User:Joshua Beschutzer/Company K, 7th Florida Infantry Regiment

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On February 2, 1862, the Confederate War Department issued a call for troops. Florida, under this newly imposed quota, would furnish two regiments and a battalion to fight for the duration of the war. The troops would rendezvous at preselected locations and there "be clothed, supplied, and armed at the expense of the Confederate States." Furthermore, each enlistee would receive a $50 bounty for volunteering.

Organization
Angus Duncan McLean organized what would become Company H of the 6th Florida Infantry Regiment. McLean was born in 1836 near Eucheeanna, Walton County, Florida. One of nine children of a wealthy family, he was schooled at the Knox Hill Academy in Walton County. He subsequently attended the Cumberland University Law School in Lebanon, Tennessee, from which he graduated January 26, 1859. In 1860, he was practicing law at Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida, and residing in the household of James G. Allen.

In March 1862, McLean would return to Walton County and begin recruiting a company of infantry from the citizens of Walton and Santa Rosa Counties in Northwest Florida. Of the soldiers whose birthplaces are known, less than half claimed Florida. Alabamians composed thirty-seven percent of the company and North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi all had representatives; the average age was 25 years old. McLean was elected Captain.



"McLean's company" was ordered to "camp of instruction" at the Mount Vernon Arsenal at Chattahoochie in Gadsden County in late March, where they would be trained in maneuvering in large bodies and in campaigning duties. On April 2, 1862, the 109 men in McLean's Company would be mustered into Confederate service for "3 years, or the war".

On April 10, 1862, Florida Governor John Milton informed Secretary of War George W. Randolph that the requisition for "two regiments and a half of infantry…would by the 15th instant be fully organized and subject to your orders, and companies enough have volunteered for service for three years or the war to compose three full regiments of infantry. ... to serve during the war and wherever their services may be necessary…the Sixth Regiment, at the Mount Vernon Arsenal on the Chattahoochie, will be organized on the 14th instant."

About April 15, elections of field and staff officers for the 6th Florida were held. Due in no small part to the efforts of his numerous kin in Walton County and Knox Hill Academy classmates, the 26-year-old McLean would be elected Lieutenant Colonel; Lieutenant Stephen A. Cawthon would replace McLean as company commander, and the company would become "Cawthon's company". With the election of field officers concluded, the 8 companies at Mount Vernon Arsenal and 2 companies at Rico's Bluff would be formally organized as the 6th Regiment of Florida Infantry.

"Cawthon's company" would be officially designated as Company H; the men of Company H would bestow upon themselves the unofficial sobriquet of "Union Rebels", which may very well have been a "tongue-in-cheek" indication of Walton County's "pro-Union" leaning. During Florida's secession convention, 7 of the 60 delegates voted against secession. 2 of the 7 "nay" votes were the delegates from Walton County; Alexander L. McCaskill and John Morrison. Verbal legend has it that the sobriquet "Union Rebels" resulted from Walton County voting for "Union", but following the majority vote of the State to secede ("Rebels").

On April 23, 1862, Florida Adjutant and Inspector General Wm. H. Milton would inform Governor Milton that, "The following companies compose the Sixth Regiment, eight companies of which are at the Mount Vernon Arsenal and two at Rico’s Bluff; Magnolia State Guards, Capt. L. M. Attaway; Campbellton Greys, Capt. H. B. Grace; Jackson County Volunteers, Lieut. John B. Hayes; Jackson County Company, Capt. H. O. Bassset; Union Rebels, Capt. A. D. McLean; Choctawhatchie Volunteers, H. K. Hagan; Florida Guards, R. H. M. Davidson; Gadsden Greys, Capt. Samuel B. Love; Gulf State Infantry, Capt. James C. Evans; Washington County Company, Capt. A. McMillan, of which regiment J. J. Finley is colonel A. D. McLean lieutenant-colonel, and D. L. Kenan major."



