Our Afro-American Cousins

Sometime back, with the help of our cousin Jennifer Niles, I ventured into the genealogical history of the deep, pre-emancipation, south. This has been an eye opening experience to this "good ol' northern white boy". I am finding that, not withstanding slavery on the economic level, real integration was taking place to a large degree on the personal level. The vast majority of black slaves merely adopted the surnames of their owners, but there was also a significant number that came by the surname a different way. In our family alone, ( and the Reas were very minor slave holders), I know of two examples where caucasian Reas had children by their black slaves. Back then the children were called Mulatto, a word no longer used in these "politically correct" times. These unions took two forms. One form is where a white man actually married a black woman. The other relationship was one in which the woman was classified as his "consort". It is not at all uncommon when visiting a cemetery in the deep south of that period to find a white man burried with his white wife on one side and his black consort on the other. Jennifer related to me a charming story that has been passed down in her line concerning Etta Rea. Her father Charles Edwin Rea apperantly doted on her. When Etta got married, her father gave her a milking cow as a wedding gift. I am also finding how record keeping as it pertained to blacks in the south both before & after the war is abysimal to say the least. I suspect that this was no accident. White cemeteries are well inventoried while most black cemeteries are barely known of. Usually way back in the woods in the middle of nowhere. I intend to keep researching this subject with the goal being to eventually welcome our own black descent cousins fully into the Rea family.

I'd Have Sworn It Was A Turkey

From "The Daily Madisonian" August 16th, 1851

DREADFUL CASUALTY.-0n the morning of the

8th inst., a man by the name of William Stafford

acidentalIy shot Mr. David Rea, In Shelby

township, Ripley county. The circumstances are

these: Mr.Rea, the day prevlous, had been into

the woods and killed three wild turkeys. When

he went home he related his good success to Mr.

S., and told him the vicinity in which he killed

them. The next morning about daylight they

both repaired to the place-neither knowing the

design of the other. Mr. Rea got upon the ground

first, concealed himself by the side of a log, and

commenced squaling, in imitation of the turkey,

by blowing through his fingers, or an instrument

made for that purpose. Mr. S. being a short dis-

rance off, heard him, and looking in the direction

of the noise, saw Mr. Rea's head rising above a

Log. Supposing it to be turkey, he took delibe-

rate aim and shot him in the head - the ball entered

the occipital region and lodging in the frontal, pro

duced instant death.

Mr- Rea was a most excellent citizen; loved and

respected by all who knew him, and has left a wife

and large family of children to lament his untimely

end.- Aurora Standard.

The Rea Family in the Civil War - Part 5

 

Samuel R. Rea (1847-1889)

 

 Samuel R Rea was the son of John Hardaway Rea. He was born the 11th of December, 1847 in Kemper County, Mississippi. He enlisted toward the end of the war in the 3rd Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry Reserves, Company "F". He served in the rank of Private until the end of the conflict. . Here are some interesting facts about the 3rd Mississippi.

 

The companies were originally organized as Minute Men in 1862, and re-enlisted for twelve months in 1863, under the call of Gen. J. E. Johnston, it being understood between the Governor and President Davis that the men should be exempt from conscription during their term of service. They were understood to be rationed and paid by the Confederate States but the pay was generally several months in arrears. It is first mentioned as Mississippi cavalry, three companies, Col. John McGuirk, with Gen. Chalmers, headquarters Panola, April, 1863. April 8, at Holly Springs ordered to take post near Chulahoma. April 29, detailed to defend Panola, time of Federal raid. May 30, assigned to brigade of Gen Z. George, State troops. Colonel McGuirk was commissioned June 9, 1863; other officers June 11.

The regiment served under General George in the operations attending the raid of Colonel Mizner, June 15-25, 1863, who set out from LaGrange, Tenn., with orders to break the railroad south of Panola, turn on Chalmers and sweep the country of horses, mules, Negroes and the new crop of wheat. Colonel McCulloch skirmished with Mizner after he had crossed the Tallahatchie at Wyatt, and, in view of the Federal strength, Gen. George retreated from Panola across to Yockeney, sending one company to protect the railroad bridge. The whole command moved to that point, but too late to prevent the destruction of the bridge. Colonel McGuirk with his regiment, then pursued the Federal column on its return to LaGrange, swimming the Tallahatchie at Belmont, overtaking Mizner at Tyro and pursuing eighty miles to Hudsonville, "where, on Sunday evening, he overtook and chastised him handsomely, killing and wounding several and capturing 27 prisoners with about the same number of horses and equipments, an extraordinary achievement," considering the arduous service of the command. George's headquarters were at Grenada, and Colonel McGuirk was in command of the brigade in July, 1863.

