NINTH FLORIDA INFANTRY

Early in May, 1864, Gen. Patton Anderson, commanding the District of Florida, received from the War Department an order to send a good brigade to Richmond with all possible expedition. Gen. Joseph Finnegan was ordered to immediately proceed to Virginia with his brigade, consisting of 1st Battalion, Lieut.Col. Charles Hopkins; 2nd Battalion, Lieut.-Col. Theodore Brevard; 4th Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel McClellan; and 6th Battalion, Lieut.Col. John M. Martin. The order was obeyed immediately and the Brigade arrived at Richmond May 25, 1864 and joined Anderson's Division, of which Holmes was then commander, and Hill's Corps at Hanover Junction May 28, 1864. On June 8, the troops were organized into two regiments as follows: The 1st Florida Battalion, six companies, and the companies of Captains Mays, Stewart, Clark and Powers of the 2nd Battalion, formed the 10th Regiment, Colonel Hopkins commanding. The 4th Florida Battalion, seven companies, the companies of Captains Ochus and Robinson, of the 2nd Battalion, and Captain Cullens'unattached company formed the 11th Regiment, Col. Theodore Brevard commanding. The 6th Florida Battalion, seven companies, and the three independent companies, Capts. J. C. Eichelberger, John McNeil, and B. L. Reynolds, formed the 9th Regiment, Colonel Martin commanding. The seven companies that formed the 6th Battalion before organizing as such, had served as independent volunteer companies in different parts of the State; they were commanded by Captains John C. Chambers, John W. Pearson, Samuel Hope, James Tucker, A. A. Stewart, J. C. DuPree, S. M. G. Gary. At the battle of Olustee these companies were formed into a battalion commanded by Maj. Pickens Bird. In concentrating the troops between Waldo and Jacksonville, after the battle of Olustee, Lieutenant-Colonel Martin was placed in command of the Battalion, and upon the arrival of the Battalion in Virginia the Regiment was formed and the companies named, became A, B. C, D, E, F and G. under their respective captains. To these companies were added the company of B. L. Reynolds, which became Co. H; John McNeil, Co. I; Jacob Eichelberger, Co. K; John M. Martin was promoted to Colonel, John W. Pearson to LieutenantColonel, and Pickens B. Bird became Major. Major Bird was killed at Cold Harbor June 3, 1864, as was Captain Reynolds of Co. H and Lieut. Ben B. Lane of Co. I. Regimental Adjutant Owens, Captain Tucker, of Co. D, and Lieut.R. D. Harrison, commanding Co. B. were seriously wounded. After the battle of Cold Harbor Finnegan's Brigade, which now consisted of the 2nd, 5th 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th Regiments, took up the line of march for Petersburg. On June 23 they moved from the breastworks, under a heavy fire of shells and canister, and marched down the Weldon Road, six miles below, and drove back the enemy, who were tearing up the road. On June 30 the battle of Ream's Station was fought. A Florida Brigade marched, reached the battle field at day-break and attacked the enemy driving him back in a running fight four miles, capturing seven pieces of artillery, many horses, a few prisoners and 1,300 negroes. On the morning of the 21st August the Florida brigade advanced within one hundred yards of the Federal breast-works on the Weldon Railroad, where the enemy were strongly entrenched. Repeated charges were made to dislodge them, but failed. The loss in killed and wounded was very severe. Lieut.Col. John W. Pearson, of the 9th Regiment, was so severely wounded that he died in Augusta, GA, while on his way home. The death of Colonel Pearson left the 9th Regiment with no Field Officers, except the Colonel. An attempt was made to have outsiders appointed to these positions, but Colonel Martin objected on the ground that captains in his regiment had earned promotion and were entitled to the offices; but for some reason the War Department failed to make these deserved promotions and the 9th Regiment served to the close of the war without either Lieutenant-Colonel or Major. On December 7, 1864, the Florida Brigade, of which the 9th was a part, made a forced march of 50 miles and struck the enemy at the Bellfield on the 9th; but the enemy numbering 20,000, who had been on a raid declined to accept the gage of battle, and retreated, and the Brigade returned to camp foot-sore, having marched over frozen roads, and through sleet and snow more than one hundred miles. Early in February, 1865, the 9th was engaged at Hatcher's Run, opposing the Federal attempt to extend their line of battle. In this engagement S. W. Crowson was seriously wounded. The Brigade was now ordered to winter quarters; but before reaching them received orders to return to reinforce General Gordon south of Hatcher's Run. In this engagement the Brigade numbered but 3,500 effective men. After a charge the enemy fled in confusion and night ended the battle. On the morning of April 2 General Lee's lines were broken and the retreat began. The 9th Regiment retreated by way of High Bridge and marched to Farmville; being crowded it halted and fortified for an attack, which was repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. This was the last battle in which the 9th was engaged. The Regiment surrendered at Appomattox, 15 officers and 109 men.

Source: Soldiers of Florida in the ... Civil War ... page 206

Florida 9th Infantry (Confederate)

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