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XX Corps-Hooker's Civil War Facts


This corps was formed April 4, 1864, by taking the XII Corps, which was composed of the veteran divisions of Williams and Geary, and adding to it Butterfield's newly organized division. At the same time, two divisions of the XI Corps were broken up and distributed to the divisions of Williams, Geary and Butterfield. The badge of the XII Corps was retained, and there was no good reason why its number should not have been retained also; the brigade and division generals of the XII Corps retained their respective commands, and little change was made other than the increase by accessions of transferred material.

Each division now contained 3 brigades, containing in all 52 regiments of infantry, and 6 batteries of light artillery, numbering 21,280 officers and men present for duty. It was all veteran material, the most of the regiments having served with the Army of the Potomac in many of the greatest battles of the war, and, later on, at Wauhatchie and Lookout Mountain. Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker was placed in command. It was a grand corps, and worthy of the hero who was to lead it.

In addition to the 3 divisions of Williams, Geary and Butterfield, there was a 4th Division, under command of Maj. Gen. Lovell H. Rousseau. This division was detached on post or garrison duty and never joined the corps; in fact, the men of the XX Corps were unaware of the existence of a 4th Division. A part of Rousseau's Division was engaged in the Tennessee campaign against Maj. Gen. John B. Hood, in 1864, and was present at the battle of Nashville.

The XX Corps started, May 4, 1864, on the Atlanta campaign, and during the next 4 months participated in all the important battles, its hardest fighting occurring at Resaca, May 15th, at New Hope Church, May 25th, and at Peach Tree Creek, July 20th. It was also actively engaged in the investment and siege of Atlanta, sustaining losses daily in killed and wounded while occupying the trenches. During the 4 months fighting from Chattanooga to Atlanta, it lost over 7,000 men killed, wounded and missing. Before reaching Atlanta, Hooker had a disagreement with Sherman, and asked to be relieved. He was succeeded by Maj. Gen. Henry W. Slocum, the former commander of the XII Corps, and one of the ablest generals in the Union armies. Gen. Butterfield, commanding the 3rd Division, was succeeded during the campaign by Gen. William C. Ward. Upon the evacuation of Atlanta, some troops of the XX Corps--Coburn's Brigade of Ward's Division--were the first to enter and occupy the city, the entire corps remaining there to hold their important prize, while Sherman and the rest of the Army marched in pursuit of Hood.

On November 15, 1864, Sherman and his men started on their grand march through Georgia to the Sea, the Army of the Cumberland--XIV and XX Corps--forming the Right Wing, under command of Gen. Slocum. Gen. A. S. Williams, of the 1st Division, succeeded to the command of the corps, with Jackson, Geary, and Ward as division generals. When it started on this march, the corps numbered 13,741, present for duty, and contained 47 regiments of infantry, 1 of engineers, 1 of pontoniers, and 4 batteries of light artillery. It was actively engaged at the siege of Savannah, and upon Hardee's evacuation, December 20th, Geary's Division was the first to enter the city.

Leaving Savannah in February, 1865, the Army marched northward through the Carolinas, and at the battle of Averasboro (N. C.), the XX Corps was the only infantry engaged; loss, 77 killed, and 475 wounded. Three days later, Jackson's and Ward's Divisions were hotly engaged in Slocum's battle at Bentonville. At the close of the campaign, in April, 1865, Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Mower was assigned to the command of the corps, whereupon Gen. Williams resumed his old command, that of the 1st, or Red Star Division.

Williams, whose commission as brigadier dated May 17, 1861, had commanded this division from the beginning of the war. It was remarkable as being the only division which served during the war without a change of commander. Williams commanded it at Winchester, May, 1862, and rode at its head in the Grand Review of May, 1865; he was absent only when in temporary command of the corps. He commanded the XII Corps at Antietam, Mansfield having been killed while going into action; also, at Gettysburg, Slocum being in command then of the Right Wing. He also commanded the XX Corps while on the March to the Sea and through the Carolinas; at the battles of Averasboro and Bentonville.
He was an able officer, enjoying to the fullest extent the respect and confidence of every officer and man in his division. Denied the commission of a major-general which he had earned so well, and superseded in command of his corps, the gallant old patriot made no sign of complaint, and continued to serve his country faithfully and well. The persistent refusal to recognize Williams' services together with the influence and motives which prompted such action were discreditable, to say the least.

The campaign in the Carolinas having ended in Johnston's surrender, the XX Corps marched on to Washington, D.C., where it participated in the Grand Review, and was then disbanded.

Major Battles Fought In

  1. Rocky Face Ridge
  2. Resaca
  3. Cassville
  4. New Hope Church
  5. Dallas
  6. Pine Knob
  7. Golgotha
  8. Culp's Farm
  9. Kenesaw Mountain
  10. Peach Tree Creek
  11. Siege Of Atlanta
  12. Sherman's " March To The Sea"
  13. Siege Of Savannah
  14. Argyle Island
  15. Monteith Swamp
  16. Averasboro
  17. Bentonville
  18. Nashville
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