July 21, General George reported that a detachment from Col. McGuirk's Regiment had cut the railroad and taken 15 prisoners near Germantown. In July regiment was ordered to Vaiden for enlistment in Confederate service. General George reported, "I fear half of McGuirk's Regiment cannot be gotten to Vaiden." The enlistment was not made.

In the field during the Federal raid from the Big Black and LaGrange, Tenn., to Grenada, August, 1863, of which there are no reports. Regiment then in Chalmers' Cavalry command, 200 in number, Colonel McGuirk commanding, but scattered between Panola and Grenada, arresting deserters and conscripts. Chalmers could not collect a command sufficient to hold Grenada, which the raiders occupied August 20, breaking the railroad and burning the rolling stock. The regiment, with Chalmers' command, moved from Grenada to Abbeville September 12. Assigned to Slemon's Brigade October 18. "The battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale" was in Chalmers' command, September, 1863.

This regiment, the Seventh Tennessee (Colonel Duckworth), A. H. Chalmers' Eighteenth Battalion, and one rifled gun of McLendon's Battery, in all about 850 men, constituted the immediate command of General Chalmers when he was collecting forces for the raid to Collierville, Tenn., in October, 1863. With this command Chalmers was about to move to Salem for a juncture with Richardson's Brigade, when a column of Illinois cavalry, under Colonel McCrillis, advanced from LaGrange, Tenn., against Holly Springs, whither Chalmers moved on the 5th. McCrillis, with 750 cavalry, heard on his approach that Chalmers was ahead of him, and began to recross the Coldwater, when Chalmers attacked at Lockhart's Mill, October 6. There was a brisk skirmish, in which the four howitzers posted by McCrillis on the north bank of the river, played an important part. Chalmers then moved to Salem and on the morning of the 8th set out for Collierville, leaving Hooves' Regiment to occupy Salem. Meanwhile McCrillis had returned from LaGrange to the vicinity of Salem with 1,250 cavalry and mounted infantry and six guns. He attacked Hooves and drove him from the town, and Chalmers, learning of this, at a distance of ten miles, returned rapidly and attacked McCrillis, who occupied a strong position on a long ridge, with his skirmishers through the town. Chalmers had been reinforced and had 1,200 in the battle, but only one piece of artillery, which was useless after the third fire. After three hours' hard fighting, said Chalmers, the enemy was driven from every position. "In this affair the Second Missouri Cavalry (Lieutenant-Colonel McCulloch), Third Regiment Mississippi State Cavalry (Colonel McGuirk), and the Eighteenth Mississippi Battalion (Major Chalmers) bore the brunt of the conflict, and although the last two were composed almost entirely of untried men, they behaved with a gallantry equal to that which has ever distinguished the veterans of the Second Missouri Cavalry." Colonel McGuirk, who moved from his camp at Wyatt, was the first to reinforce Hooves, and was ordered to take the two regiments and command the front attack, but Chalmers decided to also attack in front. The regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale, charged the Federal position at Hamer's house, drove the skirmish line from the village, and compelled the retreat of the artillery from a hill. Captain Hartin and Lieutenant Kennedy were wounded in the fight. Captains Logan, Farris, Griffin, Barksdale, McKie, Webb and Lieutenants Thornton and Towns gallantly commanded the companies. The casualties of McGuirk's Regiment was 1 killed, 22 wounded; of the rest of Chalmers' troops 5 wounded. General Sweeney, commanding LaGrange, reported that on October 8, "our cavalry, under Color McCrillis, with the mounted infantry and a section of Captain Tannrath’s Battery, under Colonel Phillips, were attacked by the enemy at Salem and driven back on the railroad with considerable loss." In the night following, Chalmers was reinforced by Richardson's Brigade, about 850 men. Colonel Hatch on the other side came up from LaGrange with 750 Union cavalry, and no artillery, expecting to join McCrillis and Phillips, but finding them gone, he sent for reinforcements from Davis’ Mills. Chalmers remained most of October 9 in line of battle at Hamar’s house, with his force of over 2 ,000 men and six guns, believing that Hatch had against him "nine regiments and nine pieces of artillery." He reported