| 20th Arkansas Infantry (Confederate) | |
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Arkansas state flag |
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| Active | 1861 to 1865 |
| Country | Confederate States of America |
| Allegiance | CSA |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Arkansas Confederate Infantry Regiments | |
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The 20th Arkansas Infantry (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. The unit was also known as the 22nd Arkansas Infantry.
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The 20th Arkansas infantry was originally organized as the 22nd Arkansas Infantry at DeValls Bluff, Arkansas, on April 9, 1862, with the following officers:[1]
The regiment was composed of volunteer companies from the following counties:[1]
In May 1862, the Confederate Army underwent an army-wide reorganization due to the passage of the Conscription Act by the Confederate Congress in April 1962. All twelve-month regiments had to re-muster and enlist for two years or the duration of the war; a new election of officers was ordered; and men who were exempted from service by age or other reasons under the Conscription Act were allowed to take a discharge and go home. Officers who did not choose to stand for re-election were also offered a discharge. The reorganization was accomplished among all the Arkansas regiments in and around Corinth, Mississippi, following the Battle of Shiloh.[2] Upon reorganization at Corinth on May 8, 1862 the 22nd Arkansas was redisgnated as the 20th Arkansas Inantry.[3] The regimental officers chosen when the 20th was reorganized for the war were:[4]
20th Infantry Regiment, formerly G. W. King's 22nd Regiment, moved east of the Mississippi River and at the Battles of Corinth and Hatchie Bridge reported 92 casualties. Colonel Johnson was killed at the battle of Corinth, and Lieutenant-Colonel Fletcher became colonel, but resigned on account of disability, when Maj. Daniel W. Jones was promoted to colonel, and Captain Robertson succeeded him as major of the regiment. The regiment was assigned to General M. E. Green's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana when Major Robertson was killed in The battle of Big Black in rear of Vicksburg. The regiment was at the bombardment of Fort Pillow and in the battles of Farmington, Corinth, Coffeeville, Mississippi, Big Black river bridge, endured the Siege of Vicksburg, and was surrendered on July 4, 1863.
Exchanged, reorganized, and mounted, at Washington, Arkansas, in the fall of 1863, the 20th was attached to Dockery's Brigade in the Trans-Mississippi Department.[5] During this period, the Arkansas State Military Board officially resignated the regiment as the 41st Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Mounted).[6] This disgnation was completely ignored by the unit and it's commander, but the unit is occasionally referred to as the 20th Arkansas Cavalry.[3]
Colonel Jones, who had been taken prisoner at Corinth and exchanged, was again a prisoner at the capitulation of Vicksburg. After being exchanged, the regiment reentered the service as cavalry under Colonel Jones, and was at the skirmishes on the Little Missouri and Prairie d'ane, and the battles of Marks' Mills and Jenkins' Ferry, in April 1864; and during the raid to the Missouri river took part in the battles of Pilot Knob, Booneville, Independence and Marais des Cygnes, September 1864.
In November 1864, the remnants of the 18th, 19th and 20th Arkansas regiments were combined to form the 3rd Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment.[7][8] The regiment was included in the general surrender of Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi Department on May 26, 1865.[7]
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