20th Maine Regiment

The 20th Maine Regiment was mustered in at Augusta, Maine, for three years' service on August 29, 1862, and were mustered out on July 16, 1865. Of the 1,621 men enrolled in the regiment, 147 were killed or died of wounds, 146 died of disease, and 15 were in Confederate prisons.

They served in the following engagements:

Antietam, MD - September 17, 1862
Shepherdstown Ford, VA - September 19 - 20, 1862
Fredericksburg, VA - December 13, 1862
Chancellorsville, VA - May 1 - 4, 1863
Middleburg, VA - June 17, 1863
Gettysburg, PA - July 1 - 3, 1863
Sharpsburg Pike, MD - July 1863
Rappahannock Station, VA - November 7, 1863
Mine Run, VA - November 26 - December 1, 1863
Wilderness, VA - May 5 - 7, 1864
Spotsylvania, VA - May 7 - 20, 1864
North Anna, VA - May 23 - 27, 1864
Totopotomy, VA - May 26, - 30, 1864
Bethesda Church, VA - May 30 - June 1, 1864
Cold Harbor, VA - May 31 - June 12, 1864
Petersburg, VA - June 1864
Jerusalem Plank Road, VA - June 22 - 23, 1864
Weldon Railroad, VA - August 18 - 21, 1864
Peebles Farm, VA - September 30 - October 2, 1864
Hatchers Run, VA - December 8 - 9, 1864
Quaker Road, VA - March 29, 1865
Gravelly Run, VA - March 29, 1865
Five Forks, VA - March 30 - April 1, 1865
Appomattox, VA - March 29 - April 9, 1865

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (1828-1914), is best known for his heroic participation in the Battle of Gettysburg. Lieutenant Colonel Chamberlain led his 20th Maine Infantry in a desperate bayonet charge down Little Round Top on July 2, 1863. Fearing Chamberlain to be near death from wounds at Petersburg in 1864, General Ulysses Grant gave him a field promotion to Brigadier General. Surviving against all odds, Chamberlain received the Confederate surrender at Appomatox Court House, Virginia, in April 1865. Chamberlain served four terms as Maine's governor and later as president of Bowdoin College.

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1863-07-05 M.A. Farwell writes Governor Coburn regarding recommendation of Colonel Chamberlain

M. A. Farwell
1863-07-06 Chamberlain's Gettysburg battle report

Joshua L. Chamberlain
1863-07-11 Chamberlain writes to Adjutant General Hodsdon regarding the lack of supplies

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
1863-07-12 Charles D. Gilmore requests promotion to command one of the draft regiments

Charles D. Gilmore
1863-07-13 20th Maine Casualties at Battle of Gettysburg

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
1863-07-14 John H. Rice recommends Reverend Alfred C. Godfrey for chaplain

John H. Rice
1863-07-17 Chamberlain cover letter to John Hodsdon regarding May monthly return

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
1863-07-20 John Pool, Jr. writes from McClellan Hospital in Philadelphia inquiring about state aid for enlisting

John Pool Jr.
1863-07-21 Letter from Chamberlain to Governor Coburn after Gettysburg

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
1863-07-23 J.M. Kennedy writes from the US General Hospital requesting transfer to hospital in Maine or New York

J. M. Kennedy
1863-07-24 Special Order 329, honorably discharging Private N.H. DeCoster to enable him to accept appointment in the US Colored Troops

War Department
1863-07-29 Colonel Adelbert Ames and Colonel Chamberlain recommend Captain Fogler for promotion

Adelbert Ames and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
1863-07-29 Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain writes regarding Verano Bryant and deaths of Billings and Estes

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
1863-08-07 Chamberlain writes to Governor Coburn regarding deaths of Billings and Linscott

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
1863-08-11 Captain Atherton W. Clark sends regimental returns to Adjutant General Hodsdon

Atherton W. Clark
1863-08-13 C.C. Hayes writes Governor Coburn about the status of the regiment

C. C. Hayes
1863-08-13 Charles Gilman writes urging discharge of George H. Bickford

Charles Gilman
1863-08-18 James Cochrane recommends Captain Prentiss M. Fogler for promotion

James Cochrane
1863-08-22 Captain Atherton W. Clark sends the July 1863 regimental return

Atherton W. Clark
1863-08-22 Warren Sheldon requests a recommendation as police detective

Warren Sheldon
1863-08-25 Elliot Walker recommends Dr. John Benson for surgeon

Elliot Walker
1863-08-25 Letter from Chamberlain regarding 3rd Brigade Command

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
1863-08-30 Private Moses G. Rice requests help in obtaining state aid for his wife

Moses G. Rice
1863-08-31 Chamberlain recommends Adelbert Twitchell for promotion

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
1863-08-31 Lieutenant Colonel Charles Gilmore recommends Dr. Martin for surgeon

Charles D. Gilmore

Page 15 of 27

20th Maine Regiment

1863-07-05 M.A. Farwell writes Governor Coburn regarding recommendation of Colonel Chamberlain

1863-07-06 Chamberlain's Gettysburg battle report

1863-07-11 Chamberlain writes to Adjutant General Hodsdon regarding the lack of supplies

1863-07-12 Charles D. Gilmore requests promotion to command one of the draft regiments

1863-07-13 20th Maine Casualties at Battle of Gettysburg

1863-07-14 John H. Rice recommends Reverend Alfred C. Godfrey for chaplain

1863-07-17 Chamberlain cover letter to John Hodsdon regarding May monthly return

1863-07-20 John Pool, Jr. writes from McClellan Hospital in Philadelphia inquiring about state aid for enlisting

1863-07-21 Letter from Chamberlain to Governor Coburn after Gettysburg

1863-07-23 J.M. Kennedy writes from the US General Hospital requesting transfer to hospital in Maine or New York

1863-07-24 Special Order 329, honorably discharging Private N.H. DeCoster to enable him to accept appointment in the US Colored Troops

1863-07-29 Colonel Adelbert Ames and Colonel Chamberlain recommend Captain Fogler for promotion

1863-07-29 Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain writes regarding Verano Bryant and deaths of Billings and Estes

1863-08-07 Chamberlain writes to Governor Coburn regarding deaths of Billings and Linscott

1863-08-11 Captain Atherton W. Clark sends regimental returns to Adjutant General Hodsdon

1863-08-13 C.C. Hayes writes Governor Coburn about the status of the regiment

1863-08-13 Charles Gilman writes urging discharge of George H. Bickford

1863-08-18 James Cochrane recommends Captain Prentiss M. Fogler for promotion

1863-08-22 Captain Atherton W. Clark sends the July 1863 regimental return

1863-08-22 Warren Sheldon requests a recommendation as police detective

1863-08-25 Elliot Walker recommends Dr. John Benson for surgeon

1863-08-25 Letter from Chamberlain regarding 3rd Brigade Command

1863-08-30 Private Moses G. Rice requests help in obtaining state aid for his wife

1863-08-31 Chamberlain recommends Adelbert Twitchell for promotion

1863-08-31 Lieutenant Colonel Charles Gilmore recommends Dr. Martin for surgeon

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