that "there was some slight skirmishing, but the enemy did. not make his appearance in force." Hatch received orders to fall back to LaGrange, which made it possible for Chalmers to carry out his plan of a raid on Collierville, while Hatch, with a force of 2,200, returned again to hunt for him at Salem and Holly Springs. Chalmers moved to Holly Springs on the 10th for food and ammunition, and approached Collierville early on the 11th. In the disposition for attack, Col, McGuirk, with his own regiment and First Mississippi Partisans, was sent to gain possession of the town and attack the fort from the rear. The movements on the left and right drove the garrison to the rifle pits and part of them into the fort, and possession was taken of the train of cars on which General Sherman was traveling with a battalion of regulars as an escort, but the movement on the rear was not so successful. General Chalmers ascribed this to Colonel McGuirk's delay at the cavalry camp northwest of town. In the attack upon the cavalry camp, 1st Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale commanded the regiment, about 175 men. He reported that after the First Partisans were repulsed, his regiment advanced upon the camp, firing steadily, and drove the enemy to shelter in the woods and swamp, and that he never saw men, even in the Army of Northern Virginia, deport themselves with more gallantry. He gave special mention to the conduct of Maj. B. M. Kilgore, who fell wounded while leading a charge, and to Captains Logan, Barksdale, Griffin, Gwartney, and Lieutenants Towns and Thornton, company commanders, Lieutenant Turner, Company H, and Lieutenants Thornton and Tyler, Company K, collected the prisoners, 89 in number. Lieut. J. H. Alexander brought off 18 wagons with mule teams. Sergeant Grizelle color bearer, distinguished on this as on former fields for gallantry, fell with a severe wound as he was carrying the flag, with a captured flag in his other hand. Lieutenant White, Company D, carried the colors forward. The casualties of the regiment were 1 killed, 6 wounded. The attack on Collierville failed, and General Chalmers retreated. At the crossing of the Tallahatchie, near Wyatt, October 13, the Confederate command, under Col. R. V. Richardson, was attacked by Hatch. McGuirk recrossed the river with his two regiments, about 300 men, dismounted, and two guns of the Buckher Battery, and took position to check the pursuit. A body of Federals under the famous Captain Hodgman, Seventh Kansas Jayhawkers, occupied a log house, which Barksdale and his men charged in the face of a heavy artillery fire from two batteries. The house was taken and Hodgman wounded and captured. About dark the regiment was again in action with Hooves' Regiment, repelling twice the Federal attack. It came up with a charge and a yell, said McGuirk. About 9 o'clock the rear guard, volunteers from this regiment, crossed the river. The casualties were 1 killed, 6 wounded, 3 missing. Captain Logan, Acting Major; Captain Barksdale, Lieutenant Hurt (commanding Company G), were mentioned for gallantry. For their service in this expedition, including the engagements at Salem, Collierville and Wyatt, honorable mention was given to Lieut.-Col. James A. Barksdale, Major; B. M. Kilgore, Adjutant; (Captain) W. Joseph Walker, Sergeant-Major E. L. Richmond, Orderly C. C. Harris, Capt. H. E. Williamson, Quartermaster,; Lieut. P, M. Morgan, Commissary; W. F. Baker, Acting Commissary.

The regiment, under the command of Colonel Barksdale, participated with George's Regiment in the gallant cavalry charge at Collierville, Tenn., November 3, 1863, which was repulsed by the unexpected volleys from revolving rifles of the Second Iowa, at the railroad. The advance of this regiment was on the Quinn's Mill road, and the attack was gallantly made, as was testified to both by Chalmers and Hatch, the officers commanding on each side. On the retreat, after crossing the Coldwater near Quinn's Mill, the regiment joined in the stubborn resistance which prevented their pursuers from crossing until the next day. The casualties of this regiment were the heaviest in General Chalmers' command -- 1 killed, 3 officers and 19 men wounded,

November 30, the same two regiments, crossing the Coldwater at very high water, moved into Tennessee with Chalmers' expedition in support of S. D. Lee and Forrest, reaching Moscow December 4. Slemons' brigade burned the railroad trestle over Grisson's Creek, between Moscow and Lafayette.

