20th Battalion, Alabama Light Artillery

Brief History
20th Artillery Battalion organized at Columbus, Georgia, in November, 1863, with men from Waddell's Battery Associated unit. Waddell's Battery was organized in February, 1862, by taking six men from each company of the 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment. During the siege of Vicksburg it was captured on July 4, 1863. After the exchange its members were assigned to the 20th Alabama Artillery Battalion. Later the battalion fought at Girard where most of the men and guns were captured.

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.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors databaselists 565 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 or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in 'Alabama 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.


 * Alabama in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Alabama, 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.ind additional information.