1st Florida Cavalry Regiment (Union)

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]

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]

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]

• List of Florida Union Civil War units