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Union Flags 20th Maine - National Flag

20TH Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment This Regiment was organized at Portland, Me., August. 29th, 1862, to serve three years. At the battlefield of Antietam, they were drawn up in line of battle, but not ordered forward, being a portion of Butterfield's Brigade, of Porter's Division, which was held in reserve. They afterwards encamped near Antietam Ford. At the battle of Fredricksburg, on the 13th of December, they were under fire for the first time, and rendered conspicuous service, being under the hottest fire for thirty-six hours, after which they were withdrawn to the city, where they bivouacked a few hours, then recrossed the river and encamped near Falmouth, where they remained until the battle of Chancellorsville in May, 1863. During the battle of Chancellorsville they were detached to guard the telegraph line, and although exposed to artillery fire, suffered no loss. They arrived on the battle-field of Gettysburg on the 2d of July, and on that day were hotly engaged with the enemy, losing 3 commissioned officers killed and 134 enlisted men killed and wounded. On the 3d they were under heavy fire of artillery, but took no active part, and on the 5th joined in the pursuit of the enemy; participated in a skirmish on the Sharpsburg Pike on the 10th, and took part in the affair at Wapping Heights on the 23rd. On the 10th of October they participated in the movement to the Rapidan, retreating the next day through Culpeper, across the Rappahannock River, and supported the 2d Corps in the engagement at Bristow Station on the 13th. On the 7th of November they took part in they assault and capture of the enemy's works at Rappahannock Station, losing 1 man killed and 7 wounded, and afterwards moved across the river at Kelley's Ford. On the 8th of May they proceeded to Spotsylvania Court House, and formed in line of battle at Laurel Hill. They were then ordered to report to Gen. Crawford, commanding 2d Division, 5th Corps, advanced towards the enemy, and lay under a heavy fire until 6 P.M., when they assisted in repelling the enemy's charge, losing 1 officer and 5 men killed, 2 officers and 13 men wounded, and 2 men missing. From the 13th to the 20th they occupied rifle pits in front of the enemy from Spotsylvania, and lost 4 men killed. On the 23rd they crossed the North Anna River, and participated in the action at that place; thence pushed on to the Virginia Central Railroad, a part of which they destroyed. On the 13th of June they crossed the Chickahominy, and arrived in front of Petersburg on the 18th, where they remained entrenched and under fire until Aug. 15th, when they were withdrawn, and on the 18th assisted in the capture of the Weldon Railroad. They remained on the Weldon Railroad until Sept. 30th, when they moved with their division and charged the enemy's works at Preeble's Farm, across an open field, under a terrible fire of musketry and cannister. They afterwards assisted in checking the enemy's advance, and held their ground. Their loss in these actions was 1 officer and 6 men killed and 50 men wounded. On the 2d of October they moved to the front and threw up earthworks, where they remained until Oct. 17th, when they took part in a reconnaissance to Hatcher's Run, losing 1 man killed and 2 wounded. Afterwards returned to their former position and remained building forts, strengthening works, &c., until Dec. 6th. On the 7th they joined the expedition to the Weldon Railroad, which they struck at a point between Stony Creek and Jarrett's Depot, and assisted in the destruction of about twenty miles of this road; then returned and went into camp near the Jerusalem Plank Road, where they remained until Feb. 5th, 1865, when they moved to Hatcher's Run and took part in the action at that place on the 6th, with but slight loss. They skirmished with the enemy and gained possession of the Boydton Road, on the 31st of March and were engaged in the action at Gravelly Run, and on the 1st of April at Five Forks. At the latter place they were one of the first to gain the works of the enemy, where they captured one battle flag and a large number of prisoners. They afterwards joined in the pursuit of the enemy and came up with them on the 8th at Appomattox Court House. At the time of the surrender of the rebel army the regiment was skirmishing with the enemy, and at the completion of the terms of surrender, was one of the regiments designated to receive the rebel arms.

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