1st Battalion, Tennessee Infantry (Colms') (20th Battalion) - Confederate

Brief History
The 1st Battalion, Tennessee Infantry (also called Colms' and the 20th Battalion) was organized at Camp Weakley, Tennessee, in January, 1862, with five companies. During February, 1864, it was consolidated with the 50th (Old) Tennessee Regiment to form the 50th Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.


 * Company A - Captain Mathew T. Martin, George A. Eastham. Many men from Smithville, DeKalb County.
 * Company B - Captain W. Watson. Many men from Zion, White County.
 * Company C - Captain Perry Adcock. Many men from DeKalb County.
 * Company D - Captain David Snodgrass. Many men from White County.
 * Company E - Captain William M. Simpson. Many men from White County.

The information about the counties is from Tennesseans in the Civil War.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,025 men on its roster for this unit. Search at NPS Search for Soldiers.

Regimental History and Roster

 * Hancock's diary: or, A history of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry. By Richard R. Hancock. Nashville, Tenn: Brandon printing co., 1887. Online at: Internet Archive

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in 'Tennessee in the Civil War' and 'United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865' (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Tennessee in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Tennessee, and how to find them. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * 1st Battalion, Tennessee Infantry (Colm's). Brief history, battles, partial rosters.


 * Tennesseans in the Civil War. Brief history.