Colonel Meek, Eleventh Illinois, reported that his command, which had gathered up horses and mules and burned grain and cotton and shops on the Holly Springs road by way of Chulahoma, passed through Holly Springs on the evening of the 21st, stopped to feed on the Hernando road two miles from Hudsonville, and left that road for the LaGrange road when one of his pickets was shot, leaving two companies to bring in the wounded man. Later he sent back Major Funke with one company, hearing that a fight was on. McGuirk had come in by a by-road, and cut off the three companies, which extricated themselves with difticulty, losing 1 killed, 2 wounded and 26 prisoners.

Regiment assigned to Slemons' Brigade in the organization of the cavalry under S. D. Lee, January, 1864.

February 2, 1864, McGuirk skirmished near LaGrange, Tenn. The regiment participated in General Forrest's defeat of Sooy Smith's expedition near Okolona, February 20-22,. 1864, and had 3 wounded (see Second Cavalry). At the outset of the famous raid of Forest and Chalmers through Tennessee in April, 1864, Colonel McGuirk with his regiment and the First Partisans made a demonstration from Holly Springs toward Memphis, which was so effective as to make practicable the capture of Fort Pillow April 12.

In criticising the enlistment in State regiments to avoid conscription in the Confederate service, General Chalmers wrote, January 6, 1864; "These State companies have done more harm than good. I do not include in this remark Colonel McGuirk's Regiment -- that has done good service -- but both he and his officers have long since been convinced that the regiment would be more effective if it were regularly in Confederate service."

Regiment ordered to report at Macon to the Governor for special and important service, March 3, 1864. Aggregate of regiment, 325. Governor Clark appointed April 30, 1864, as the day for State cavalry to assemble at Tupelo for transfer to the Confederate service. "As the regiment of Colonel McGuirk is one of those to be transferred, it is very desirable that they should be paid the amount due them for the time they were in Confederate service, some five or six months are due them, also pay for horses killed in battle." The Governor declared they were in as good a state of discipline and as effective as any troops, and he consented to their transfer to the Confederate service. The regiment was reorganized at Oxford in the latter part of April, 1864, and the Colonel commissioned April 25, 1864. May 1, 1864, the Gholson Brigade was turned over to the Confederate States, Colonel McGuirk commanding brigade. May 22, General Forrest ordered Brigadier-General Gholson to take command of his brigade. The brigade was attached for a time to Forrest's command, and then transferred to the command of Wirt Adams before Vicksburg, being ordered to Canton, May 26.

Gholson's Brigade was withdrawn from Adams by General Forrest before Slocum's raid to Jackson, July, 1864, but rejoined General Adams near Jackson, in time to participate in the attack upon Slocum's column about four miles west of Jackson on the evening of July 6, when McGuirk's Regiment charged and attempted to cut off the wagon train. Another attack was made in the morning of the 7th and a third, near Clinton, by Lowry's Regiment. McGuirk's Regiment, commanded by LieutenantColonel Barksdale, had 8 wounded, 1 missing. General Gholson was severely wounded and Colonel McGuirk took command of the brigade.

Later in July the brigade was transferred to Georgia and was temporarily assigned to Walthall’s Division on the Atlanta lines, July 25, and put with Reynold's Brigade. General Reynolds reported that McGuirk's command joined him just before he marched out to the battle on the Lickskillet road, July 28, and they marched out on the left of his line. Reynolds charged the Federal line, behind log works, and was repulsed after a bloody fight. He reported that Colonel McGuirk, under orders from some field officer, charged the works a second time, but was compelled to fall back with considerable loss. "The loss in General Gholson's Brigade, some 450 strong, was 144 killed, wounded and missing." The casualties of McGuirk's Regiment was 8 killed, including Major T. W. Webb and Lieut. S. H. White, commanding Company C. Captain E. L. Richmond was dangerously wounded, Captains Daniel and Orr wounded and missing. Total wounded 43, including Lieuts. James Miller, R. A. Butler, W. O. Cockram, W. H. Thornton and John Griffin.

