- 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
The 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, also known as the "Harvard Regiment", was a distinguished regiment of infantry in the
American Civil War . The regiment was so nicknamed because the officers of the 20th were youngHarvard graduates. [Richard F. Miller, "Harvard's Civil War". (Lebanon, NH: Uiversity Press of New England,2005)] In addition some, but not all, the private soldiers had attended Harvard. The 20th was organized at Readville August 29 to September 4, 1861. After training they leftMassachusetts forWashington, D. C. , September 4. They would fight until the war's conclusion; being mustered out on July 16 and discharged July 28, 1865. [http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System] .National Parks Service . Retrieved on2008-02-15 .]Brigade, Divisional and Corps Attachments
Attached to Ladder's Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. Lander's Brigade, Stone's (Sedgwick's) Division,
Army of the Potomac , to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, to July, 1865.Battles
With the exception of 1st Bull Run the 20th participated in all of the major battles and many of the smaller battles fought by the Army of the Potomac. There baptism of fire occurred at Ball's Bluff October 21, 1861. Other battles included the Seven Days, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness,
Spottsylvania Court House theSiege of Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign.Casualties
The 20th regiment lost 17 officers and 243 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded. One officer and 148 enlisted men by disease. Total casualties were 409. The regiment ranks first among Massachusetts regiments and fifth among Union regiments in total casualties. [ [http://www.harvardregiment.org/overvw.html "The Harvard Regiment"] . Retrieved on
2008-02-15 ]Notable members
*
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
*Paul J. Revere
*Norwood "Pen" Hallowell
*Edward Needles HallowellNotes
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