Florida Brigade in the Western Theater

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Corporal Seaborn Tiller, 6th Florida Infantry

Photo Credit: Museum of Florida History

Florida soldiers fought and died on many battlefields throughout the war.

In April 1862, the 1st Florida Battalion fought in the Battle of Shiloh, where it suffered heavy casualties. In the aftermath of that battle, a new 1st Florida Regiment was established, consisting of the survivors of the Florida Battalion and six new companies. Soon other Florida regiments were sent to reinforce the Confederate army in Tennessee, including the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th Florida Infantry and the 1st Florida Cavalry.

The remnants ended the war in North Carolina in the spring of 1865, surrendering just 351 survivors.

They took part in the 1862 Confederate invasion of Kentucky, with the 1st and 3rd Regiments being heavily engaged at the Battle of Perryville in October. After Perryville, the 1st and 3rd Regiments were consolidated together and, along with the 4th Regiment, suffered heavy casualties in the subsequent Battle of Stones River (Second Murfreesboro), after which they participated in the Siege of Jackson.

In September 1863, the Florida troops fought with the Army of Tennessee in inflicting a severe defeat on the Federals at the Battle of Chickamauga. After this battle, the various Florida units were merged into a single Florida Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Jesse Finley. They then took part in the unsuccessful siege of Chattanooga and the Confederate defeat at the Battle of Missionary Ridge. In 1864, they defended Atlanta and participated in the Tennessee Campaign and the disastrous Battles of Franklin and Nashville. The remnants ended the war in North Carolina in the spring of 1865, surrendering just 351 survivors.

To learn more, see: “By the Noble Daring of Her Sons: The Florida Brigade of the Army of Tennessee” by Jonathan Sheppard, Ph.D. dissertation, Florida State University, 2008. Also available online. (Pending publication, University of Alabama Press, 2012)