Page 106 - a-history-of-columbia-county-florida-(1996)-edward-f-keuchel

A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 95/340

Events of the Civil War
in Tennessee. He had received a letter from his wife telling him of
serious illness in the family. There is some indication that Keen
intended to return to his unit after checking on his family, but he
did not. He was arrested in Florida and returned to Tennessee
where he was tried for desertion and sentenced to be shot. Major R.
Fairbanks, a Floridian in the Quarter-Master Department, inter­
vened on Keen’s behalf, but to no avail, and the execution was
carried out. News of Keen’s execution caused great consternation
among the Florida troops.17
The Eighth Florida Infantry Regiment was mustered into
Confederate service in May 1862, and was sent to Virginia. It
participated in the second battle of Manassas on August 30, 1862,
and Fredericksburg on December 11, 1862. It later fought in the
battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristow Station, and the
Wilderness. Company A was not a predominantly Columbia County
group but did have a fair number of the county’s citizens. Company
A’s officers were all from Columbia County. They were Captain
Burwell A. Bobo, who was cashiered for cowardice on November
11, 1862, First Lieutenant James M. Robinson who deserted on
August 16, 1862, Second Lieutenant Charles S. Livingston who
resigned on October 15, 1862, and Third Lieutenant J. N. Nelson
who was wounded at Gettysburg. Regimental musicians Thomas
L. Jordan, William H. Newman, and W. E. Goff were from
Columbia County. Another Columbia Countian, Joseph H. Espey,
was wounded and disabled at Manassas on August 20,1862, but re­
enlisted a year later in Company F of the Fifth Florida Battalion.
During the war Company A lost 17 men in battle and 24 deser­
tions. Company F of the Eighth Florida Infantry also had some
men from Columbia County including Third Sergeant David B.
Roberts.18

17Richard S. Nichols, “Florida’s Fighting Rebels: A Military History of
Florida’s Civil War Troops," unpublished M.A. thesis, Florida State University,
1967, pp. 145-46.
18 Robertson, Soldiers of Florida, pp. 186-91; Confederate Muster Rolls, Vol. II,
n.p.n.
93

www.LakeCityHistory.com LCH-UUID: 02905885-C4E0-4A35-9DAE-804ED8349EC9