The 20th Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Randall in Madison and mustered into service on August 23, 1862. The regiment left Wisconsin for St. Louis, Missouri, on August 30, and quickly traveled to Benton Barracks on September 2 and then to Rolla, Missouri, on September 6.
Expeditions and service took the regiment through Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, and Alabama over the next three years. It participated in the Battle of Prairie Grove, the Siege of Vicksburg, the protection of the American Consul in Matamoras, Mexico, and the assault and the capture of Fort Blakely, Alabama. The regiment was ordered to Galveston, Texas, and served on duty there until July 14, 1865, when it mustered out.
It lost 251 men during service. Five officers and 100 enlisted men were killed. One officer and 145 enlisted men died from disease.
Officers:
Colonel Bertine Pinckney (June 1, 1862 – December 6, 1862) was assigned to brigade command shortly after arriving in theater, suffered a stroke and resigned in late 1862. Before becoming colonel of the 20th Wisconsin Infantry, he was major and lieutenant colonel in the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war he served in the Kansas House of Representatives.
Colonel Henry Bertram (December 6, 1862 – March 13, 1865) was lieutenant colonel when the regiment was raised, was acting commander of the regiment when Colonel Pinckney served as brigade commander. Was promoted to colonel after Pinckney's resignation, remained the nominal commander of the regiment for the rest of the war, but also served as brigade commander for much of that time. Before joining the 20th Wisconsin Infantry, he was a 1st lieutenant and captain of Co. A, 3rd Wisconsin Infantry. After the war, he received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, was sheriff of Dodge County, Wisconsin, and was mayor of Watertown, Wisconsin, for three terms.
Lt. Colonel Henry A. Starr (March 13, 1865 – July 14, 1865) served as acting commander of the regiment when Colonel Bertram was in command of the brigade.
Assignments:
Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Frontier, Dept. of Missouri, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Herron's Division, 13th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to August, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 13th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. United States Forces, Texas, to August, 1864. United States Forces, Mobile Bay, to December, 1864. District of Southern Alabama, Dept. of the Gulf, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Reserve Corps, Military Division West Mississippi, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 13th Army Corps (New), Military Division West Mississippi, to July, 1865.
Battles:
Battle of Prairie Grove
Siege of Vicksburg
Siege of Fort Morgan
Service:
March to Springfield, Mo., September 10-24, 1862; thence to Cassville October 11-14. Expedition to Cross Hollows over Boston Mountains October 17-24. March to Wilson's Creek November 4-22. Forced march to relief of General Blount December 3-6. Battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., December 7. Duty at Prairie Grove until December 27. Expedition over Boston Mountains to Van Buren December 27-29. Duty at various points in Missouri until March 31, 1863. At Lake Springs, Mo., until June. Moved to St. Louis, Mo., thence to Vicksburg, Miss., June 3-10. Siege of Vicksburg June 12-July 4. Expedition to Yazoo City July 12-21. Capture of Yazoo City July 13. Moved to Port Hudson, La., July 23, and duty there until August 28. Moved to Carrollton August 28, and duty there until September 5. Expedition to Morganza September 5-October 11. Atchafalaya September 8-9. Expedition to Rio Grande, Texas, October 24-November 10. Moved to Brownsville, Texas, November 5-6. Occupation of Brownsville November 6. Garrison duty at Fort Brown until July 28, 1864. Cross Rio Grande to Matamoras, Mexico, January 12, 1864, to protect American Consul and assist in the removal of property belonging to American citizens. Moved to Carrollton August 1-5, thence to Mobile Bay, Ala. Operations against Fort Morgan August 9-23. Capture of Fort Morgan August 23. Duty at Navy Cove, near Fort Morgan, until December 14. Expedition from Mobile Bay to Bonsecours and Fish River September 9-11. Moved to Pascagoula December 14, thence to Franklin Creek. Captured 8,000,000 feet of lumber and raft it through enemy's country to Griffin's Mills, where 7,000,000 feet more were captured. Moved to Navy Cove December 31, and duty there until March, 1865. Campaign against Mobile and its Defenses March 17-April 12. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 8. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Duty at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely collecting stores, ammunition and Artillery until May 6. Moved to Mobile May 6, and duty there until June 22. Ordered to Galveston, Texas, June 22, and duty there until July 14. Mustered out July 14, 1865.
Rosters:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 1793 men. The counties where the companies were formed are unknown.
Bibliography:
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2003.
Love, William D. Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion. Chicago: Church and Goodman, 1866. E537L79. Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
Quiner, E.B. The Military History of Wisconsin. Chicago: Clarke, 1866. E537Q75.
Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
Rigdon, John C. Wisconsin Civil War Soldiers Index. Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
Historical Sketch: