Near Sharpsburg in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Twentieth Regiment

New York Volunteer Infantry

The 20th New York Infantry Regiment Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, February 9, 2008

1. The 20th New York Infantry Regiment Monument

At around 1 p.m., September 17, 1862, the regiment held a line in the vicinity of the Visitors Center. They were ordered to attack Confederate skirmishers located near the Dunker Church (in the distance) along the Hagerstown Pike. While temporarily successful, the regiment was exposed and forced to retire.

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

(Front Face):
1861-1865
Twentieth Regiment
New York Volunteer Infantry
Turner Rifles
Third Brigade Second Division
Sixth Army Corps
(Left Side): Hatteras, N.C., Norfolk, Va.;
Seven Days Battles Before
Richmond, Crampton's Pass,
Antietam,
Fredericksburg,
Chancellorsville.
—————
(Back Face): The 20th Regiment N.Y. Vols.
was organized by the New York Turn - Verein
Mustered into U.S. Service
May 6, 1861
and Mustered out June 1, 1863
—————
(Right
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Side):
Casualties at the Battle of
Antietam
38 Killed
96 Wounded
11 Missing
————

Erected 1910 by State of New York.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 17, 1862.

Location. 39° 28.476′ N, 77° 44.689′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is on Dunker Church Road / Old Hagerstown Pike, on the right when traveling north. Located on the north side of the Antietam Battlefield Visitors Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sharpsburg MD 21782, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Deadly Struggle (within shouting distance of this marker); Battlefield Namesake (within shouting distance of this marker); The Maryland Campaign of 1862

Front of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 5, 2007

2. Front of Monument

(within shouting distance of this marker); New York State Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); A Savage Continual Thunder (within shouting distance of this marker); A Converging Storm of Iron (within shouting distance of this marker); Model 1841 6-Pounder Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); Model 1857 12-Pounder Gun-Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); Lee’s Artillery Battalion (within shouting distance of this marker); 3-Inch Ordnance Rifle (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.

Twentieth Regiment Marker<br>Front Panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015

3. Twentieth Regiment Marker
Front Panel

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Monuments to the 20th New York

Also see . . .
1. Twentieth Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry Monument. National Park Service page detailing this monument. Note there is a second 20th New York Monument at the National Cemetery further south off Boonsboro Pike. (Submitted on March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. The Turner Rifles. Organized as a function of the United Turner Club, the regiment was known as the "Turner Rifles" or by the German name of the club, Vereinigte Turner Verein, often shortened to Turnverein. (Submitted on March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

3. Twentieth Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry. Antietam on the Web entry (Submitted on March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Left Face of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 5, 2007

4. Left Face of Monument

Additional commentary.
1. The United Turners Club
The "Turners" dated to the Napoleonic era. In 1807 the Prussian army was forbidden to organize as part of a truce with France. The Turners were a movement led by former military officers, keeping alive drill and discipline under the auspices of gymnastics. The movement continued to grow after Napoleon was defeated, and became a political force in Prussia. After the revolutions of 1848, many Turners immigrated to the United States, bringing with them the Turner Clubs. Adopting their new country, these organizations readily transformed into volunteer regiments from New York, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and other major cities. Their symbol was an owl, a laurel, and a torch, which can be seen above

Back Face of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 5, 2007

5. Back Face of Monument

the bronze relief on the front side of the monument.

— Submitted March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.

Right Face of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 5, 2007

6. Right Face of Monument

The Turner Symbol on Front of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, April 6, 2008

7. The Turner Symbol on Front of Monument

Twentieth Regiment Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015

8. Twentieth Regiment Monument

The 20th New York Monument Stands South of the New York State Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 5, 2007

9. The 20th New York Monument Stands South of the New York State Monument

Credits. This page was last revised on April 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,027 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on October 16, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 7. submitted on April 16, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 8. submitted on October 16, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 9. submitted on March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.