Page 27 - history-of-military-units-in-columbia-county-fl-(1970)-robert-gary-shields

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

Columbia Rifles - 2nd Florida Infantry

The 2nd Florida Regiment, as it was first organized, was composed
of ten companies as follows:

Company County Name Captain
B Alachua ’Alachua'Guards Lew Williams
C Columbia Columbia Rifles Walter R. Moore
D Leon Leon Rifles T. W. Brevard, Jr.
E Marion - Hammock Guards John D. Hopkins
F Jackson Gulf State Guards James F. McClellan
G St. Johns St. Johns Greys J. J. Darnels
H Putnam St. Augustine Rifles John W. Starke
I ■Hamilton Hamilton Blues Henry J. Stewart
K Nassau Davis Guards George W. Call
L Madison Madison Rangers W. P. Pillans

In the early days of July these ten companies were ordered to

rendezvous near the Brick Church, just west of Jacksonville, now known as
LaVillia, and on July 13 the Regiment was mustered into the Confederate
service by Maj. W. T. Stockton. The Regiment was organized by the election

of officers. On Monday, July 15, the Regiment left by.rail for Virginia,
arriving in Richmond Sunday afternoon July 21. The Regiment was in Camp

of Instruction, in the neighborhood of Richmond, nearly two months. On
Septempber 17, 1861, the Regiment left Richmond for Yorktown, where they
were joined by Co. "A", the Rifle .Rangers of Escambia county, Capt. E. A.

Perry. During the fall of 1861 and the winter following the Regiment was
encamped near Yorktown, forming a part of Maj. Gen. J. B. Magruder's
Command. It ’wasiat,;the siegb.ofhYorktown thatrfhetRegiment received its.

"baptism of fire." On May 5, at Williamsburg, the Regiment again distinguish*
itself by its gallant resistance to McClellan's advance. In this battle

the Regiment lost it's Colonel, George T. Ward, whome was killed, and
Copanies E,D, and L each lost one rqan, making four killed; and every
company in the Regiment had one or more wounded, making thirty wounded.

The 2nd Florida, being twelve months' men, were by Act of Congress required
to remain in the service two years longer; this act was known as the Conscri
Laws and gave them a right to reorganize by a re-election of officers, which

was done around May 10. Capt. E. A. Perry was elected Colonel. All the
companies in the Regiment changed their captains except B and C. On May 31
the Regiment was engaged in the battle of Seven Pines, where it lost 6

officers, 4 non-commissioned and 24 privates killed. Wounded, 17 officers,
21 non-commissioned officers and 106 privates; total casualties, 178.

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