In the battle of Jonesboro, Ga., August 31, Colonel McGuirk, of Gholson's Brigade, reported to General Granbury with his regiment, dismounted, and a battalion of engineer troops (Major Presstman), and aided in the rout of the enemy in their front. Granbury wrote: "Seeing them endeavoring to rally at a crossing opposite my left flank, I ordered Colonel McGuirk to advance his two battalions in double-quick time, which was executed by that officer promptly and gallantly, and in time for his command to deliver a few volleys before the enemy escaped beyond the river." Moving his whole brigade up to Flint River, Granbury dressed his line on the position of Colonel McGuirk. September 19, General Hood, at Palmetto, ordered Gholson's Cavalry Brigade, then at Opelika, up the west side of the Chattahoochee River, opposite Newnan. September 28, with Ross' Brigade, formed Ross' Division of Jackson's Cavalry. December 12, 1864, McGuirk's Regiment was en route through Montgomery to Mobile. December 16-17, it took part in the pursuit of the Federal expedition to Pollard. January 6, 1865, regiment had been ordered to Brandon. January 20, marching to concentrate with Mabry's Brigade at Canton. February, 1865, McGuirk's Regiment ordered to report to Gen. Wirt Adams.

Paroled under the capitulation of Lieut.-Gen. Richard Taylor made at Citronelle, May 4, 1865.





Rea Family in the Civil War - Part 4

 

William Nelson Rea (1844-1918)

 

 William Nelson Rea first enlisted in Company "F" of the 136th Illinois Infantry and was discharged (after 100 days), with the rank of Sergeant. He then re-enlisted in the newly formed Illinois 152nd Infantry and was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He served in that unit until the wars end. After the war he & his wife Mary located in Ukiah County, California. After his death in 1916, his widow Mary applied for his Service Pension.





Rea Family in the Civil War - Part 3

 

James McCrary Rea

 

James McCrary Rea enlisted Mar. 17th, 1862. He was assigned to Company "A" of the 65th Illinois Infantry. He served until the unit was decomissioned. Here is a brief history of the 65th Illinois.

 

This Regiment was also known as the Second Scotch Regiment or Cameron’s Highlanders and was organized at Camp Douglas by Colonel Daniel Cameron. Cameron was born in Scotland, an ardent Democrat and a close friend of Stephen Douglas. Many of the Regiment’s volunteers were of Scotch descent. The men of Company A were from Henderson, Ogle and Stark counties, Company B from Mercer and Rock Island counties, Company C from Marshall County, Company D was largely made up of men from Michigan, Company E from Boone and McDonough counties, Company F from Lake County, Company G and H from Cook County, Company I from the State at large and Company K from Cook and Winnebago counties. The Regiment was mustered in for three years service May 1, 1862 and ordered to Martinsburg, Virginia (now West Virginia. The Regiment remained there until September 1862 and saw action at Darkesville, Virginia on September 7. The Regiment moved to Harper’s Ferry on September 12 and were laid siege by Lee’s army September 12-15. The 8th New York and the 12th Illinois Cavalry escaped but 12,000 Union troops, including the Sixty-fifth Illinois Infantry surrendered. The Regiment was paroled the following day and sent to Chicago where it remained until April 1863 when it was exchanged. The remainder of 1863 the Regiment served in eastern Kentucky and Tennessee and fought in the defense of Knoxville in November. The Sixty-fifth re-enlisted as veterans and went home of furlough in March 1864. Upon return from furlough the Regiment joined Sherman’s Army in the Atlanta campaign. They subsequently fought at Kenesaw and Lost Mountains, Muddy Creek, Noyes Creek, Nickajack Creek, Chattahoochie River and the siege of Atlanta. In the flanking movement around Atlanta the Sixty-fifth fought at Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station then pursued Hood into north Georgia and north Alabama. The Regiment moved to Nashville by rail in November then from Nashville to Pulaski, Tennessee. The Sixty-fifth was attacked by Hood and driven back to Columbia, Tennessee were during the battle of November 25 and 26 they lost 3 officers and 50 men killed or wounded. On November 30 they again met Hood at Franklin, Tennessee where they defeated the rebel forces and captured the colors of the Fifteenth Mississippi Infantry. Hood’s army fell back to Nashville and December 15 and 16 the Sixty-fifth fought in the battle of Nashville and pursued the retreating rebels to Clifton, Tennessee. On January 15, 1865 the Regiment was sent to Fort Fisher, North Carolina. After engagements at Cape Fear and Fort Anderson they captured Wilmington, North Carolina on February 22. They moved to occupy Goldsboro, North Carolina and Raleigh in March and April. Following the surrender of Johnston’s army the non-veterans were ordered home for muster out. The veterans marched to Goldsboro, North Carolina where they remained until muster out. May 1 four new companies of recruits joined the Sixty-fifth and in June officers and men were assigned from the Ninety-second, One Hundred Twelfth and One Hundred Seventh Illinois Infantry. July 13, 1865 the Regiment was mustered out and sent home 



