RICHARD FERRY MILITARY ANTIQUES
THE FLORIDA ROOM
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FLORIDA IN THE CIVIL WAR
FLORIDA CIVIL WAR MUSEUM
FLORIDA CIVIL WAR MUSEUM
Florida is considered by many historians to be the forgotten state of the Confederacy. Florida's population in 1861, of
140,000, ranks it as the smallest of all the confederate states. The third state to secede, it would provide about 15,000
troops during the war. These troops would be organized into eleven infantry regiments, two cavalry regiments, a handful
of artillery batteries and a variety of smaller organizations. Another important contribution to the Confederacy was the
large amount of cattle the state provided to the Confederacy. Also with over 1300 miles of coastline a number of small
salt distillers provided much needed salt for the war effort.
Florida units fought in most of the major battles during the war with brigades in the Army of Northern Virginia and the
Army of Tennessee. Small units also defended the state from several Yankee invasions during the war and the capital,
Tallahassee, remained un captured during the war.
Recommended reading: Florida During the Civil War by John Johns
A Small but Spartan Band by Zack C. Waters & James Demands
Thunder on the River by Daniel L. Chafer
The above books are available in our book store
140,000, ranks it as the smallest of all the confederate states. The third state to secede, it would provide about 15,000
troops during the war. These troops would be organized into eleven infantry regiments, two cavalry regiments, a handful
of artillery batteries and a variety of smaller organizations. Another important contribution to the Confederacy was the
large amount of cattle the state provided to the Confederacy. Also with over 1300 miles of coastline a number of small
salt distillers provided much needed salt for the war effort.
Florida units fought in most of the major battles during the war with brigades in the Army of Northern Virginia and the
Army of Tennessee. Small units also defended the state from several Yankee invasions during the war and the capital,
Tallahassee, remained un captured during the war.
Recommended reading: Florida During the Civil War by John Johns
A Small but Spartan Band by Zack C. Waters & James Demands
Thunder on the River by Daniel L. Chafer
The above books are available in our book store
We are currently building an online
Florida Civil War Museum from selected
items in our collection. Please check
back often as we continue to add new
items. Richard Ferry
Florida Civil War Museum from selected
items in our collection. Please check
back often as we continue to add new
items. Richard Ferry
FLORIDIANS ANSWER THE CALL
These men, in the above broadside, would become Company K (Davis Guards) of the Second Florida Infantry. The 2nd
Fla. served in the Army of Northern Virginia and participated in battles from the Seven Days until Appomattox. At
Gettysburg it lost forty-two percent of the 242 men engaged. On April 9,1865 the Second Florida surrendered with 7
officers and 59 men.
James Felix Tucker was born December 2nd 1840 in New Albany, Indiana. In the mid 1850's his family moved to
Florida and as a young man he attended the Georgia Military Institute. The 1860 census list him as living in Levy County
and operating a steamboat on the Suwannee River. He enlisted 7/8/61 at Fernandina. He was described as "a young man
of unusual moral worth. Although reared in the midst of the usual social incitements to indulgence, he is reported never to
have tasted spirits, not tobacco, nor to have sworn an oath." Stephen Mallory, described him as "a soldier by education &
feeling; a young gentleman of great traits of character and ability". He was not reelected 5/11/62 and returned to Florida
where he was appointed 2nd Lt and drillmaster 6/4/62 and was stationed at Tallahassee. Samuel St. George Rogers
noted that he was "thorough in every department of drill, an admirable disciplinarian, in short I know of no more
competent officer nor one more worthy of promotion." He was appointed 2nd Lt of Company D, 9th Florida Infantry
10/6/62 at Columbus FL and was appointed Captain 10/14/63. He was wounded in the thigh 6/3/64 at Cold Harbor trying
to rescue Major Pickens Bird, who was mortally wounded. His hat was punctured by three bullets during that battle.
Both men were rescued by Sgt P. N. Bryan and sent to Howard's Grove Hospital, Richmond. Tucker wrote a letter
describing Pickens Bird's death to his family after the war. He was furloughed from Howard's Grove Hospital, Richmond
7/5/64 and was married soon after: "... while still on crutches, he was married... A notable fact of this wedding was that
each groomsman was a wounded Confederate Soldier." Due to the scarcity of new cloth, his uniform was turned inside
out and trimmed for the occasion. He remained in Florida till the end and was paroled 5/16/65 at Madison. He was
5'8.5", light hair, grey eyes, fair skin. He was the son of Tucker the blockade runner. He signed the "Confederate Hall"
Register at the Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta in 1895.
Biographical material from Biographical Rosters Of Florida's Confederate Soldiers Broadfoot Publishing Company
available in our bookstore
Fla. served in the Army of Northern Virginia and participated in battles from the Seven Days until Appomattox. At
Gettysburg it lost forty-two percent of the 242 men engaged. On April 9,1865 the Second Florida surrendered with 7
officers and 59 men.
James Felix Tucker was born December 2nd 1840 in New Albany, Indiana. In the mid 1850's his family moved to
Florida and as a young man he attended the Georgia Military Institute. The 1860 census list him as living in Levy County
and operating a steamboat on the Suwannee River. He enlisted 7/8/61 at Fernandina. He was described as "a young man
of unusual moral worth. Although reared in the midst of the usual social incitements to indulgence, he is reported never to
have tasted spirits, not tobacco, nor to have sworn an oath." Stephen Mallory, described him as "a soldier by education &
feeling; a young gentleman of great traits of character and ability". He was not reelected 5/11/62 and returned to Florida
where he was appointed 2nd Lt and drillmaster 6/4/62 and was stationed at Tallahassee. Samuel St. George Rogers
noted that he was "thorough in every department of drill, an admirable disciplinarian, in short I know of no more
competent officer nor one more worthy of promotion." He was appointed 2nd Lt of Company D, 9th Florida Infantry
10/6/62 at Columbus FL and was appointed Captain 10/14/63. He was wounded in the thigh 6/3/64 at Cold Harbor trying
to rescue Major Pickens Bird, who was mortally wounded. His hat was punctured by three bullets during that battle.
Both men were rescued by Sgt P. N. Bryan and sent to Howard's Grove Hospital, Richmond. Tucker wrote a letter
describing Pickens Bird's death to his family after the war. He was furloughed from Howard's Grove Hospital, Richmond
7/5/64 and was married soon after: "... while still on crutches, he was married... A notable fact of this wedding was that
each groomsman was a wounded Confederate Soldier." Due to the scarcity of new cloth, his uniform was turned inside
out and trimmed for the occasion. He remained in Florida till the end and was paroled 5/16/65 at Madison. He was
5'8.5", light hair, grey eyes, fair skin. He was the son of Tucker the blockade runner. He signed the "Confederate Hall"
Register at the Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta in 1895.
Biographical material from Biographical Rosters Of Florida's Confederate Soldiers Broadfoot Publishing Company
available in our bookstore
These men, in the above broadside, would become company I, the Jefferson rifles, of the (new) First Florida Infantry. The First
Florida would see service at Santa Rosa Island Florida and most all of the major conflicts of the Army Of Tennessee from Shiloh
and until the surrender in North Carolina on April 26, 1865. Consolidated with the Third Florida they would loose 26% of the
531 engaged at Murfressboro and 34% of the 273 engaged at Chickamauga.
Daniel Boone Coleman enlisted at Bluff Springs and soon after died on 6/25/62
Florida would see service at Santa Rosa Island Florida and most all of the major conflicts of the Army Of Tennessee from Shiloh
and until the surrender in North Carolina on April 26, 1865. Consolidated with the Third Florida they would loose 26% of the
531 engaged at Murfressboro and 34% of the 273 engaged at Chickamauga.
Daniel Boone Coleman enlisted at Bluff Springs and soon after died on 6/25/62
THE FLAG OF THE FERNANDINA VOLUNTEERS
In 1859 as war clouds loomed Florida Governor Madison Starke Perry,a strong states rights advocate, called for a
reorganization of the states militia. Almost overnight militia units responded all over the state. Fernandina, Florida was no
exception. Fernandina on Amelia Island along Florida's northeast coast boasted a light house,a busy seaport,a railhead for the
longest railroad in the state and a partially completed fort (Fort Clinch) on the north end of the island..Acording to the 1860
census, the population was listed at 1390 with 602 of those blacks, both slave and free. The citizens responded to Governor
Perry's call, forming a militia company made up of residents of Fernandina and Nassau county. This company was under the
command of Captain Joseph Rutledge Finegan , who would later become one of Florida's most prominent Civil War figures.
Born 1814 in Clones, Ireland, he came to this country as a young man and served in the U.S. Army. Prior to the war he lived in
Nassau County running a plantation and a sawmill. He was also a business partner with Florida Senator David Yulee in a
railroading venture. In politics Joseph Finegan represented Florida in the Secession Convention voting for Secession. During
the war he would rise to the rank of Brigadier General commanding troops in the state at Olustee where Confederate forces
won a decisive victory over invading Union forces .In 1864 he commanded the Florida Brigade in the Army of Northern
Virginia. As early as December 1860 the Fernandina Volunteers were primed and ready for action. Almost as if seeing into
the future, on December 18th 1860, Captain Finegan wrote the mayor of Charleston South Carolina that at a recent meeting the
volunteers had adopted a resolution that if it should become necessary to use force to obtain possession of the forts in
Charleston Harbor he was willing to send a detachment of 25 men or more for that purpose. The election of Abraham Lincoln
as president swelled the ranks of the Fernandina Volunteers and the volunteers quickly moved to seize Fort Clinch on the north
end of the island. In a matter of days the volunteers were enrolled into service of the state of Florida. The Fernandina
newspaper stated that the Volunteers "embraces among many of our oldest and influential citizens". On January 8th the
Fernandina Volunteers were part of the forces that seized Fort Marion in Saint Augustine, Florida. Many of the guns there were
quickly removed and transported to Fernandina. On January 10th, Florida succeeded from the union as the Volunteers quickly
went to work mounting the guns in Fort Clinch and along the north end of the island between the fort and the ocean. Fernandina
quickly became a boom town with troops from all over the state assembling there organizing for war.
It is not known exactly when the Charleston painter, C.W. Stiles, was commissioned to produce a flag for the Volunteers. The
1860 census list C.W. Stiles as a 38 year old Canadian native working in Charleston as a painter. The hand painted silk flag is
signed and dated 1861. In May of 1861 Capt Finegan was appointed military advisor to Governor John Milton and resigned
with Leonard Dozier Jr. quickly elected Captain of the unit. One source states the flag was presented to the group shortly after
by Captain Dozier's daughters in a ceremony. One member, Benjamen W. Thompson, described the volunteers in his memoirs,
"We met at the armory for drill and social purposes, an generally, had a good time. We added to our numbers by recruiting
some Greek fishermen and some long shore men, and generally the Riff-raff of the town. We were cheaply uniformed in blue
flannel shirts and gray jeans trousers with red flannel stripes. The men sang songs, fished from the wharf, played games and
perpetuated jokes. The business men got excused to attend to business by day and did some night duty or hired black men in
their place."With this lack of discipline it is easy to understand why members slowly began to join other units forming in the
area. Some of the earliest are noted around April of 1861 with the Broome brothers, George and Robert joining the First
Florida Infantry .It is not known when the Fernandina Volunteers officially disbanded but members slowly began to filter away.
On February 24, 1862the Captain, Leonard Dozier Jr. joined the Marion Light Artillery.
In early 1861 General Robert E. Lee under direction of Jefferson Davis inspected the coastal defenses from the Carolinas down
to St. Augustine, Florida. In a letter to his daughters he remarked "I have been down the coast as far as Amelia Island to
examine our defenses. They are poor indeed and I have laid off work enough to employ our people a month. I hope our enemy
will be polite enough to wait for us. It is difficult to get our people there to realize their positions."Lee's inspection finally led
to the conclusion that this part of Florida was of little strategic importance and too difficult to defend. In February 1862 he
ordered that all troops should be withdrawn from the coastal areas. On March 1,1862 the evacuation started. Most of all the
artillery pieces were removed and sent to secure locations inland. Eighteen were sent for the defense of Savannah, and fourteen
guns that could not be removed were spiked. Colonel Edward D. Hopkins of the Fourth Florida issued a special notice on
March 1st that a special train would leave the city expressly for the transportation of all women and children from the city on
March 2nd. On Sunday March 2nd Union forces captured nearby Cumberland Island and this seemed to speed up the evacuation
of the city. By 2:30 pm the following day the Confederate forces were moving out of the city. Union forces entered the harbor
on march 3rd in what was called the largest amphibious action in U.S. History as the last inhabitants were leaving. The last
train leaving the city was spotted on a track that ran alongside the river and chase was given by the U. S. Gunboat Ottawa
signaling the engineer to stop. An eyewitness stated that "the passengers hooted, jeered, and waved handkerchiefs derisively
from the car windows and the gunboat fired several shots at it, aiming at the locomotive." One shell killed two men on a flatcar,
but the train arrived safely on the mainland. Shortly after the river steamer Darlington was spotted trying to escape the union
gunboats. The Darlington was a 298-ton side-wheel steamship built at Charleston South, Carolina in 1849. It was owned by
Jacob Brock a transplanted Vermont native who ran a steamship line between Charleston, Savannah, and the Florida coastal
towns hauling freight and baggage. The following is the report of commander Percival Drayton of the U.S.S. Pawnee. "A small
steamer was discovered attempting to escape up the narrow creek over which the railroad bridge passes, the draw which she
had went through shortly after the train had crossed. Several shots were fired at her without effect, and as the Ottawa could not
go up the creek, Commander Rogers followed her with two of his armed boats, captured and brought her alongside. She was
found to be filled principally with women and children, but also had on board a surgeon in the Confederate Army and a number
of mules and wagons belonging to the Quartermaster's Department."
It was probably from the captured baggage on the Darlington that William H. Rutherford (chief engineer on the U.S.S. Pawnee)
obtained the Fernandina Volunteers flag. Wide spread looting was also reported in Fernandina but since Rutherford was
directly involved in the capture of the Darlington and her baggage it was there that he likely came into possession of the flag.
William H. Rutherford was a career naval officer born in Philadelphia on January 1, 1828. He entered Naval service as an
assistant engineer in 1849 serving with M.C. Perry on the Pacific coast survey and on the expeditions to Japan and South
America. He served in actions from the Potomac to Louisiana figuring in many battles and was involved in the capture of the
privateer Florida. After the war he served on Indian and European stations and then at the Pensacola Navy Yard before retiring
on October 26, 1874. On March, 1898 at the age of 70, William Rutherford passed away and was buried in Washington D.C.
The flag was purchased from his decendents in Florida.
J.B. Cason Second Florida
Infantry killed Seven Pines
Infantry killed Seven Pines
Thomas Martin Palmer
Surgeon Second Florida
Surgeon Second Florida
Lawrence Anderson 1st Florida Inf.
Killed Shiloh
Killed Shiloh
Captain Augustus McDonnell
1st. Florida Infantry
1st. Florida Infantry
Captain Daniel Williams
1st Florida Infantry
1st Florida Infantry
Captain Henry Thomas Wright
1st Florida Infantry
1st Florida Infantry
WAR TROPHY OF WILLIAM H. RUTHERFORD U.S.N.
William H. Rutherford chief engineer U.S.N.
Whole plate ambrotype by Gutekunst Philidelphia
Whole plate ambrotype by Gutekunst Philidelphia
Brigadier General Joseph R. Finegan C.S.A.
Captain of the Fernandina Volunteers
CDV photograph by E.&H.T. Anthony New York
Captain of the Fernandina Volunteers
CDV photograph by E.&H.T. Anthony New York
The steamer Darlington depicted, after it's capture, in
an engraving from The Official War Record in 1899.
an engraving from The Official War Record in 1899.
BRIGADIER GENERAL EDWARD A. PERRY'S COLT ARMY
COMMANDER OF THE FLORIDA BRIGADE IN THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINA
GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA
COMMANDER OF THE FLORIDA BRIGADE IN THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINA
GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA
Edward Alysworth Perry was born March 15, 1831 on a farm near
Richmond, Massachusetts. His family roots dated back to the early
1600's when his family first settled in New England. After attending
Yale for two years he left in 1852 and moved south first settling in
Georgia and later in Alabama where he taught school and studied law.
Moving to Pensacola in 1856 Edward began practicing law in a
partnership with Richard L. Campbell. Soon after he was married and
lived with his wife in Pensacola until he volunteered for service in the
Pensacola Rifle Rangers in early 1861. Perry was soon elected captain
and saw his first action in the capture of the Pensacola Naval Base.
