>From History of Jacksonville Florida by T. Frederick Davis The Jacksonville Light Infantry was organized in April 30, 1857, with the following roster (footnote says: From diary of O.L. Keene, charter member): Officers - Captain: Holmes Steele Lieutenants: F.C. Sollee, George Flagg, J.C. Buffington Sergeants: Wm. Grothe, S.B. Flinn, Wm. Houston, H.W. Fitch, A.W. DaCosta Corporals: T.R. Webb, S. Buffington, Jr., C.H. Collins, L. Warrock Privates: Aberle, C.C. Ashurst, Watson Aubert, E. Brennan P. Butler, J.G. Burkheim, J. Caulk, Wm. Deput, F. Doggett, A Doggett, S.F. DuPont, W.A. Fleming, L.I. Haddock, W. Hirtler, F.G. Houston, J.C. Keene, O.L. Livingston, W.E. Moody, H.M. Moore, W.W. Oak, B.E. Oak, E.A. Ochus, A.A. Pappy, F.B. Rushing, R.R. Shad, J.D.M. Smith, D.P. Smith, Frank Talle, P.H. Wilson, J.Y. Winter, J.I. Soon after organization T.E. Buckman, J.J. Daniel and others joined the company. The first street parade was held July 4, 1859, when the company marched to the country, about where Florida Avenue is now, and had target practice for two hours. The armory was then in a hall in a frame building on the north side of Bay Street between Hogan and Julia. According to one of the charter members, they had elaborate uniforms - coats of blue cloth with three rows of brass buttons down the front, high caps with pompons, pants of blue cloth and white pants for warm weather. In May, 1860, the ladies of the town presented the company with a silk flag, made by themselves, and a street parade was held in celebration of the event. (same footnote as above.) Upon the withdrawal of Florida from the Union, the Jacksonville Light Infantry offered its services to the Governor and was the first company officially accepted by the State. Detachments were sent to the mouth of the St. Johns River to erect fortifications at that point. Four cannon from Fort Marion at St. Augustine were put on log carts and hauled to the beach below Mayport, to a high sand dune west of the "Run". Here a fort of palmetto logs was built by the company under the direction of Captain John L'Engle, a retired U.S. Army officer. This post wasw named Fort Steele, in honor of Captain Steele (same footnote as above); above it floated another flag, made and presented by the ladies of Jacksonville - the company's battle flag, inscribed "Let us alone". (footnote: John L. Doggett) The company was ordered to Fort Steele in detachments, until April, when all were ordered there. (footnote: From diary of O.L. Keene, charter member) About this time, a company known a! s the Duval County Cow Boys was formed and occupied St. Johns Bluff. The long roll was sounded but once at Fort Steele. One night the sentinel observed an object coming in that he thought was a lauch from a Federal gunboat. He gave the alarm and the company was hastily drawn up on the beach to repel the invader, but it proved to be a pile of brush floating in with the tide. (footnote: From diary of O.L. Keene, charter member) The Jacksonville Light Infantry was mustered into the Confederate service as Company A, Third Florida Infantry, August 10, 1861. It was stationed at Fort Steele until early in March, 1862, when on the approach of the Federal squadron, the guns were spiked and the company returned to Jacksonville under orders. Most of the companies comprising the Third Florida Regiment then went to Cedar Key, and in May, 1862, the entire regiment for the first time was brought together at Midway, Gadsden County, where it was reorganized and sent to Mobile for several months. Early in August, 1862, it went to Chattanooga. It went through the Kentucky campaign and was engaged in the battle of Perryville, October 8, 1862, where it lost heavily in officers and men. The First Florida was also engaged and the losses were so heavy that the two regiments, First and Third Florida, were consolidated. (footnote: Soldiers of Florida, official State publication) The consolidated regiment was in all of the subsequent movements of Bragg's army; was in the battle of Murfresborough; at the siege of Jackson; and after the close of the Mississippi campaign, was engaged at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, and in the engagements with Sherman's army around Atlanta. The battle-scarred remnant of the Jacksonville Light Infantry was mustered out near Greensboro, N.D., April 26, 1865. (footnote: Soldiers of Florida, official State publication) Beginning with August 10, 1861, the roster of the Jacksonville Light Infantry in the War Between the States was as follows: (footnote: Soldiers of Florida, official State publication) Officers - Captains: Holmes Steele, resigned November, 1861. John B. Oliveros, disabled at Perryville, October, 1862. Aristides Doggett, promoted to Captain November, 1862. 1st Lieutenants: John G. Butler; John King 2nd Lieutenants: Wm. Caulk; Francis H. Sabal; Wm. Haddock Enlisted Men: Allen, W.H. Andrew, F.F. Andrew, Ignacio Biggs, Colin Booth, Richard Bowden, David Bowden, Edward Bowden, W.R. Broadnax, E.C. Broadnax, R.R. Bryant, W.A. Canova, A.A. Clark, Jas. Collins, C.H. Cubbage, A.M. Curry, Robt. Davis, J.S. Driver, John Driver, Leonard Dunbary, Patrick Duval, Virginius DeWaal, J.M. Edwards, Jas. Falana, Benj. Fanala, Romain Fatio, L.L. Floyd, A.V. Floyd, Francis Floys, J.H. Floyd, S.A. Gilbert, David Gilbert, Herrod Grayner, J.A. Greek, Elijah Hall, R.D. Hamilton, Thos. Hanford, G.W. Hansy, Alex. Harvey, J.J. Harvey, J.S. Hemming, C.C. Hernandez, A. Hernandez, Frank Hopkins, Alphonzo Houstin, J.C. Houston, R.E. Houston, W.H. Huchingson, M.M.T. Jackery, Lewis Javnigan, D. Keenan, John Keenan, Peter Keenan, W.A. Kill, John Killer, John Larry, Joe Livingston, T.H. Lopez, Andrew Lopez, Joseph Lord, J.B. Madden, John Manusa, Mark Manusa, Philip Mather, Chas. Mitchell, Wm. Moody, H.M. Moony, Hugh Moony, J.J. Ortagus, Predentes Paterson, Thos. Perpaul, Chas. Perpaul, W.O. Pinkham, B. Ponce, John Redman, James Richard, F.M. Robion, S.G. Sallis, Domatio Sheppard, W.D. Shackleford, A.W. Smith, C.W. Smith, H.M. Stewart, Robt. Strausser, A. Sweet, H.M. Walker, G.A. Wasson, C.R. Wingate, Jerry Wingate, J.G. Wingate, J.J. Wingate, J.W. Wingate, N.M. Wilds, Phineas next part: the remainder of the history of the Jacksonville Light Infantry, and The history of the St. Johns Grays julie thames howell jax, fla