20th Regiment, Maine Infantry

Brief History
The 20th Regiment, Maine Infantry was organized at Portland, and mustered in August 29, 1862. They mustered out July 16, 1865 with the old members mustering out June 4, 1865.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section, 20th Regiment Infantry, (accessed 30 May 2012).
 * The Wikipedia article, 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, (accessed 6 July 2012).

20th Regiment, Maine Infantry timeline from organization to discharge.

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 G - Official final muster roll

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 3,600 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Maine 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.


 * Maine in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Maine, 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.


 * Army life: a private's reminiscences of the Civil War Google Books - Includes a description of activities of the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment.


 * Chamberlain, Joshua Lawrence. The passing of the armies : an account of the final campaign of the Army of the Potomac, based upon personal reminiscences of the Fifth Army Corps.(Bethesda, Maryland: University Publications of America, c1991) (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991).


 * Desjardin, Thomas A. Stand firm ye boys from Maine : the 20th Maine and the Gettysburg campaign (20th Maine Infantry Regiment). (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania : Thomas Publications, c1995),


 * Gerrish, Theodore. Army life : a private's reminiscences of the Civil War. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991).


 * Prince, Howard L. Dedication of the Twentieth Maine monuments at Gettysburg, Oct. 3, 1889 : with report of annual reunion, Oct. 2d, 1889. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991),


 * Pullen, John J. The twentieth Maine: a volunteer regiment in the Civil War (Dayton, Maine : Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1984) and A shower of stars : the medal of honor and the 27th Maine. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : J.B. Lippincott, c1966).


 * Stand firm ye boys from Maine : the 20th Maine and the Gettysburg campaign Google Books


 * United States. Army. Maine Infantry Regiment, 20th (1862-1865). Reunions of the Twentieth Maine Regiment Association at Portland. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991),