South Carolina 20th Infantry Regiment
Historical Notes:
In January 1862, the Confederate Congress called upon the state of South Carolina to provide 12000 additional troops for the war effort. This led South Carolina to form the 17th through the 27th Regiments.
The companies which became the SC 20th Infantry Regiment were already formed and had entered their respective camps of instruction. Many of the men were recruited in Sumter, Orangeburg, and Calhoun counties. What would become Company H, 20th SCVI were drilling at Hampton's Plantation in Diamond Hill, SC. As in every unit in the south, communities and families joined up together, and the 20th was no exception. Company I had 28 members by the name of Gunter. The Captain, all three Lieutenants and seven NCOs all held the name, thus they were called the Gunter Company.
The 20th spent the early part of the war in the Charleston area, spent a time in Virginia, then fought in the Carolina’s Campaign and surrendered at Bentonville.
Officers:
Keitt, Lawrence M - Colonel
Dansler, O. M. - Lt. Colonel
Boykin, S. M. - Major
Wilson, John - Adjutant
Kinard, John P. - Quartermaster
Salley, Dr. Alexander S. - Surgeon
Duncan, Rev. W. W. - Chaplain
Assignments:
Attached to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Assigned to General Kershaw's, Kennedy's, and Conner's Brigade.
Battles:
Charleston Harbor (7 APR 1863)
Charleston Harbor (AUG - SEP 1863)
Cold Harbor VA (1 - 3 JUN 1864)
Petersburg Siege VA (JUN 1864 - APR 1865)
Berryville (AUG 1864)
Near Port Republic (7 OCT 1864)
Near Strasburg (14 OCT 1864)
Cedar Creek (19 OCT 1864)
Carolinas Campaign SC (FEB - APR 1865)
Averasboro (16 MAR 1865)
Bentonville NC (19 - 21 MAR 1865)
Roster:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 3252 men.
A-Co. Anderson & Pickens Captain Partlow
B-Co. Orangeburg Captain McMicheal
C-Co. Lexington Captain Leaphart
D-Co. Orangeburg Captain Danley
E-Co. Laurens Captain Cowen
F-Co. Newberry Captain Kinard
G-Co. Sumter Captain Moseley
H-Co. Lexington / Orangeburg Captain Ruff
I-Co. Lexington / Orangeburg Captain Gunter
K-Co. Lexington Captain Harmon
Co M. was formed as "Keitt's Mounted Rifles"
Bibliography for Research:
The companies which became the SC 20th Infantry Regiment were already formed and had entered their respective camps of instruction. Many of the men were recruited in Sumter, Orangeburg, and Calhoun counties. What would become Company H, 20th SCVI were drilling at Hampton's Plantation in Diamond Hill, SC. As in every unit in the south, communities and families joined up together, and the 20th was no exception. Company I had 28 members by the name of Gunter. The Captain, all three Lieutenants and seven NCOs all held the name, thus they were called the Gunter Company.
The 20th spent the early part of the war in the Charleston area, spent a time in Virginia, then fought in the Carolina’s Campaign and surrendered at Bentonville.
Dansler, O. M. - Lt. Colonel
Boykin, S. M. - Major
Wilson, John - Adjutant
Kinard, John P. - Quartermaster
Salley, Dr. Alexander S. - Surgeon
Duncan, Rev. W. W. - Chaplain
Assigned to General Kershaw's, Kennedy's, and Conner's Brigade.
Charleston Harbor (AUG - SEP 1863)
Cold Harbor VA (1 - 3 JUN 1864)
Petersburg Siege VA (JUN 1864 - APR 1865)
Berryville (AUG 1864)
Near Port Republic (7 OCT 1864)
Near Strasburg (14 OCT 1864)
Cedar Creek (19 OCT 1864)
Carolinas Campaign SC (FEB - APR 1865)
Averasboro (16 MAR 1865)
Bentonville NC (19 - 21 MAR 1865)
A-Co. Anderson & Pickens Captain Partlow
B-Co. Orangeburg Captain McMicheal
C-Co. Lexington Captain Leaphart
D-Co. Orangeburg Captain Danley
E-Co. Laurens Captain Cowen
F-Co. Newberry Captain Kinard
G-Co. Sumter Captain Moseley
H-Co. Lexington / Orangeburg Captain Ruff
I-Co. Lexington / Orangeburg Captain Gunter
K-Co. Lexington Captain Harmon
Co M. was formed as "Keitt's Mounted Rifles"