# 3rd Florida Infantry Regiment

The 3rd Florida Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that fought for the Confederacy in American Civil War. The regiment was formed in the summer of 1861 and served until it surrendered in 1865.

## Organization

The 3rd Florida Infantry was formed near Pensacola, Florida, in July, 1861. Its companies were recruited in the counties of St. Johns, Hernando, Jefferson, Duval, Wakulla, Madison, Columbia, and Suwannee. In Company C, the average age of the eighty-seven enlisted men was twenty-five, with the youngest being fifteen and the oldest forty-four. The unit served along the coast at Talbot Island and Cedar Keys, then moved to Mobile. After fighting at Perryville it was assigned to Preston's, Stovall's, Finley's, J.A. Smith's Brigade, and during December, 1862, consolidated with the 1st Florida Infantry Regiment along with other units from Florida to become the Florida Brigade of the Army of Tennessee. It was organized with 950 officers and men, and the 1st and 3rd lost twenty-six percent of the 23 in action at Chickamauga. In December, 1863, this command totaled 240 men and 119 arms, but only a remnant surrendered in April, 1865. The field officers were Colonel William S. Dilworth; Lieutenant Colonels Lucius A. Church, Elisha Mashburn, and Arthur J.T. Wright; and Major John L. Phillips.

## Companies

| Company | County | Nickname | Commander | Number of Soldiers |
| F&S | | | Col. William S. Dilworth | 20 |
| A | Duval | Jacksonville Light Infantry | Capt. Holmes Steele | 118 |
| B | Saint Johns | Saint Augustine Blues | Capt. John Lott Philips | 124 |
| C | Hernando | Hernando Guards (Wildcats) | Capt. Walter Terry Saxon | 112 |
| D | Wakulla | Wakulla Guards | Capt. Daniel L. Frierson | 103 |
| E | Jefferson | Jefferson Beauragards | Capt. Daniel E. Bird | 123 |
| F | Duval | Cow Boys | Capt. Lucius A. Hardee | 111 |
| G | Madison | Madison Grey Eagles | Capt. Thomas Langford | 165 |
| H | Jefferson | Jefferson Rifles | Capt. William Girardeau | 132 |
| I | Columbia | Dixie Stars | Capt. Jesse B. Wood | 91 |
| K | Columbia & Suwanee | Columbia & Suwanee Guards | Capt. William Parker | 107 |

## Service history

Much of the unit was armed with the Enfield rifle, which were supplied to the regiment late in March 1862. Around the same time, a portion of the regiment defeated a small U.S. naval force that was attempting to land near New Smyrna. Sometime in late-April, early-May 1862, the regiment was gifted a new battle-flag made by a group of women from Jefferson County. The flag had the motto “We Yield But in Death.” The regiment adopted a stuffed wildcat as their mascot, which traveled with its owners; Company C, who were dubbed “The Hernando Wildcats.”
The 1st and 3rd were engaged at Murfreesboro and Jackson, then participated in the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee from Chickamauga to Bentonville.

## Engagements and Battles

1862
* New Smyrna (Companies E & H were involved)
* Skirmish of the Brick Church
* Kentucky Campaign
** Battle of Perryville
1863
* Battle of Murfreesboro
* Vicksburg Campaign
** Siege of Jackson
* Battle of Chickamauga
* Battles for Chattanooga
1864
* Atlanta Campaign
** Battle of New Hope Church
** Battle of Dallas
** Battle of Atlanta
** Battle of Ezra Church
** Siege of Atlanta
* Battle of Spring Hill
* Battle of Franklin
* Battle of Nashville
1865
* Carolinas Campaign
** Battle of Bentonville