20th Tennessee at Shiloh

[OldReliable1862]

I have many favorite regiments, but there are few I love quite as much as the 20th Tennessee. There's just something about this scrappy little Middle Tennessee regiment that I feel sets it apart from so many others.

I was hoping someone knew of a description of the regiment's experiences at Shiloh. Did they go through the Peach Orchard at any point?

 

[DixieRifles]

I was hoping someone knew of a description of the regiment's experiences at Shiloh. Did they go through the Peach Orchard at any point?

The 20th Tennessee Regiment consisted of approximately 300 men lead by Col. Joel A. Battle. They were part of Col. Winfield Statham's 3rd Brigade, which included the 22nd Mississippi Regiment--a regiment that I have studied. They were part of the Reserve Corps lead by General Breckinridge. Col. Battle was captured and was replaced by Thomas B. Smith.
Yes, they were part of the charge into the Peach Orchard which was lead by General A. S. Johnston, Tennessee Governor Isham Harris and the past Vice President of the USA, John C. Breckinridge.
On the 2nd day, Statham's brigade lined up along the south edge of Duncan Field and engaged the Union advance from the Hornet's Nest.

From a quick check of my source: "Shiloh; Conquer or Perish" by Tim Smith.

Some have studied the position of the regiments at the time that General Albert Sidney Johnston was mortally wounded by a round from an Enfield rifle. The only regiment in position and armed with the Enfield was the 20th Tennessee Regiment. (I wish I still had the link to that research info.)

 

[DixieRifles]

Source: Tim Smith "Shiloh: Conquer or Perish".

 

[DixieRifles]

Here is an Enfield rifle that was once carried by J. W. Rawley of the 20th Tennessee Infantry.
Link: Enfield Rifle

Quote:
"The 20th suffered some 187 casualties at Shiloh, out of approximately 400 men engaged. Following the battle, the regiment went through a major reorganization due to the significant losses. The regiment was sent to Vicksburg in May of 1862 and served there are part of General Van Dorn's Army through August of that year, when they were sent to Louisiana, and served in the Baton Rouge and Port Hudson area. In September of 1862 they were transferred back to the Army of Tennessee, and took part in the battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River) from December 31, 1862 through January 2, 1863, where the regiment suffered 118 casualties. "

If they remained brigaded with the 22nd Mississippi Regiment, they left Shiloh and were sent to Vicksburg---maybe to Snyder's Bluff. Then they were sent to Camp Moore, LA, and to join forces with General Van Dorn for the attack on Baton Rouge. After that battle, they would have returned to Vicksburg and back up to Battle of Corinth. But the above quote seems to leave that out so maybe they were sent over to Nashville area.

Here is the CWT Thread on Death of Johnston. There is a lot of discussion on the Enfield rifle and who were armed with them at Shiloh. I see nothing about the 20th Tennessee Regiment.

{Edited}
Here is link to the Organization at the 2nd Battle of Corinth. It is odd but the brigade at Shiloh that included 20nd Tennessee was here at Corinth under a different brigade commander but the 20th Tennessee Regiment was NOT with them.
Organization at battle of Corinth

 

[Ole Miss]

@OldReliable1862
I am tied up this afternoon but will respond later this evening
Regards
David

 

[Ole Miss]

The 20th​ Tennessee was in Statham's Third Brigade of John C. Breckinridge's Reserve Corps on the Confederate right flank. The 20th​ moved up the Hamburg- Savannah through Sarah Bell's Cottonfield driving the Federals through her Peach Orchard and North of the Bloody Pond.

Unfortunately I have not found any official reports from officers of this brigade and General Breckinridge's official report as seen here:

Report of Brig. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, commanding Reserve Corps.
Hdqrs. Reserve Corps, Army op the Mississippi,
April 17, 1862.
Colonel: I have the honor to make the following statement of the small-arms, cannon, &c., captured from the enemy in the battles of the 6th and 7th, by the Reserve Corps, exclusive of the cavalry(1st​ Tennessee under Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest), from whom there is no report:

Small-arms, 1,393; swords, 11; cannon, 4 pieces.
The small-arms are now in the hands of my men, most of them taken from dead and wounded enemies, and substituted for rifles or guns before in our possession.
The four pieces were hauled several miles off the field and within our lines by Captain Rutledge, commanding battery in Stathan's brigade, and it is confidently believed from a part of the captured cannon now at Corinth.

My command did not stop in their camps, but moved on under orders, and I think did its full share upon the line of its operations in the work, of which captured cannon, flags, small-arms, and prisoners were the result.
Respectfully,
JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE, Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Col. Thomas Jordan,
Assistant Adjutant-General.*

The 20th​ Tennessee faced severe fighting, in which they suffered the loss of 26% of their force, and in the battle they clashed with the 9th​ Illinois Infantry** which sustained the highest loss rate of any unit at Shiloh. Below is an excerpt from the History of the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A. describing the fight:
The Twentieth Tennessee met the Ninth Illinois Regiment in a death struggle on the edge of the ravine, which lasted one hour and a half, and during that time the Forty-fifth Tennessee that had never been in an engagement before became confused in passing the stake and ridered fences of the mule lot, and being a little in the rear and to the left of the Twentieth mistook us for the enemy, and poured a very destructive fire into us. Colonel Battle sent a courier to Colonel Searcy commanding the Forty- fifth, to tell him that he was firing into his own men. About this time the Federals brought up a regiment and flanked the Twentieth Tennessee on the right, which caused the right wing of the regiment to swing back as far as the regimental colors.***

I have listed the sources I quoted from you use in reading the little material I have found for the 20th​ Tennessee. I also listed the source of an excellent map of the Battle of Shiloh****. If I discover more materials I will certainly send them to you. If I can be of further assistance please let me know.
Regards
David

Sources:
*Official Records of the Rebellion
Series 1, Volume X, Part 1
Page 613

The War of the Rebellion : a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. / Pub. under the direction of the ... Secretary of War ... ser.1:v.10:pt.1:Reports.

