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Thread: 20th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment / "Turner Rifles"

  1. #1

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    20th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment or "Turner Rifles" Company A




    Greetings, Soldiers of the Union!

    ๑۩ General Information ۩๑

    The 20th NY is an English and German speaking Regiment which places great value on disciplin, friendliness, trust and cohesion. We really like to be historically accurate so we use historical accurate Commands and Ranks. You can enlist at the bottom of this Thread.

    Engagements
    Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries
    Battle of White Oak Swamp
    Battle of South Mountain
    Battle of Antietam
    Battle of Salem Church




    ๑۩ Historical knowledge ۩๑

    "The core of a soldier is moral discipline. It is intertwined with the discipline of physical and mental achievement. Total discipline overcomes adversity, and physical stamina draws on an inner strength that says drive on"
    The 20th New York was not engaged in major combat again until the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. The regiment incurred heavy losses, but their performance during the battle earned the unit praise from their superior officers.

    Their action in checking the final Confederate counterattack near Dunker Church even earned the praise of the observer who had criticized their flight at White Oak Swamp.After the war ended, the veterans of the 20th New York would dedicate two separate monuments to commemorate the actions of the unit at Antietam.






    ๑۩ Rising of the Regiment ۩๑








    The 20th New York Volunteer Infantry, also known as the "Turner Rifles," was primarily recruited in New York City, although several companies of the regiment were formed in upstate New York or New Jersey. The vast majority of recruits came from the various German-American Turner societies, with the largest number coming from New York City's Kleindeutschland neighborhood. The regiment was mustered into federal service for two years on May 6, 1861. After training in Manhattan's Turtle Bay Park, the unit left New York for Fortress Monroe, Virginia, on June 14, 1861. They departed with much fanfare, including a parade from Kleindeutschland to their transport ship and the presentation of both an American flag and the Black-Red-Gold flag of Germany's democratic revolutionaries, as well as a guide flag with the motto Bahn Frei ("Clear the Way"). To the dismay of the enlisted men, in whom was ingrained the German tradition of marksmanship, the regiment was issued with smoothbore muskets, though these would be replaced by rifles in 1862.

    The Turners were renowned as good entertainers. For the 4th of July celebration in 1861, the regiment put several much-praised concerts, with improvised lighting displays and 50 barrels of lager. The Turners were also known to hold gymnastic performances, and their choral singing was popular even among Yankee soldiers.

    While stationed at Fortress Monroe, General Benjamin Butler commanded a joint army-navy expedition to capture Confederate Forts Hatteras and Clark. In the ensuing Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries, a mixed amphibious force led by the 20th New York's commander, Colonel Max Weber, accepted the surrender of the two forts. The landing was a botched affair, in which high seas prevented the majority of the invasion force from landing and left a mere 318 men stranded on shore with inadequate provisions. The ensuing Union naval bombardment, however, forced the Confederate garrisons to surrender. The portion of the 20th which had taken part in the invasion remained in the vicinity of Forts Hatteras and Clark for several weeks, until reports reached Major General John Ellis Wool that soldiers from the regiment had committed "depredations and various outrages" on the inhabitants. Other sources suggest that the colonel of the 9th New York blamed the looting on the men of the 20th to protect the reputation of his own regiment, which had also participated.










    On June 9, 1862, the 20th New York was transferred to the VI Corps of the Army of the Potomac in preparation for the Peninsula Campaign. The regiment did not engage in pitched battle until the Battle of White Oak Swamp, in which a Confederate artillery bombardment surprised the 20th New York as they were encamped. A significant number of the enlisted men and officers were routed, including the regiment's new commander, Colonel Francis Weiss. As one eyewitness and future Medal of Honor winner in the 7th Maine Infantry remembered, the soldiers of the 20th New York "wore high, conical, black hats, and when they broke and ran the plain was dotted far and wide with their hats and knapsacks. It is a tradition in our regiment that they are running still, and their colonel, who, days before, was talking about the blood he was going to shed, and who certainly led the wild flight several lengths, may not have stopped, for he was never heard from afterwards."[11] Other officers at the brigade and divisional levels, however, reported that much of the regiment, though startled and disorganized, regrouped in the shelter of nearby woods to await the end of the bombardment. In the days following the debacle at White Oak Swamp, nine officers were forced to resign their commissions, and Colonel Ernst von Vegesack was appointed to command the unit. Weiss had been unpopular with his men, whom he considered "socialistic."

    The 20th New York was not engaged in major combat again until the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. The regiment incurred heavy losses, but their performance during the battle earned the unit praise from their superior officers. Their action in checking the final Confederate counterattack near Dunker Church even earned the praise of the observer who had criticized their flight at White Oak Swamp. After the war ended, the veterans of the 20th New York would dedicate two separate monuments to commemorate the actions of the unit at Antietam.




    ๑۩ Rank Structure ۩๑
    Normally the Insignias were in a bright blue, as you can see by the CO's,
    but the 20th New York Volunteers Co.A. always wanted to be a Skirmish Unit so they changed the colour to a dark Green.















    ---
    COs
    ---

    Captain

    1st Lieutenant

    2nd Lieutenant
    ---
    NCOs
    ---

    First Sergeant

    Sergeant

    Corporal
    ---
    Enlisted
    ---
    -/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

    Private




    ๑۩ Interested in Joining? ۩๑


    click for the historical Roster of the 20th NY.




























    1.
    Steam Name:
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    In-Game name/nickname: (if possible a historical one)
    3.
    Age:
    4.
    Time zone:
    5.
    Do you have Teamspeak?:
    6.
    Previous Regiment Experience in other games:



    If you are interested in joining the 20th New York Volunteers Co. A. just fill out the application above or, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me on steam.



    See you on the Battlefield Gents !







    Private August Westhoff with his Hardee hat.


    Map of the attack on Dunkers Church. The 20th NYSV held the position for 24 hour under artillery fire before retreating.


    Monument to 20th NYSV at Antietam Battlefield


    This Thread is still work in progress

    We're part of the







    Last edited by McConnor; 03-26-2018 at 08:32 PM.

  2. #2

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    Good luck! It's great to see some less well-known units being formed. Battles weren't just fought by the 20th Maine, Iron Brigade, LA Tigers, and the Stonewall Brigade!

    Best,
    Dman979

  3. #3
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    Good luck

  4. #4

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    ha finally you guys were able to create a new thread

    Good luck my brothers in arms!
    http://www.warofrightsforum.com/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=522&dateline=14500460  02


  5. #5

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    Good Luck, good to see my sharps have more cannon fodder

  6. #6

    USA Major General

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    I wish you good luck, gentlemen!
    Founder of the Union Army North & South
    Look at our Iron Brigade.

    Add me!

  7. #7
    nice sieht gut aus :-D

  8. #8

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    Last edited by Cookie; 07-13-2017 at 09:17 PM.


  9. #9

    USA Captain

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    Nice Pictures Cookie!
    <a href=http://www.warofrightsforum.com/showthread.php?3799-20th-New-York-Volunteer-Infantry-Regiment-quot-Turner-Rifles-quot&s=23f188e186f8cb092320dc82f643592c target=_blank>http://www.warofrightsforum.com/show...20dc82f643592c</a>

  10. #10

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    20170713202115_1.jpg20170713202127_1.jpg20170713202141_1.jpg20170713202631_1.jpg
    Some pictures I took at the drill yesterday, organized by Martin Brauer and his Squad (from the 52nd NY)... we were three of the 20th NY there.
    Last edited by Cookie; 08-07-2017 at 05:04 PM.


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