This regiment was organized at Montgomery, Sept. 16, 1861, and proceeded to Mobile in November. In February 1862 it went to Knoxville, and was placed under Gen. Leadbetter of Mobile. Transferred to Barton's brigade, the Twentieth operated for some time in east Tennessee, and advanced into Kentucky with Gen. Kirby Smith, being in Reynolds' brigade, Heth's division. It was in the pursuit of Gen. Sill on Salt river, and joined Gen. Bragg just after the battle of Perryville. The regiment was in Col. T.H. Taylor's brigade for a short time, but shortly after the return to Tennessee a brigade of Alabamians was organized - the Twentieth, Twenty-third, Thirtieth, Thirty-first, and Forty-sixth regiments - and placed under Gen. Tracy of Madison, and in Stevenson's division. A few days prior to the battle of Murfreesboro, the division was sent to Vicksburg, and the regiment fought at Port Gibson the following spring, losing heavily in casualties. At Baker's Creek it again suffered severely, and was then pent up in Vicksburg. During that dreary siege the ranks of the Twentieth were greatly thinned, and it surrendered with the fortress. After the fall of Gen. Tracy at Port Gibson, Gen. S.D. Lee of South Carolina commanded the brigade, till Gen. Pettus of Dallas was placed over it in the parol camp at Demopolis. Ordered to join Gen. Bragg, the Twentieth participated in the battle of Mission Ridge without loss. The winter was passed at Dalton, and the regiment was engaged in the constant fighting from Dalton to Atlanta, being conspicuous at Rocky-face, and losing heavily at Kennesa. Its colors were borne through the iron hail at Jonesboro, and the remnant suffered severely. It moved into Tennessee with Gen. Hood, and lost largely at Nashville. From that disastrous field the Twentieth passed into North Carolina, and fought at Kinston and Bentonville. It was surrendered at Salisbury - about 165 rank and file. Of the original 1100 men with which the Twentieth took the field, only 63 were present at Salisbury.
Field and Staff
Colonels - Robert T. Jones of Perry; transferred. Isham W. Garrot of Perry; promoted, but killed at Vicksburg in command of the regiment. Edmund W. Pettus of Dallas; promoted. Jas. M. Dedman of Dallas; wounded near Franklin.
Lieutenant Colonels - I.W. Garrot of Perry; promoted. E.W. Pettus; captured at Port Gibson, but escaped; promoted. James M. Dedman of Dallas; promoted. Mitchell T. Porter of Jefferson; resigned. John W. Davis of Shelby; wounded at Rocky- face, and Marietta.
Majors - E.W. Pettus; promoted. A.S. Pickering of Perry; killed at Port Gibson. James M. Dedman; promoted. M.T. Porter; promoted. John W. Davis; wounded at Marietta; promoted. John G. Harris of Greene.
Adjutants - John L. Smith of Dallas; promoted to the adjutancy of the brigade. Francis M. Vance of Dallas.
Captains, and Counties from Which Companies Came.
Perry - A.S. Pickering; promoted. Leroy E. Davis.
Dallas and Bibb - James M Dedman wounded at Vicksburg; promoted. Thomas K. Fergusson.
Jefferson - Mitchell T. Porter; promoted. Jack Ayres; killed at Jonesboro. Andrew J. Tarrant.
Bibb - R. Hobson Pratt;* captured at Port Gibson. Lieut. Wm. Lowery commanded.
Greene - .... Watkins; resigned. John McKee Gould; detailed on Gen. Pettus' staff. Lieut. J.S. Smith commanded.
Perry and Bibb - Lucius J. Lockett; resigned. W.H. Sheppard; resigned. Isaac W. Parrish.
Shelby, Bibb, and Jefferson - John W. Davis; promoted. R.M. Deshazo; resigned. Geo. S. Nave; wounded at Marietta.
Perry and Bibb - John P. Peterson; resigned. Samuel W. Davisdon.
Greene - John G. Harris; promoted. Albert Avery; resigned. Noah H. Gewin.
Tuskaloosa - Jos. C. Guild; resigned. Benj. Massingale.
*This officer remained in prison during the war, and was entitled to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the regiment over Col. Davis.
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