Co "E", First Regiment of Florida Volunteer Infantry is a War
Between the States Reenactors' organization that was founded on July 24.
1990. We are dedicated to the remembrance and authentic portrayal of the
life and times of the people who lived in that turbulent and tragic era.
We attempt to educate ourselves and the public about this period of history
by participating and staging what we like to call "Living History",
a hands-on experience of what it was truly like back in the days of 1861-1865.
It is our hope that through participating in these events that the lessons
of the past will not be forgotten. We believe that "living history"
provides an excellent medium from which to educate the public about the
realities of our great American Civil War.
We are an unofficial military' company, but we handle ourselves in the field the same way as the troops did during the war. We are constantly striving to perfect our impressions on the field of battle and in our camp life. We like to have fun and experience all the opportunities that this avocation has to offer, but we are also serious about being as professional as we can. We strongly believe that we have a sacred duty and trust to the men of both sides. We wish to do their memory justice and not mock the very ideals to which many gave their last true measure of devotion.
The regiment was first mustered into state service at the Chattahoochee Arsenal in Chattahoochee, Florida, on April 5. 1861, for a period of twelve months. Cpt. James Patton Anderson was elected colonel of the new regiment. The unit was first assigned to the army near Pensacola and did not see much action the first year, except for the Battle of Santa Rosa Island, Florida, where several men from different companies were engaged. Brig. Gen. R.H. Anderson was wounded at this battle and was, at the time, left unfit for duty. As a consequence. Col. James P. Anderson was appointed brigade commander to take Brig. Gen. R.H. Anderson's place. Immediately after this appointment, LT Col. William K. Beard took command of the regiment. The regiment was present during the two major bombardments between the Pensacola Bay area forts. Later, the men were, for a time, encamped in what is today Gulf Breeze, FL, near Deer Point in crude huts constructed of wood. In this position they were used as pickets, guarding the eastern approaches to Pensacola. After several defeats in the Western Theater, the Confederate high command decided to withdraw forces from the Pensacola area in order to strengthen the major field army in Tennessee. At this time most of the one year enlistments were about to expire. Under a new order, certain companies, whose enlistments were close to expiration, were allowed a furlough to settle personal affairs prior to reenlistment and reassignment. Before the units reassignment, two companies burned the Confederate gunboats near Milton, Florida, and anything else that could be of use to the Federal forces.
After destroying the valuable war material, they moved up the Escambia River to Bluff Springs, where they recruited new men to replace those whose enlistments expired and those who had not returned from furlough. Four companies eventually reenlisted and were reorganized into the First Florida Infantry Battalion. As such they fought at the Battle of Shiloh. After this major engagement, in which the battalion distinguished itself, it next fought at Farmington, Mississippi. In this affair the battalion captured much Federal equipment which was used to outfit many of the men. The battalion was then sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee with the rest of the army. Here the battalion was merged with six new companies from Florida and the First Regiment of Florida Volunteer Infantry was reestablished, with Col. William Miller commanding. The regiment followed Bragg in his Kentucky Campaign of 1862 to Perryville where they were heavily engaged. At the Battle of Perryville, and as the direct result of the vicissitudes of the campaign, the First and the Third Florida Infantry, respectively, suffered such casualties that the two units were combined to form one regiment henceforth known as the First and Third Florida Infantry Regiment (consolidated).
Their next major battle, that of Murfreesborough, Tennessee again took
its ill-affect and the regiment withdrew to Tullahoma with the rest of the
army. Several units from the old Preston's Brigade and the lst & 3rd
Florida were next sent to Vicksburg to help lift the siege. They were not
able to relieve Vicksburg, but they were engaged at Jackson, Mississippi,
where they helped capture several stands of Federal Colors and equipment.
They were also praised by Gen. J.E. Johnston in an official report of this
engagement. Next the regiment fought at Chickamaugua and was instrumental
in the successes of the second day, where they helped break several battle
lines of the enemy. During the Confederate siege of Chattanooga, the Florida
Brigade was established by placing all of the Florida regiments in the Army
of Tennessee into one brigade. This brigade fought at Missionary Ridge,
Tennessee and all of the major battles of the main western field army. Serving
in the hundred days battles, the regiment was engaged at Mill Creek Gap,
Resaca, Rome Crossroads, Allatoona. Dallas, Pine Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain,
Marietta, Peachtree Creek. Atlanta, Utoy Creek, and Jonesboro. What was
left of the regiment went through the Tennessee and Carolina Campaigns fighting
at Dalton, Franklin, Overall Creek, Nashville, and Bentonville.
According to an unofficial source, fewer than one hundred officers and
men of the regiment were still with it when it finally laid down its arms
in late April, 1865. After marching south from Greensboro, N.C., the regiment
disbanded in Augusta, Georgia, and the men made their own way home.