Page 54 - history-of-military-units-in-columbia-county-fl-(1970)-robert-gary-shields

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

WORLD WAR I

Around 1916 the First World War began.On July 7, 1916, the 2nd. Florida
Infantry was called into federal service for Mexican border guard duty, while
the 1st Florida Infantry was retained as the 1st. Separate Battalion. The

1st Separate Battalion and a detachment of sanitary troops were mobolized and
mustered into federal service. They were distributed ttenrnrt the state at

various points where their- servicescwere^considered most necessary for
guarding of bridges, railroad crossings, and public utilities. Upon their
return from Mexican boarder service all the organizations were returned to

their respective home stations, resuming the status and duties pertaining to
State troop; while the 1st. Separate Battalion was combined with other new

companies that had recently been organized and all were consolidated, forming
the 1st Florida Infantry Regiment.
Having been without ai organized military unit since April 10, 1909,
the need for such a unit became apparent. In 1917 efforts was made to form

such a military unit. In early June, the group of men attempting this, met
and elected the following officers:

Capt. Dr. A. J. P. Julian
1st. Lt. A. J. Hirsh
2nd. Lt. Edward Little

On June 17, 1917 the unit was organized and mustered into the National
Guard of Florida as Company C, 1st. Regiment of Infantry. On August 5, 1917,
in accordance with the President's proclamation of July^,- 1917, all National

Guard units were drafted into Federal service. Officers of Company C, 1st.
Florida Infantry Regiment were:

Capt. William L. Carbine
1st. Lt. Alexander C. Blount
2nd. Lt. Edward C. Little

After Company C was mustered into Federal service they were moved into
quarters in the men's dormitory at Columbia College. The unit used the campus
for training until they moved/ by train, to Camp Wheeler at Macon, Georgia,

on Sept. 14, 1917. The largest crowd in the history of Columbia County
(over five thousand people witihtwo hundred automobiles) gathered at Union

Station to see the unit off.

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