[
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Twentieth regiment Massachusetts Infantry.
（1)
Col. William R. Lee,
Bvt. Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols.
（2)
Col. Francis W. Palfrey,
Bvt. Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols.
（3)
Col. Paul J. Revere,
Bvt. Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols.
（4)
Col. George N. Macy,
Bvt Maj. Gen. U. S. Vols.
| Field and Staff. | Line. | Band. | companies. | Unassigned Recruits. | Totals. |
| | | | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K |
| Number on regimental rolls,— |
| Officers, | 25 | 92 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 117 |
| Enlisted men,1 | 16 | – | 24 | 258 | 225 | 220 | 216 | 217 | 247 | 245 | 221 | 243 | 229 | 38 | 2,399 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,516 |
| Enlisted men (included above) commissioned in regiment.2 | 4 | – | – | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | – | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | – | 36 |
| Enlisted men (included above) serving elsewhere within regiment. | – | – | – | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 4 | – | – | 10 |
| Totals, | 4 | – | – | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | – | 6 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 2 | – | 46 |
| Actual total of members of regiment,— |
| Officers, | 25 | 92 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 117 |
| Enlisted men, | 12 | – | 24 | 254 | 220 | 216 | 212 | 217 | 241 | 240 | 217 | 235 | 227 | 38 | 2,353 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,470 |
The 20th Mass. Infantry was recruited at Readville, Mass., in July and August, 1861.
The officers having been mustered in during July and the main body of the regiment August 28, the command left the
State September 4 under
Col. William Raymond Lee, a graduate of
West Point.
As it was not yet recruited to the maximum, two officers remained in
Massachusetts for further recruiting.
The regiment was sent to
Poolesville, Md., and took an active part at Ball's Bluff October 21, crossing the river at
Harrison's Island about noon of that day and engaging in the battle of the afternoon with great loss.
Colonel Lee was made prisoner and
Lieutenant-Colonel Palfrey took charge of the regiment.
Under his command it moved to the Shenandoah valley in March, 1862; returning to
Washington, it embarked for the
Peninsula, becoming part of
Sumner's Corps, Army of the Potomac.
It was engaged during the siege of
Yorktown, took part at the
battle of Fair Oaks May 31, at Allen's Farm, Savage's Station,
Glendale and
Malvern Hill, engaging again at
Malvern Hill August 4.
Colonel Lee had rejoined the regiment just before the surrender of
Yorktown.
The regiment, as part of
Sedgwick's Division, joined in the charge in support of the 1st and 12th Corps on the morning of September 17 at
Antietam.
At Fredericksburg it formed part of the volunteer force to cross the river and advance into the town on the morning of December 11, engaging again on the 13th.
It was in action at
Chancellorsville May 3, 1863, and was engaged at
Gettysburg July 2 (when
Colonel Revere was mortally wounded), and took part again during
Pickett's charge on the afternoon of July 3.
While in winter quarters, at
Stevensburg, Va, 173 members of the regiment enlisted for another term of service.
As part of the 2d Corps, the regiment shared in the engagements at the
Wilderness,
Spotsylvania,
North Anna and Cold Harbor, engaging in the assault of
Petersburg and in the siege.
On July 18, 1864, those whose term of service bad expired returned to
Massachusetts and were mustered out. About 200 men were added to the regiment from the 15th Mass. Infantry, and it continued in service in the trenches, under command of
Major Patten.
At Reams' Station, August 25, nearly all the members of the regiment were taken prisoners.
Its ranks much depleted, it took part in the final operations about
Petersburg, and, following the
Confederates to
Farmville and
Appomattox, encamped, after the surrender, at Burke's Station, Va. Taking part in the grand review at
Washington May 23, it encamped near the
capitol until its muster out on July 15, and, returning to
Massachusetts, it received its final discharge and payment July 28, 1865.