Active Service
The 6th Florida Infantry Regiment departed the Mount Vernon Arsenal at Chattahoochee, Florida on June 13, 1862. It would serve from June through August 1862 in the Army of East Tennessee commanded by Major General Edmund Kirby Smith. The Army of East Tennessee was redesignated as the Confederate Army of Kentucky on August 25, 1862, when General Smith led it into eastern Kentucky during the Confederate Heartland Offensive. On November 20, 1862, the Army of Mississippi, General Braxton Bragg commanding, and the Army of Kentucky, General E. Kirby Smith commanding, became the Army of Tennessee. General Bragg assumed command, and General Smith was reassigned to the Department of East Tennessee. The 6th Florida would remain assigned to the Army of Tennessee for the remainder of the war (under General Braxton Bragg through December 27, 1863; under General Joseph E. Johnston from December 27, 1863 to July 18, 1864; under General John B. Hood from July 18, 1864 through January 23, 1865; under Major General Richard Taylor from January 23 to February 23, 1865: and again under General Joseph E. Johnston from February 23 to April 26, 1865.).

Surrender
From April 8 to the 10th, General Johnston reorganized the army, consolidating dozens of shrunken regiments and brigades. Containing fewer soldiers than an understrength battalion, the remnants of the Florida Brigade were united to form the 1st Florida Infantry  Regiment, Consolidated - 1st Florida Infantry & 3rd Florida Infantry (consolidated)(Capt. A. B. McLeod); 1st Florida Cavalry (dismounted) and 4th Florida Infantry (consolidated) (Capt George B. Langford); 6th Florida Infantry (Lieut. Malcolm Nicholson); 7th Florida Infantry (Capt. Robert B. Smith). Company H of the of the original 6th Florida Infantry, along with companies E, F, G, I, and K, would be consolidated to form Company E of the 1st Florida Infantry Regiment.

On April 18, General Joseph E. Johnston signed an armistice with General William T. Sherman at Bennett’s Place near Durham, and on April 26, formally surrendered his army. Of the 100-plus men who mustered into Confederate service on April 2, 1862 at the Mount Vernon Arsenal at Chattahoochee, Florida, only 7 "Union Rebels" were present. On May 1, 1865, five days after General Johnston surrendered the force under his command, the troops of the 1st Florida Infantry, Consolidated, were paroled.

Officers

 * 1st Lieutenant Stephen Ashley Cawthon, aged 28, was enlisted on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He assumed command of Captain McLean’s Company on April 14, 1862 when Captain McLean is promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment.


 * Senior 2nd Lieutenant James P. J. McClelland, aged 30, was enlisted on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was elected to 1st Lieutenant on May 21, 1862.  He died of disease at Knoxville, Tennessee on August 7, 1862.  He would be replaced by 2nd Lieutenant Alexander G. McLeod.


 * 3rd Lieutenant Alexander G. McLeod, aged 28, was enlisted on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was elected to 2nd Lieutenant on May 21, 1862.  He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on August 9, 1862 when 1st Lieutenant James P. J. McClelland died of disease at Knoxville, Tennessee on August 7, 1862.  He would be replaced by 2nd Lieutenant P. D. McSween.


 * 2nd Lieutenant James C. McLean, was enlisted as a Private on August 23, 1862 in Captain Cawthon’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He was appointed as Sergeant Major on February 4, 1864, and transferred to staff duty on February 5, 1864.  Sergeant Major McLean was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant by Special Orders No. 16, issued by Brigadier General J. J. Finley on April 18, 1864, at Dallas, Georgia.  The effective date of rank was back-dated to December 18, 1863.  He was reported present on the Muster Roll dated April 28, 1865.  He is identified as a 2nd Lieutenant, assigned to Company E, 1st Florida Infantry. Remarks indicate that this Company is composed of Companies E, F, G, H, I, and K of the original 6th Florida Infantry).  He was paroled on May 1, 1865 at Greensboro, North Carolina.


