During the Civil War the 20th Massachusetts Regiment was known as "The Harvard Regiment" because of the large number of Harvard educated officers. As a unit in the Second Corps, the 20th Massachusetts engaged in many battles from Balls Bluff, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness to Appomattox Court House. The 20th Massachusetts served four years and ten days with 18 commissioned officers killed and 37 wounded. While 269 enlisted men were killed and 641 wounded. The number lost as prisoners was 242. Of the 2,000 Union regiments engaged during the Civil War, the 20th Massachusetts was one of the top five that suffered the heaviest losses.

(Source: George A. Bruce's "The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865)

For more historical information about the 20th Massachusetts Infantry, visit Bob Dame's site.