Page 11 - history-of-military-units-in-columbia-county-fl-(1970)-robert-gary-shields

History of Military Units in Columbia County, FL (1970) Robert Gary Shields

Col. Francis L. Dancy was an 1826 graduate of West Point. He

served in the 2nd. Artillery, U. S. Army, and was on Engineer duty
at St. Augustine when he resigned his commission as First Lieutenant
in September 1836. :-v . . •*. u a , ?

' s'* ,
Evidence that Alligator settlement had grown in population

and importance is apparent because three of the ten companies
forming the conventional regiment of that time were based at Ft.
Alligator. The only other locality supporting as many units was

St. Augustine with three companies also. . -

The following Captains were under the command of Col F. L. Dancy

on Dec. 30, 1840, and made up the 2nd. Reg.:
1. Capt. Robbs, mounted, located at Gainey's Ferry
2. Capt. Roberts, mounted, 75 men, Alligator Settlement

3. Capt. Ledwiths , located at Ft. Heilman
4. Capt. Micklers , located at St. Augustine

5. Capt. Dunnetts , located at St. Augustine
6. Capt. ^McClellan, foot and mounted, 77 men, Alligator
7. Capt. Stewart,( A. A. Stewart ), foot, 77 men, Allogator

8. Capt. Hindley, 77 men, Located at Newmansville ■
9. Capt. Thigpins, located at Ft. Heileman.
10. Capt. Bevens, Located at St. Augustin^.

Capt. McClellan's company has been generally accepted as being
the lineal beginning of Militia units since organized. In addition

to his military service, George E. McClellan was prominent in
public service. He was bom in South Carolina and his family

moved to Hamilton County in 1825. He became the first Clel*k of
the Circuit Court in that county before moving into ColumbiaJCounty.
He located near Little River (now Wellborn ) when Suwannee County

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