 * 2nd Lieutenant Philip D. McSween was enlisted as a Private on May 15, 1862 in Captain Cawthon.s Company by S. A. Cawthon at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He was elected as 2nd Lieutenant on May 21, 1862. He resigned his commission on July 24, 1863; he will be replaced by 2nd Lieutenant James H. Rice.  On September 20, 1863, McSween re-entered service as Private in Captain Monroe’s Company, Company K, 6th Regiment Alabama Cavalry at Walton County, Florida, for "the war".


 * 2nd Lieutenant Archibald Gillis Morrison was enlisted as 1st Sergeant on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean's Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was elected to 2nd Lieutenant between August 12 and October 31, 1863.  He was accidentally shot in the back by US soldiers after surrendering near Nashville on December 16, 1864 and died later that day.


 * 2nd Lieutenant James H. Rice was enlisted as 3rd Sergeant on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company, by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was elected to 2nd Lieutenant effective on the July 24th, 1863.  He was captured at Nashville, Tennessee, on December 16, 1864, and arrived at Johnson's Island Military Prison near Sandusky, Ohio on December 22, 1864.  He was released under oath on June 17, 1865.

Non-commissioned Officers

 * 1st (Orderly) Sergeant Hardy J. Herring was enlisted as 5th Sergeant on April 2, 1862 in Captain Cawthon’s Co by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He was promoted to 1st (Orderly) Sergeant on June 8, 1863.  He was paroled at Montgomery, Alabama on June 8, 1865.


 * 4th Sergeant William C. Gillis was enlisted as a Private Sergeant on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He was transferred to Captain Hagan’s Company (Company I, 6th Florida Infantry) and promoted to 4th Sergeant on August 8, 1862.  He died of disease on November 12, 1862, at Lexingon, Kentucky.


 * 2nd Sergeant William Henry Hart was enlisted as a Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain Cawthon’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He was promoted to 3rd Sergeant effective August 10, 1862.  He was left sick in Kentucky on October 3, 1862, and listed as a Union Prisoner November 15, 1862 for exchange at Vicksburg, Mississippi.  He returned to the company about February 11, 1863.  He would be hospitalized October 2–21, 1864 at the Ocmulgee Hospitals at Macon, Georgia for dysentery.


 * 3rd Sergeant Spear McCaskill was enlisted as a Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on the Muster Roll dated April 28, 1865, identified as a 3rd Sergeant, assigned to Company E, 1st Florida Infantry. Remarks indicate that this Company is composed of Companies E, F, G, H, I, and K of the original 6th Florida Infantry. He was paroled on May 1, 1865 at Greensboro, North Carolina.


 * 3rd Sergeant John Gillis McLeod, age 25 years, was enlisted as a 4th Sergeant on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was captured at Atlanta, Georgia on July 22, 1864 and arrived at Camp Chase Military Prison near Columbus, Ohio on July 31, 1864.   He was paroled at Camp Chase on March 8, 1865 and transferred to City Point, Virginia for exchange.


 * 4th Sergeant Kinnon E. White, age 30 years, was enlisted as a 2nd Corporal on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He was promoted to 4th Sergeant between November and December 1863. He was captured near Lafayette, Georgia on November 22, 1864 and arrived Camp Douglas Military Prison near Chicago, Illinois on November 24, 1864.  He applied to take the oath of allegiance in January, 1865, which was granted before his release on May 15, 1865.


 * 5th Sergeant John E. Williams, age 22 years, was enlisted as a Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported on the Company Muster Roll for July 9, 1863 through October 31st, 1863 as 5th Sergeant.  He was killed in action at the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia on September 19, 1863.


 * Sergeant John Angus Campbell, age 21 years, was enlisted as a Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war.  He was left sick at Lexington, Kentucky on September 6, 1862, and listed as a Union Prisoner November 15, 1862 for exchange at Vicksburg, Mississippi.  He was reported as absent without leave in Florida from November 12, 1862 through March 16th, 1863; the absence was excused due to illness.  He was promoted to 3rd Corporal between November and December, 1863.  He was captured during the near Jonesboro, Georgia on August 31, 1864 and exchanged near Rough and Ready, Georgia between September 18 and 22, 1864.


