1st Florida Cavalry Regiment (Union)

The 1st Florida Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment from Florida that served in the Union Army from October 29, 1863 – November 17, 1865 during the American Civil War.

1st Florida Cavalry Regiment
ActiveOctober 29, 1863 – November 17, 1865
DisbandedNovember 17, 1865
Country United States
AllegianceUnion
BranchCavalry
SizeRegiment
EngagementsAmerican Civil War

Organization and Recruitment

The regiment was formed by General Nathaniel P. Banks on October 29, 1863. Recruitment and organization of the unit began at Fort Barrancas and lasted from December, 1863 to August, 1864. It was attached to the 2nd and 3rd Brigades, District West Florida, Army of the Gulf until January 1865, and to the 2nd Brigade of John P. Lucas' Cavalry Division until May 1865.

The unit was composed primarily of men from southern Alabama and north west Florida and 81% of the initial recruits came from only nine counties in the two aforementioned regions. By the end of the war, the unit had recruited more than 700 men.[1]

Counties and number of troops contributed to the unit.[2]
CountyNumber of recruits
Baldwin County, AL32 men
Washington County, FL35 men
Holmes County, FL38 men
Washington County, FL39 men
Henry County, AL39 men
Covington County, AL47 men
Coffee County, AL53 men
Santa Rosa County, FL58 men
Walton County, FL62 men

Recruitment of the unit started in December of 1863, when a recruiting station was established on the far east side of Santa Rosa Island. By February of 1864, the regiment number 207 men with thirty more on their way. However, recruitment was slowed because there was a lack of cash to pay the recruits' bounties.[3]

Service

The regiment saw action in the surrounding area of Fort Barrancas. In 1864, such action included a July 21–25 expedition to Pollard, Alabama, a September 18 – October 4 expedition to Marianna, Florida, an October 25–28 expedition up Blackwater Bay, a November 16–17 expedition to Pine Barren Creek, and a December 13–14 expedition to Pollard. In 1865, the unit went on a February 22–25 expedition to Milton, Florida before taking part in the March 18 – April 9 campaign against Mobile, Alabama and its defenses. This campaign included action at the Battle of Newton and the Battle of Fort Blakely. After the occupation of Mobile on April 12, the regiment marched towards Montgomery, Alabama. It served in Alabama until May when it was ordered back to Barrancas, from where the regiment continued to serve in Western and Middle Florida. The regiment was mustered out on November 17, 1865.[4]

See also

    References

    1. Marsh, Sharon D. (2016). The 1st Florida Union Cavalry Volunteers in the Civil War : the men and the regimental history, and what that tells us about the area during the war (1st ed.). pp. 1–31. ISBN 9780692793589.
    2. Marsh 2016, pp. 4–12.
    3. Marsh 2016, pp. 25–27.
    4. Dyer, Frederick H. (1959). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 3. New York: Thomas Yoseloff. p. 1020.
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