Confederate service · Virginia

20th Virginia Infantry

Discover the people remembered in this unit and the family stories shared by our community.

Regiment archive

Names remembered

11 entries

Company B

Private

James Henry Buckner, my 3rd. Great Uncle, born in Lunenburg County Virginia in 1840 joined Pryors Rifles, Co. B, 20th. Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army. He was wounded (5) times, lost his right arm. This man and all the brave veterans are to be honored and praised for their courage and duty to the Confederate States of America. He after lived in Richmond, Va. on Perry St. and was injured while working for the Railroad at 17th. and Dock streets in Richmond. He died on Nov. 25, 1914 from these injuries at 74 years of age and was buried in Maury Cemetery in South Richmond..
Contributor Jerry Dunford Sr.Date added 5/15/2016

Company B

Rank unknown

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Bishop F. HagueDate added 11/19/2004

Company C

1st Sergeant

Claudius (Claude) Rader, my great-grandfather, first served in Co. E, 31st Virginia Infantry from 1861-1862. Company E was primarily a Highland County, VA Company but Claude joined in Beverly, VA (now WV). Claude was discharged in 1862 in Bunker Hill, VA right after the bloody Battle of Sharpsburg, MD. Reason for discharge: underage when he joined the CSA and the Confederate Government passed a law permitting soldiers to request a discharge if they were under the age of eighteen when they initially joined the CSA. In 1863 Claude joined Co. C, 20th Virginia Calvary as 1st Sergeant. He was captured at Droop Mountain, WV in December 1863 and remained a POW for the remainder of the war. He was processed at a POW camp in Wheeling, WV then sent to Camp Chase, OH for a short period and then for the remainder of the war at Fort Delaware, DE. While at the Fort Delaware Claude is listed in the POW records as Charles G. Rader (not as Claudius G, Rader) and as C.G. Rader, 1st Sergeant, Company C. 20th VA Infantry. Claude took the oath and was paroled in June 1865 and returned home to Randolph County, West Virginia where he spent the remainder of his life with the exception of a short period later in his life when he spent a short time in Brownsville, Texas living with his U.S. Army career officer son, Captain John Ewell Rader, Sanitary Corps.
Contributor Bryan RaderDate added 3/12/2016

Company C

Rank unknown

According to records obtained from the National Archives in Washington, D.C. W. L. Reese was a member of Company C, 20th VA Infantry. He was originally from Lunenburg County, Virginia. After the war he relocated to Dinwiddie County, Virginia and raised a family of 3 boys and 1 girl.
Contributor Juanita Wells Date added 7/2/2012

Company C

Private

Benjamin William Wilkes was born in Lunenburg county, Virginia in 1818. He enlisted in Captain Allens ' Lunenburg Rebel Artillery ' 20th. Virginia Infantry Regiment, Confederate States Army when he was about 44 years of age. He died may 27,1865 in Point Lookout Prison, Md. as a Prisoner of War and was buried in the Confederate Cemetery. He was my 3rd. Great Uncle.
Contributor Jerry DunfordDate added 5/7/2017

Company D

Private

George was born 11 Feb 1841 in Powhatan County, Va. He served in 3 Regiments: 1st was 20th Va. which was organized June 1861 under command of Lt. Col. John Pegram and served under Garnett's Brigade. The 20th was short lived as it surrendered at the battle of Rich Mountain on 11 July 1861. It was not reorganized. George has 13 items in this archival record. He is next found in the 46th Regiment Va. Infantry, as mentioned in that regiment's documentation. He is then found in 3rd Co B of the 59th Va Infantry aka [Wise Legion] He has 20 items in that archival record. He was exchanged 12 Aug 1862 after his capture at Rich Mountain. Enlisted at Chaffin's Farm 1 Sept 1862 in Wise's Legion. Sept 1864 he is on detached duty. Surrendered 25 April and Swallowed the Yellow Dog. He died 15 Jan 1918 and is buried in Dorset, Pawhatan Co. Va. He was my 4th cousin 4 x removed
Contributor Phillip ThomasDate added 3/19/2025

Company D

Rank unknown

Buried at Grub Hill church in Amelia, VA. Headstone is next to that of my great-grandfather. Has no birth/death dates. Not sure if he is related.
Contributor MikeDate added 5/10/2014

Company F

2nd Lieutenant

Name: P Ford (Peter Fletcher Ford); Enlistment Date: 29 May 1861; Enlistment Place: Buckingham County, Virginia; Side Served: Confederacy; State Served: Virginia; Service Record: Enlisted as a 4th Corporal on 29 May 1861. Enlisted in Company F, 20th Infantry Regiment Virginia on 29 May 1861; Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant on 30 Jul 1862. Killed Company F, 20th Infantry Regiment Virginia on 3 Jul 1863 at Gettysburg, PA.
Contributor M HeadleyDate added 4/27/2008

Company G

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor James LunsfordDate added 2/9/2013

Company H

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Janet PerkinsDate added 6/21/2005

Company H

Private

Captured and died at Rock Island Prison 6/15/64.
Contributor Wm. Robert WrightDate added 11/10/2009

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