Information about the 20th Tennessee Infantry Regiment
Thanks again to AoT AIG Capt. Tackitt for some great research on the 20th TN Regiment. This regiment will be
portrayed by Gen'l King's division on Saturday, September 29, 2007 at the Battle of Mill Springs reenactment.
Note from the information below that the 20th Tennessee had 732 effectives out of 876 on the unit’s
Muster Roll on January 18, 1862. This early war battle saw most regiments at or near full strength. This
allows the Army of Tennessee to present two regiments of historically accurate size in each of the two
main battles. General Rambo's division will portray the 15th Mississippi, with nearly 900 enrolled at the
time of Mill Springs.
The regiment was reported at Camp Trousdale in July, 1861, with 880 men, armed with flintlock
muskets. While in Camp of Instruction there, the regiment was in Brigadier General Felix K. Zollicoffer's
Brigade, along with the 17th and 18th Tennessee Infantry Regiments.
Late in July the regiment was ordered to Virginia, and on July 31 was reported at Bristol, Virginia,
along with the 17th Infantry. Here they were detained for two or three weeks, and then sent to
Cumberland Gap, instead of to Virginia, and placed in the forces commanded by General Zollicoffer.
On September 14, Zollicoffer ordered the 11th, 17th, 19th and 20th Tennessee Regiments to
Cumberland Ford, Kentucky. The 20th at this time reported 732 effectives, out of 795 present, 876 on the
muster roll. On September 24 the return showed 505 effectives, 676 present, 916 on roll. The regiment
remained in East Tennessee and Kentucky without any major engagement until the Battle of Fishing
Creek (Mill Springs) on January 19, 1862. They had been at the engagement at Wild Cat, or Rock Castle,
Kentucky, in October 1861, but were not actively engaged.
Of the field officers, Colonel Battle was captured at Shiloh, and never rejoined the regiment. Colonel
Smith was promoted to brigadier general in July, 1864, and captured at the Battle of Nashville. Colonel
Shy was killed in the Battle of Nashville. Lieutenant Colonel Carter was captured at Fishing Creek,
January 19, 1862. He was paroled, and was in the basement of his home, the Carter House, during
the Battle of Franklin. Lieutenant Colonel Gooch resigned July 10, 1863; Lieutenant Colonel Lavender
resigned October 13, 1863. Major Duffy was not reelected; Major Claybrooke was killed June 24, 1863;
and Major Guthrie was killed August 31, 1864. Major Lucas was in command of the regiment at the final
surrender.
At Fishing Creek (Mill Springs), the regiment was in Zollicoffer's Brigade, composed of the 15th
Mississippi, 19th, 20th, 25th Tennessee Infantry Regiments, and Rutledge's Battery. Here they suffered
110 casualties, and Colonel Battle was commended for marked ability and courage.
Note to Participants: each soldier should plan on brining 200 rounds to Mill Springs. Forty to be
carried on his person and the rest wrapped in the historical manner and turned in to the Army
Quartermaster for reissue on the field. From the event Rules and Regulations: Powder will only be carried
in the form of properly rolled cartridges. A properly rolled cartridge is defined as one rolled in soft type
paper with no more than 80 grains of ff or fff black powder. Penny wrappers, heavy bond paper, plastics,
staples, or tape will not be used for rolled cartridges. Percussion caps and cartridges will only be carried
in authentic cap pouches and cartridge boxes. Under no circumstances will projectiles of any kind be on
the site. Violators will be taken off the premises by local law enforcement officials for the duration of the
event…no excuses or exceptions.
Lt. Col. M. R. Ventura,
Chief of Staff, Army of Tennessee.