Rea Famly in the Civil War - Part 2

 

Matthew Newton Rea - 1840-1861

 



Enlisted as a Sergeant on 19 August 1861.
Enlisted in Company G, 25th Infantry Regiment Indiana on 19 Aug 1861.
Killed Company G, 25th Infantry Regiment Indiana on 16 Dec 1861 at Blackwater, MO.

Here is a recap of the Skirmish at Blackwater Creek, courtesy of Wikipedia.'

 

Following the Siege of Lexington, Missouri the secessionist Missouri State Guard withdrew to the southwest portion of Missouri. Some Southern recruiters such as Colonel Franklin S. Robertson remained, attempting to fill their regiments. Robertson, a store owner in Saline County, Missouri born in Kentucky had been granted his commission by Major General Sterling Price at Lexington.
Meanwhile, Union Brigadier General John Pope, in command of the District of Central Missouri, was determined to suppress Southern recruiting in the region. He headed Southwest from Sedalia before turning the main body north toward Warrensburg.
Robertson collected his recruits at Grand Pass where they elected officers. On December 16, 1861 the 750 men began their March south. The plan was to first link up with Colonel J.J. Clarkson’s recruits near Warrensburg, Missouri before proceeding south to General Price. They were unable to merge with Clarkson but they were joined by Colonel Ebenezer Magoffin, who was on parole after being captured while attempting to recruit his own regiment. Magoffin is notable as the brother of Kentucky Governor Beriah Magoffin.
General Pope learned on the evening of December 18 that Robertson’s force would be camped at Milford.
Early the next morning Pope’s force marched toward Knob Noster, Missouri. Pope ordered Colonel Jefferson C. Davis’s brigade to the Blackwater bridge where he was to force the bridge. Simultaneously a battalion of the 2nd Missouri Cavalry (“Merrill’s Horse”) moved northeast to complete the envelopment.
Realizing his guardsmen were in a precarious position, Robertson formed a firing line of approximately 250 men while Colonel Magoffin was detailed with several dozen men to take possession of the bridge before the Federals arrived.
It was insufficient. Colonel Davis ordered three companies of the 4th United States Cavalry forward under Lieutenant Charles Copley Amory, with the 1st Iowa Cavalry in support. Amory dismounted his men and gave two volleys to the bridge’s defenders causing them to waver. Amory ordered a charge and the defenders fled. The now mounted force pursued, encountering some casualties at they made contact with the second line. They held their positions as the infantry came up and the envelopment was completed. Robertson's men recognized their predicament and requested a brief truce before surrendering
Federal casualties were exceedingly light, two killed and eight wounded. General Pope claimed the capture of “1,300 men…three colonels (Robinson, Alexander, and Magoffin)…one lieutenant-colonel (Robinson), one major (Harris), and 51 commissioned company officers” and “About 500 horses and mules, 73 wagons heavily loaded with powder, lead, tents, subsistence stores, and supplies of various kinds…also 1,000 stand of arms.”^[3] However, this appears to be overstated as records indicate “684 guardsmen and several civilians” eventually reached prison.^[

The Rea Family in the Civil War - Part 1

 

Claiborne Samuel Rea

 

Rea, Cleeborn S., Confederate Infantry, 20th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry

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.
The field officers were Colonels Joel A. Battle, William M. Shy, and Thomas B. Smith; Lieutenant
Colonels Mosco B. Carter, John S. Gooch, and Frank M. Lavender; and Majors Frederick Claybrooke,
Patrick Duffy, John F. Guthrie, and Hency C. Lucas.
____