 * Corporal William M. Campbell, age 25 years, was enlisted as 3rd Corporal on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war.  He was left sick at Lexington, Kentucky on September 6, 1862 and died at Knox Hill, Florida on December 22, 1862.


 * 4th Corporal William P. Clary, age 17 years, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was promoted to 4th Corporal in late 1863.


 * 1st Corporal Thomas Pickney Daniel, age 23 years, was enlisted as 1st Corporal on April 1, 1862 in Captain Cawthon’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He died a field hospital from wounds received at the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia on September 19, 1863.


 * 4th Corporal Obediah Edge, age 31 years, was enlisted as 4th Corporal on April 1, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was on detached service (likely as a "teamster" from April 1, 1862 through July 1st, 1862.  He was absent due to sickness at Barboursville, Kentucky from August 28, 1862 to November 1, 1862 when he received a Certificate of Disability for Discharge on November 1, 1862 due to “…incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of “Sap of area of left hand”. He was discharged at Knoxville, Tennessee on November 4, 1862 by order of General Edmund Kirby Smith, commanding the Department of East Tennessee.


 * 1st Corporal Angus Gordon, age 23 years, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported on the Company Muster Roll for November & December, 1863 as “died at Marietta, Georgia on December 13th, 1863 of wounds received."  This roll also documents him as being 1st Corporal.


 * 2nd Corporal Daniel P. McDonald, Sr., age 33 years, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was captured at Atlanta, Georgia on July 22, 1864 and arrived at Camp Chase Military Prison near Columbus, Ohio on July 31, 1864.  He applied to take the oath of allegiance in December 1864. He was paroled at Camp Chase on March 4, 1865 and transferred to City Point, Virginia for exchange.  He was admitted on March 12, 1865 to the Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital #9, Richmond, Virginia and died on March 13, 1865 due to “debility”.


 * 3rd Corporal Daniel B. Powell, age 24 years, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was promoted from the ranks to 3rd Corporal on January 25, 1863.  He was reported as straggling on the march from Tullahoma, Tennessee to Bridgeport,  Alabama (a distance of some 55–60 miles) between late June and July 9, 1863.  He was captured at Elk River, Tennessee on July 3, 1863 and arrived at Camp Douglas Military Prison near Chicago, Illinois on August 24, 1863.  He died of variola (small pox) on May 11, 1864.


 * 4th Corporal Joseph Rutherford, age 40 years, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was promoted from the ranks to 4th Corporal on November 1, 1862.  He was reported as having deserted at Charleston, Tennessee on June 9, 1863; his name appears as signature to an oath of allegiance taken at Chattanooga, Tennessee on December 18, 1863.

Enlisted Men

 * Private Joseph F. Barks, age 24 years, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. (Company Muster Roll for April 2, 1862 dated April 21, 1862).  The Company Muster Roll for June 30 through November 12, 1862. documents that he died of disease at Lexington, Kentucky on October 11, 1862.


 * Private W. H. Barton appears on a list of prisoners of war shipped from Lexington, Kentucky to Louisville, Kentucky. The date arrested and shipped given as “November 7th”; roll endorsed rec’d (O.C.GP.) Jan’y 25th, ’63; he may have been captured  November 7th, 1862.


 * Private Malcolm Baxter, age 48 years, was enlisted as Private on May 15th 1862 as a substitute for Private Griffin Pippin in Captain Cawthon’s Company by S. A. Cawthon at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years.


