20th Indiana Infantry

Alternate Designations: None.

Commander: Col. John Wheeler (Feb. 6, 1825-July 2, 1863); Lt. Col. William C.L. Taylor (1836-1901).

Numbers: 496; 32 killed, 114 wounded, 10 missing.

Raised: Miami, Lake, Marshall, Fountain, Laporte, Cass, Tippecanoe, Marion, Porter, and White. The 20th Indiana Volunteer Infantry was organized at Lafayette, Indiana, on July 22, 1861. Pvt. Oliver P. Rood earned the Medal of Honor on the third day of the battle for capturing the flag of the 21st North Carolina. The regiment mustered out of service on July 12, 1865. 

Dedicated October 28, 1885.

Location: Junction of Sickles Avenue and Cross Avenue, above Devil’s Den and near the Wheatfield. The monument, installed above Devil’s Den, marks the position held by the 20th Indiana regiment on the right of Ward’s Brigade in the late afternoon of July 2, 1863, when they were attacked by Confederates from the Rose Farm. The monument is located on the spot where Col. John Wheeler, fell, killed while commanding the regiment.

Description: Granite monument, topped by apex roof and polished granite sphere. The monument sits on a two-tiered base. Monument is a 1.10 foot polished granite shaft with a shingled apex top with a polished sphere set on a four foot square double-layered base. Overall height is nine foot. The shaft has a raised letter inscription on the north side.

National Park Service List of Classified Monuments Number: MN141.

Sculptor: A.A. McKain

 

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