2nd Florida Infantry
The 2nd Florida Infantry was an infantry regiment that fought in service of the Confederate States Army in the American Civil War.
2nd Florida Infantry | |
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Active | July 1861 – April 10, 1865 |
Country | |
Allegiance | |
Branch | |
Role | Infantry |
Part of | Army of Northern Virginia |
Engagements | American Civil War |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | George Taliafero Ward Edward A. Perry |
History
The 2nd Florida was organized near Jacksonville, Florida on July 13, 1861 and mustered into Confederate service for a twelve-month term of enlistment. The regiment was sent to the Eastern Theater of the war and placed in the Confederacy's main army in Virginia. The regiment first saw combat the following year during the Peninsula Campaign at the Battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Gaines Mill, and Malvern Hill.
Following the Peninsula Campaign, the 2nd Florida was assigned to the newly formed Florida Brigade alongside the 5th and 8th Florida. The 2nd Florida's colonel, Edward A. Perry, was promoted to brigadier general and given command of the brigade. Perry's Brigade served under Anderson’s Division of Longstreet’s First Corps, of the Army of Northern Virginia.[1]
As a component of Perry's Brigade, the 2nd Florida continued to serve through the Army of Northern Virginia's campaigns. Through the remainder of 1862, the regiment participated in the Battles of Second Manassas in August, Sharpsburg in September, and Fredericksburg in December. In May 1863, the 2nd Florida fought in the Battle of Chancellorsville. As the Army of Northern Virginia began preparations for its invasion of Pennsylvania, Brig. Gen. Perry fell ill with typhoid and command of the Florida Brigade devolved to Colonel David Lang of the 8th. The Florida Brigade was engaged at the Battle of Gettysburg and participated in Pickett's Charge on the battle's third and final day.
After the Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania in 1864, the Brigade was joined by the victors of the Battle of Olustee, the 9th, 10th, and 11th Regiments. Brigadier General Joseph Finegan, the commander of Florida forces at Olustee, took command of the Florida Brigade.[2]
The remainder of 1864 saw the 2nd Florida fight at the Battle of Cold Harbor in June and settle into static defenses at the Siege of Petersburg. Following the fall of Petersburg and Richmond the following spring, the Florida Brigade retreated with the Army of Northern Virginia and surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. By the time of surrender, the regiments of the brigade were dramatically understrength. The 2nd, 5th, and 8th surrendered 68, 53, and 32 men respectively. The 9th, 10th, and 11th surrendered 124, 162, and 23. Most of the 11th had been cut off in the Army’s retreat and had previously surrendered.[3]
Engagements and Battles
1862
- Yorktown Siege, April—May 1862.
- Battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1862.
- Battle of Seven Pines, May 31—June. 1, 1862.
- Seven Days Battles, June 25—July 1, 1862.
- Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, June 26, 1862. Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862.
- Battle of Glendale (Frayser's Farm), June 30, 1862.
- Battle of 2nd Bull Run, August 28—30, 1862.
- Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862.
- Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862.
1863
- Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1—4, 1863.
- Battle of Gettysburg, July 1—3, 1863.
- Bristoe Campaign, October 1863.
- Mine Run Campaign, November—December. 1863.
1864-1865
- The Wilderness, May 5–6, 1864.
- Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, May 8—21, 1864.
- Battle of North Anna, May 22—26, 1864.
- Battle of Cold Harbor, June 1—3, 1864.
- Petersburg Siege, June 1864—April 1865.
- Weldon Railroad, June 23, 1864.
- Ream's Station, June 30, 1864.
- Battle of Globe Tavern, August 21, 1864.
- Battle of Belfield, December 9, 1864.
- Battle of Hatcher's Run, February 5–7, 1865. Farmville, April 7, 1865.
- Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865.
Assignments
- Army of the Peninsula, September 1861.
- Gen. Gabriel Rains' division, Army of the Peninsula, December 1861-April 1862.
- Ward's Command, Gen. Daniel Harvey Hill's division, Department of Northern Virginia, April–May 1862.
- Gen. John Garland's Brigade, Daniel H. Hill's Division, Department of Northern Virginia, May–June 1862.
- Gen. Atkinson Pryor's brigade, Gen. James Longstreet's 1st Division, Army of Northern Virginia, June–July 1862.
- Gen. Atkinson Pryor's brigade, James Longstreet's 1st Division, First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, July- September 1862.
- Gen. Atkinson Pryor's and Gen. Edward A. Perry's brigade, Gen. R. H. Anderson's division, First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, September 1862 - May 1863.
- Gen. Atkinson Pryor's and Gen. Joseph Finegan's brigade, Gen. Richard Anderson's and Gen. William Mahone's Division, Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, May 1863-April 1865.
Officers of the 2nd Infantry Regiment | |
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Rank | Name |
Colonel | George Taliafero Ward (Leon Co.) |
Colonel | Edward A. Perry (Escambia Co.) |
Lt. Col. | Samuel St. George Rogers (Marion Co.) |
Major | William T. Ballantine |
Major | George W. Call (Madison Co.) |
Major | Walter R. Moore (Columbia Co.) |
Major | Lewis G. Pyles (Alachua Co.) |
See also
- Florida Civil War Confederate Units
- Florida National Guard
- 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)
- 124th Infantry Regiment
References
- Hawk, Robert. Florida's Army: Militia/State Troops/National Guard 1565-1985. Englewood, FL: Pineapple Press Inc. 1986. Pg 96.
- Hawk, Robert. Florida's Army: Militia/State Troops/National Guard 1565-1985. Englewood, FL: Pineapple Press Inc. 1986. Pg 98.
- Hawk, Robert. Florida's Army: Militia/State Troops/National Guard 1565-1985. Englewood, FL: Pineapple Press Inc. 1986. Pg 100.