 * Private Mathew W. Bedsole, age 19 years, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was absent on sick furlough in April 2nd,1862. He is documented as absent in Florida from October 7th, 1862 until April 30th, 1863, at which time he was reported as being under arrest for desertion. Some time after July 9th, 1863, he would be reported as sick in the hospital; he appears on Hospital Muster Roll of Cannon Hospital at La Grange, Georgia for November and December, 1863, dated December 31st, 1863.  This roll documents that he was admitted as a patient on September 16th, 1863.  He appears on a Report of the Medical Examining Board, Dalton, Georgia dated January 25th, 1864 (Head of examination for furloughs) .  He was granted a 60-day furlough effective from January 25th, 1864 because of “extreme emaciation  and debility from pleuropneumonia sick 6 months”.  He would be on furlough in Eucheeanna, Florida.  His name appears as a signature on an application to take the oath of amnesty, dated June 9, 1865 at Barrancas, Florida.  In his petition, he states, “I am 22 years of age my home is in Walton Co. Fla.  I volunteer to serve in Comp’y H 6th Fla Infty March 8, 1861 and served until February 1864 at which time I received a furlough an never returned to my command.  I have taken no further part in the existing rebellion.”


 * Private Robert M. Bell, age 32 years, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Companyy by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was absent sick at Knoxville, Tennessee, since August 13, 1862, and was reported absent without leave in Floridafrom November 12, 1862 through February 11th, 1863.  He returned on March 2, 1863; his absence was excused for sickness. He was promoted to 5th Sergeant between October 31 and November 25, 1863.  He was captured at the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25. He would be sent via Louisville, Kentucky to the Rock Island Military Prison at Rock Island, Illinois, arriving there on December 8, 1863.  He applied to take the oath of allegiance on May 4, 1864, stating that he "Believes the southern cause is wrong”.  He enlisted at Rock Island Barracks, Illinois, in the U.S. Army for frontier service on October 11, 1864.


 * Private Thaddeus Bell was enlisted as Private on May 12, 1862 in Captain Cawthon’s Company by S. A, Cawthon at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He was absent sick in hospital at Cassville, Georgia from October 15, 1863 through February 29th, 1864.


 * Private James Arthur Byrd, age 32, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was ordered to be discharged for disability (hernia) on August 9 at Knoxville, Tennessee by order of Brigadier General Edmund Kirby Smith; he was discharged on August 12, 1862 by a directive issued by Hdqrs, 6th Fla Regt., Camp Kirby Smith, Knoxville, of the same date.


 * Private William Bray, age 23, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was transferred to Company E, 1st Florida Infantry Regiment on December 1, 1863.


 * Private William F. Bugby (also recorded as “Buzby” and "Bushly”), age 18, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He died of pneumonia at Chattanooga, Tennessee on June 29, 1862.


 * Private J. H. Burgess


 * Mark Burk (also recorded as “Birk”), age 21, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was absent sick at Knoxville, Tennessee, since October 27, 1862.  He was absent without leave in Florida from November 12, 1862 through April 30th, 1863.  He was under arrest at Atlanta, Georgia for desertion from about July 9 through February 29, 1864.


 * Private William Burk (also recorded as “Bourke”), age 18, was enlisted as Private on April 2, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. On November 29, 1863, he was admitted to Floyd House and Ocmulgee Hospitals at Macon, Georgia for treatment of “diarr acutus”.  His name appears as a signature on an application to take the oath of amnesty, dated July 24, 1865 at Barrancas, Florida.  In his petition, he states, “I am 21 years of age my home is in Walton Co. Fla.  I volunteered in April  1862 in Co H 6th Regt Fla Infantry. In july 1864 I deserted.  I have taken no further part whatever in the late rebellion.


 * Private William H. Barton


 * Private Daniel Campbell, age 18, was enlisted as Private on August 23rd, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He served with his brothers (John A. and William M. Campbell) in this company. On November 29th, 1863, he was admitted to Floyd House and Ocmulgee Hospitals at Macon, Georgia for treatment of “debilitas" (Weakness or feebleness). He was captured during the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864 and sent via the Federal Military Prison at Louisville, Kentucky, to Camp Chase Military Prison near Columbus, Ohio.   He applied to take the oath of allegiance in December 1864, stating that he was conscripted.  He was exchanged and then admitted on March 29, 1865 to C.S.A. General Hospital No. 11, Charlotte, North Carolina,  for treatment of “Ch Diarrhoea”.