**The Battle of Shiloh and the Organizations Engaged
By David Reed
Page 109
https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=utk_utpress


***History of the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A.
By William Josiah McMurray
Page 83 and 208-209
https://archive.org/details/04535877.3323.emory.edu/page/207/mode/2up?q=shiloh&view=theater

****Map of the 1st​ Day at Shiloh

http://www.thomaslegion.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/battle_of_shiloh_6april1862.jpg

 

[Ole Miss]

I am still puzzled by the absence of any of any official reports from Statham or any of his subordinates. The durth of information prevents me from an in-depth study of the 20th​ Tennessee and Statham's Brigade at Shiloh.

I am fairly confident there is more information on this brave band but I have not found it yet.
Regards
David

 

[Ole Miss]

Dixie mentioned above that the 20th Tennessee had been issued Enfield Rifles. Here are a couple of excerpts proving his statement.
Regards
David

"While at Burns-ville our entire regiment received new Enfield rifles in exchange for our old flint-lock muskets that we had packed around for nearly a year. We were ordered out to test our new guns, dis- tance 200 yards off hand. As there were thirty- three pairs of sewed boots found among the cartridge boxes, belts, and bayonet scabbards, the Colonel ordered that three pairs be given to each company, and the three best shots in each company be given the boots. In Company B, Tom Hall got first choice, W J McMurray second choice, and Jas. T Mathews third choice."*

Another reference to the Enfield Rifles issued on April 3, 1962

"Tennessee Regiment drew new Enfield rifles with new accoutrements and English ammunition, and if there was ever a body of men that appreciated a good thing, it was this regiment, for they had experienced the inferiority of their arms to that of their enemy on the battle field of Fishing Creek."**

History of the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A.
By William Josiah McMurray
*Page 84

**Page 204
https://archive.org/details/04535877.3323.emory.edu/page/207/mode/2up?q=shiloh&view=theater

 

[Nathan Towne]

Do you have William McMurray's history of the Twentieth Tennessee?

 

[Ole Miss]

Nathan I do not have a copy but I have located an online copy at the site below* amd hopefully this will be of assistance. If I can be of further assistance please let me know
Regards
David

*https://archive.org/details/historytwentiet00nealgoog/page/54/mode/1up?view=theater

 

[Nathan Towne]

Nice. Yeah, you should check it out, for sure.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

I have many favorite regiments, but there are few I love quite as much as the 20th Tennessee. There's just something about this scrappy little Middle Tennessee regiment that I feel sets it apart from so many others.

I was hoping someone knew of a description of the regiment's experiences at Shiloh. Did they go through the Peach Orchard at any point?

One of the members of the 20th Tennessee & a 4 x 4th cousin, maternal side until joining the Coleman Scouts.

SUSPENDED WebSite Page

www.tennessee-scv.org

Roster of Coleman's Scouts: The Eyes and Ears of the Army of Tennessee

A history of the legendary group of heroes known as

tennessee-scv.org

 

[TerryB]

The 20th Tennessee Regiment consisted of approximately 300 men lead by Col. Joel A. Battle. They were part of Col. Winfield Statham's 3rd Brigade, which included the 22nd Mississippi Regiment--a regiment that I have studied. They were part of the Reserve Corps lead by General Breckinridge. Col. Battle was captured and was replaced by Thomas B. Smith.
Yes, they were part of the charge into the Peach Orchard which was lead by General A. S. Johnston, Tennessee Governor Isham Harris and the past Vice President of the USA, John C. Breckinridge.
On the 2nd day, Statham's brigade lined up along the south edge of Duncan Field and engaged the Union advance from the Hornet's Nest.

From a quick check of my source: "Shiloh; Conquer or Perish" by Tim Smith.

Some have studied the position of the regiments at the time that General Albert Sidney Johnston was mortally wounded by a round from an Enfield rifle. The only regiment in position and armed with the Enfield was the 20th Tennessee Regiment. (I wish I still had the link to that research info.)

I tried to run down the source of the allegation that Johnston was wounded by a .577 Enfield round. The "source" is a book that mentions, but doesn't quote, his autopsy report, done I think in New Orleans, or maybe Memphis. It's been a while, but the book I came across online gave no real primary source info. Not saying it didn't happen, but I'd really like to see that autopsy report scanned online so we can check. I just took it for granted that that's what happened, in a thread on this site a few years back, and a couple of people insisted I needed to find the source.

 

[TerryB]

I tried to run down the source of the allegation that Johnston was wounded by a .577 Enfield round. The "source" is a book that mentions, but doesn't quote, his autopsy report, done I think in New Orleans, or maybe Memphis. It's been a while, but the book I came across online gave no real primary source info. Not saying it didn't happen, but I'd really like to see that autopsy report scanned online so we can check. I just took it for granted that that's what happened, in a thread on this site a few years back, and a couple of people insisted I needed to find the source.

Well, the round came from behind, hitting him below the knee, severing an artery. He also had several slight wounds from spent rounds, and his autopsy was done in New Orleans. He had a tourniquet on his person, and could have used it on himself had he known he was hit. At the time, his surgeon was attending to Federal wounded. The elusive report that the round was from an Enfield .577 did not turn up in my search this morning.

 

[Nathan Towne]

Nathan I do not have a copy but I have located an online copy at the site below* amd hopefully this will be of assistance. If I can be of further assistance please let me know
Regards
David

*https://archive.org/details/historytwentiet00nealgoog/page/54/mode/1up?view=theater

I own it. I was just wondering whether you had it.