The Record of Events entries on the company muster rolls, endorsed up through the chain of command, reveals a sense of the truth of the regiment's performance at Corinth.
Company A--Left Ripley Sept. 29th for Corinth and was in the Battle on Oct. 3rd. Had 3 men wounded. Went on the charge on the Breastworks at Corinth with 75 men and came out with 5. Left Corinth on the 4th.
Company B--Arrived at Corinth on the 3rd Oct. A fight ensued on the 3rd. The Enemy was driven back. The engagement was renewed on the 4th. A general charge was made on the fortifications about 10 o’clock. We was repulsed & retreated to Holly Springs.
Company C--On the 27th Sept. marched for Corinth, which place we reached in time to take part in the action of the 3rd day of October. Was in the charge against the fortifications near town. Part of the Company reached the Breastworks and on the retreat was in the action of the 5th of Oct. at the Hatchey Bridge.
Company D--On the 27th marched for Corinth, which place it reached in time to take part in the action of the 3rd of October. Was in the charge against the breastworks near town on the 4th.
Company E--On the 27th marched for Corinth, where we arrived on the 3rd Oct. and took part in the action of that day and was in the charge against the breastworks near town on the 4th Oct., a part of the Company reaching the fortifications, and on the retreat a part of the Company was in the fight at Hatchie Bridge on the 5th.
Company F--Marched to Corinth, which place we reached in time to take part in the action of the 3d day of October. Was in the charge against the Fortification near town, part of the Company reaching the Breastworks, and on the retreat took part in the action of the 5th Oct. at Hatchey Bridge.
Company G--On the 27th of Sept. we marched for Corinth and after hard marching we reached the enemy’s outer works and commenced an attack on the third day of Oct. 1862. Was successful in part but on the 4th of Oct. the Enemy reinforced and after hard fighting on said day we were compelled to fall back, which was done in good order to Tuscumbia, when we learned the enemy was in our rear at Davis Bridge, where we engaged them again.
Company H--On the 27th Sep. marched for Corinth, which place we reached in time to take part in the action of the 3rd day of Oct. Was in the charge against the fortification near town and on the retreat was in the 3 days fight.
Company I--Was in the fight the 3rd, 4th & 5th of October. Lost 6 men wounded. Of the 6 men wounded, 4 were taken prisoners on the field. 4 men taken prisoners not hurt.
Company K--On the march to Corinth we were there, and in the fight on the 3d of Oct. and in the charge made on Corinth’s fortifications on the 4th Oct.
And an excerpt from Cabell's after-action report--...I gave the command charge. As soon as the command was given the whole line moved at double-quick almost as one man, shouting “Butler” and driving the enemy before them until they reached the crest of the enemy’s breast-works, where a greater force than I had driven in sprang up, delivering a tremendous volley in the very faces of a greater part of my whole line.... A part of the Twentieth Arkansas Regiment, under Colonel Johnson, went over the works inside of Corinth, the numbers of the enemy being so great in front, at the same time being exposed to such a dreadful cross-fire of musketry and artillery on my flank and rear, that my men were compelled to fall back with a very heavy loss of killed and wounded...
In the attack, Colonel Johnson was killed and Major Jones was severely wounded and captured. Hardly the record of a regiment that "fled without firing a shot."