The 3rd Florida Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that fought for the Confederacy in American Civil War. The regiment was formed in the summer of 1861 and served until it surrendered in 1865.
Organization The 3rd Florida Infantry was formed near Pensacola, Florida, in July, 1861. Its companies were recruited in the counties of St. Johns, Hernando, Jefferson, Duval, Wakulla, Madison, Columbia, and Suwannee. In Company C, the average age of the eighty-seven enlisted men was twenty-five, with the youngest being fifteen and the oldest forty-four. The unit served along the coast at Talbot Island and Cedar Keys, then moved to Mobile. After fighting at Perryville it was assigned to Preston's, Stovall's, Finley's, J.A. Smith's Brigade, and during December, 1862, consolidated with the 1st Florida Infantry Regiment along with other units from Florida to become the Florida Brigade of the Army of Tennessee. It was organized with 950 officers and men, and the 1st and 3rd lost twenty-six percent of the 23 in action at Chickamauga. In December, 1863, this command totaled 240 men and 119 arms, but only a remnant surrendered in April, 1865. The field officers were Colonel William S. Dilworth; Lieutenant Colonels Lucius A. Church, Elisha Mashburn, and Arthur J.T. Wright; and Major John L. Phillips.
Companies
Company County Nickname Commander Number of Soldiers F&S Col. William S. Dilworth 20 A Duval Jacksonville Light Infantry Capt. Holmes Steele 118 B St. Johns Saint Augustine Blues Capt. John Lott Philips 124 C Hernando Hernando Guards (Wildcats) Capt. Walter Terry Saxon 112 D Wakulla Wakulla Guards Capt. Daniel L. Frierson 103 E Jefferson Jefferson Beauragards Capt. Daniel E. Bird 123 F Duval Cow Boys Capt. Lucius A. Hardee 111 G Madison Madison Grey Eagles Capt. Thomas Langford 165 H Jefferson Jefferson Rifles Capt. William Girardeau 132 I Columbia Dixie Stars Capt. Jesse B. Wood 91 K Columbia & Suwanee Columbia & Suwanee Guards Capt. William Parker 107
Service history Much of the unit was armed with the Enfield rifle, which were supplied to the regiment late in March 1862. Around the same time, a portion of the regiment defeated a small U.S. naval force that was attempting to land near New Smyrna. Sometime in late-April, early-May 1862, the regiment was gifted a new battle-flag made by a group of women from Jefferson County. The flag had the motto “We Yield But in Death.” The regiment adopted a stuffed wildcat as their mascot, which traveled with its owners; Company C, who were dubbed “The Hernando Wildcats.”
The 1st and 3rd were engaged at Murfreesboro and Jackson, then participated in the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee from Chickamauga to Bentonville.
Engagements and Battles 1862 New Smyrna (Companies E & H were involved) Skirmish of the Brick Church Kentucky Campaign Battle of Perryville
1863 Battle of Murfreesboro Vicksburg Campaign Siege of Jackson Battle of Chickamauga Battles for Chattanooga
1864 Atlanta campaign Battle of New Hope Church Battle of Dallas Battle of Atlanta Battle of Ezra Church Siege of Atlanta Battle of Spring Hill Battle of Franklin Battle of Nashville
1865 Carolinas campaign Battle of Bentonville
See also Florida Civil War Confederate Units
References