to save and perpetuate our glorious Un- ion.
Trusting that this reunion may be soul-cheer-
C. Jelly. Killed.
P. Duwese
Fr Hankins 66
14
ing to us all, and in no wise marred by any unchar- itable sentiment or unbecoming conduct, and that I shall receive your fraternal assistance and cor- dial co-operation in all my efforts to conduct your meeting successfully, we will now proceed to the regular order of exercises.
The Hon. R. C. Kirk was then introduced, and delivered the address of welcome. I am sorry he did not furnish me with a copy of his address, for this work is incomplete without it. I have to be content with saying that it was perfectly splendid, and appropriate for the occasion.
Remarks by General Force.
On behalf of the 20th Ohio, I tender to you, sir, profound thanks for your kind greeting, and to you, ladies and gentlemen, for your warm welcome. The survivors of the regiment meet here in their first reunion since the war. As college graduates when they assemble at annual meetings, or as the scattered members of a family when they gather at some festival in the parental home, talk first of all of old times when they were young together, so we to-day instinctively, at sight of each other, turn back to the times when, in uniforms of blue, we stood side by side in camp and march and bat- tle. It will not be inappropriate, therefore, to give a rapid sketch of the history of the regiment, that you, our hosts, may come to know us better, while we indulge in reminiscenses of the past.
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15
The field and staff officers were appointed first. Companies were recruited afterwards. Colonel Whittlesey, Major Force and Quartermaster Hitchcock reported at Camp Chase in the latter part of August, 1861, and Company A soon after marched in and was mustered in on the 6th of September. Colonel Whittlesey was soon ap- pointed Engineer in Chief on the staff of General Mitchell, and the regiment recruited under the personal supervision of Lieut. Colonel Force and Major McElroy, at Camp Chase, then Camp Dennison, then in barracks in Cincinnati, then in Camp King, back of Covington, Ky.
While in Camp King, besides daily instruction of schools of officers and non-commissioned officers, drill by squad, company and battalion, and night drills in the woods, details were sent every three days to guard the line of detached earth- works south of Covington and Newport, and Colo- nel Whittlesey, an experienced regular army of- ficer, took detachments on marches over the country. Colonel Whittlesey, in the autumn, took four companies down the river to Warsaw, Ky., to quell an insurrectionary movement, and when win- ter came on, the rest of the regiment moved into barracks in Cincinnati.
The 20th, being in the field, was mustered in on the 21st of October, though then little more than half full.
On the 11th of February, 1862, nine companies, leaving Company K to complete its organization, embarked on two small steamers and arrived be- fore Fort Donelson on Friday. Next day the reg- iment marched to the right of the line and was held
16
in reserve. Sunday morning, when preparing to charge the fort, its surrender was announced.
The 20th was sent north on a fleet of boats, guarding five thousand prisoners of war, and seemed hopelessly scattered. A detachment was left at Fort Donelson, guarding the transporta- tion ; a detachment was still at Warsaw; Company K was still at Cincinnati ; the rest were at Cairo, St. Louis, Chicago, Columbus and Boston. By the middle of March, seven companies, under Lieut. Colonel Force, rendezvoused at Cairo, and proceeded up the Tennessee river on the Conti- mental, General Sherman's headquarters boat. Continual traveling on boats and cars had so effected the health of the men, that while we lay at Savannah, on the Tennessce, the 20th went by the name of " the sick regiment." But when the sick regiment went out to drill, the rest stopped to look on.
The regiment went with the expedition to Yel- low Creek, returned to Pittsburg Landing, and finally, the ten companies being assembled, it was assigned to a brigade, composed of the 20th, 56th, 76th and 78th Ohio, in General Lew Wallace's division, at Crump's Landing, Colonel Whittlesey commanding the brigade, and marched to an ad- vanced post at Adamsville.
Before daylight, Saturday, 5th of April, the brigade formed in line of battle, and General Wal- lace brought out the rest of the division from Crump's Landing. No attack being made, the rest of the division returned to the Landing. While on Sunday inspection, next day, hearing the cannonade at Shiloh, the regiment was ordered
17
to strike camp and prepare for march. Order to march was given about two o'clock P. M., and af- ter dark we reached the vacant camp of the S1st Ohio. There we lay down on the ground in two ranks, on the slope of the hill, through the night, drenched with rain and listening to the unearthly shrieks of wounded mules and the booming of the naval guns.
In the battle of Monday, the 20th formed the extreme right of the army. While marching into position by the flank, an unseen battery opened on it, but, without pausing, the regiment charged upon it and drove it from the field.
During the advance on Corinth, the 20th was detailed to guard a long exposed line towards Purdy, and upon the evacuation marched through Purdy to Bolivar. It soon moved on to Grand Junction, where Colonel Leggett commanded the 20th, 68th and 78th Ohio, four guns and four com- panies of cavalry, the command being posted in town, except the 20th, which was encamped sepa- rately a mile in advance. This post, twenty-two miles out from Bolivar, isolated, exposed, and con- tinually threatened by cavalry, was held secure by keeping detachments continually on the march scouring the country, until the command was re- called to Bolivar. While camp was at Bolivar, Colonel Leggett's brigade, the 20th and 78th, was incessantly engaged in marches of reconnoissance.
At one o'clock A. M. the 5th of August, the 20th left Boliver with a supply train for General Ord and General Hurlbut, who had moved to in- tercept General Price the day before, and, march- ing twenty-eight miles, reached the battle field at 3
18
four o'clock P. M., turned over the train, and went out in pursuit of prisoners. Next day, the regi- ment was sent on a reconnoissance, and returning to camp at sunset, was despatched, without a halt, in company with two other regiments, guarding the prisoners taken in battle to Bolivar.
On the 30th of August, the pickets in front of the brigade reported cavalry in front. A detach- ment of the 20th was sent out; the brigade fol- lowed ; four companies of cavalry and two guns were added; and this little force fought all day with the cavalry brigades of Armstrong and Jack- son, fifteen regiments strong, till the enemy with- drew at sundown, and the little brigade, all fagged out, dragged itself back to town. This engage- ment attracted attention at Washington, and Col- onel Crocker, commanding at Bolivar, was pro- moted Brigadier General in recognition of it.
When the movement was made on General Price at Iuka, the 20th moved by rail to Burnes- ville, and was kept constantly employed in recon- noissance. On the morning of the 20th of Sep- tember, when General Ord moved on to Iuka, unaware of General Rosecrans' battle of the day before, the regiment was placed at the rear of the column. General Ord sent a staff officer to tell me that the regiment was placed there on account of its hard work for the previous three days, but as soon as the enemy should be met, the 20th should be brought to the front.
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