History of the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A.

Front matter

Jmorji Idntoersitg Xibrarg

W J. McMurray, M. D.

HISTORY

Preface

Since the year 1878, the survivors of "The Twentieth Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry ' ' have met in annual Reunion somewhere in the vicinity of Nashville on the Friday nearest to the 19th of September, that day being the anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga. At the meeting in September, 1900, at Antioch, it was determined that the history of this command was worthy of perpetuation ; and by unanimous vote, I was appointed to write this history, and was made Chairman of the Publication Committee, with Dr. Deering. J. Roberts and Ralph J. Neal, members of the Committee, the latter acting as Secretary and Treasurer.

By devoting all the spare moments of a somewhat busy professional life, complicated with superadded duties, I have been able to compile this volume. A greater part of it was submitted to survivors of the various companies who were at the Reunion held at Old Jefferson, in Rutherford County, in 1902, and at the meeting held in this city at the State Capitol in September, 1903, when there were present sixty-five of the survivors, all the companies being represented by one or more members of the rank and file except Company G, to whom it was all submitted for revision, correction, or alteration, the data for Company G having been furnished by Captain Robert Anderson. With these corrections and alterations, it is most respectfully submitted to a discriminating public, with the statement, that, if the author is incorrect in his views, the same is chargeable to the sixty-five survivors of the Regiment who rejoiced together in their hours of brilliant achievements, and who mourned in unison in those times of joint trial, tribulation, and trouble.

I have endeavored to give a plain statement of facts as they were presented to me from day to day ; and while my memory and recollection as to these memorable events may to some extent be defective, it is sustained by that of the rank and file who participated therein, and were a part and parcel of that magnificent array of Southern Chivalry who served under the dashing George B. Crittenden, the irreproachable Albert Sidney Johnson, the correct disciplinarian Braxton Bragg, the heroic John B. Hood, or the peerless and immaculate Joseph E. Johnston. The few of those left may be likened unto a field of corn that was swept and broken down by some devastating storm, until only a few stalks are left to ripen and produce evidence of their class, showing the character of the men of those trying and eventful days.

Much has been written of those memorable years from 1861 to 1865, and much that we cannot accept. Yet,

"Truth when crushed to earth will rise again, For the eternal years of God are hers ! ' '

This history, sanctioned and indorsed by those who helped to make it, we ask an indulgent public to carefully consider as our part of the story, which we are willing to submit to the future.

To Mr. Ralph J. Neal, of Company E, I am indebted for the very full history of that Company, which is his version of the History of the Regiment ; and although going over the same ground as that covered by Part III of this volume, is submitted as giving his views and observations.

To Dr. Deering J. Roberts I am under obligations for his revision of the entire work, correcting the proofs, supervising the printing, and other :material assistance.

Credit is given to those who have furnished " Biographical Sketches ; " and while the History of the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment is but a part of the History of the War between the States, my extracts from the various sources have been made with all possible care and caution. My aim has been throughout, to be correct in every detail, falsus in uno , falsus in omne, being a principle that should never be lost sight of by any historian, from the greatest and most renowned to the humblest.

Yours very respectfully and sincerely,

W J. McMURRAY, M.D.

922 S. Summer St., Nashville, Tenn., January 19, 1904.