In July,1861 the Rifles were mustered into confederate service
becoming Company A, Second Florida Infantry in the Army of Northern
Virginia. The Second Florida saw it's first action in the defense of
Yorktown and in fighting at Williamsburg where the Colonel George T
Ward was killed. On May 10, 1862 Perry was elected Colonel taking
George Ward's place. At the head of the regiment Colonel Perry was
wounded during the bloody fighting at Frayser,s Farm during the 7 day
battles before Richmond. The Second Florida suffered heavy casualties
during the 7 days loosing 65 killed and 285 wounded. After recovering
from his wounds Perry was back in command by September 1862. In
November the 2nd, 5th, and the 8th Florida were organized into the
Florida Brigade under the command of Perry who had been promoted
brigadier general. This new unit became part of Anderson's Division of
Longstreet's First Corps. General Perry commanded the Florida Brigade
at Fredricksburg in December 1862 and at the Chancellorsville in May,
1863. Sometime after Chancellorsville Perry contacted typhoid fever
and missed the Battle of Gettysburg returning after the campaign was
over. He was back in command by the Battle of the Wilderness where
he was severely wounded on May 4th 1864 forcing him to retire and
serve with reserve forces in Alabama until the end of the war.
For the next 20 years following the war Edward Perry would devote his
life to his law practice and family, raising 5 children in Pensacola. His
favorite pastimes were playing poker and fishing in the Gulf.
In 1884 he successfully ran for governor and was elected. Under his
leadership Florida would adopt a new State Constitution ,establish a
State Board of Education, and provide pensions for it's Civil War
veterans. When he turned the reins of government over to his successor
Francis P. Fleming four years later the state treasury showed a balanced
budget with a balance in the black. Perry returned to private life and
while on a trip to visit his sister in Texas he suffered a stroke and
passed away on October 15, 1889. His body was returned to Pensacola
and interred in St. Johns Cemetery.
Richmond, Massachusetts. His family roots dated back to the early
1600's when his family first settled in New England. After attending
Yale for two years he left in 1852 and moved south first settling in
Georgia and later in Alabama where he taught school and studied law.
Moving to Pensacola in 1856 Edward began practicing law in a
partnership with Richard L. Campbell. Soon after he was married and
lived with his wife in Pensacola until he volunteered for service in the
Pensacola Rifle Rangers in early 1861. Perry was soon elected captain
and saw his first action in the capture of the Pensacola Naval Base.
In July,1861 the Rifles were mustered into confederate service
becoming Company A, Second Florida Infantry in the Army of Northern
Virginia. The Second Florida saw it's first action in the defense of
Yorktown and in fighting at Williamsburg where the Colonel George T
Ward was killed. On May 10, 1862 Perry was elected Colonel taking
George Ward's place. At the head of the regiment Colonel Perry was
wounded during the bloody fighting at Frayser,s Farm during the 7 day
battles before Richmond. The Second Florida suffered heavy casualties
during the 7 days loosing 65 killed and 285 wounded. After recovering
from his wounds Perry was back in command by September 1862. In
November the 2nd, 5th, and the 8th Florida were organized into the
Florida Brigade under the command of Perry who had been promoted
brigadier general. This new unit became part of Anderson's Division of
Longstreet's First Corps. General Perry commanded the Florida Brigade
at Fredricksburg in December 1862 and at the Chancellorsville in May,
1863. Sometime after Chancellorsville Perry contacted typhoid fever
and missed the Battle of Gettysburg returning after the campaign was
over. He was back in command by the Battle of the Wilderness where
he was severely wounded on May 4th 1864 forcing him to retire and
serve with reserve forces in Alabama until the end of the war.
For the next 20 years following the war Edward Perry would devote his
life to his law practice and family, raising 5 children in Pensacola. His
favorite pastimes were playing poker and fishing in the Gulf.
In 1884 he successfully ran for governor and was elected. Under his
leadership Florida would adopt a new State Constitution ,establish a
State Board of Education, and provide pensions for it's Civil War
veterans. When he turned the reins of government over to his successor
Francis P. Fleming four years later the state treasury showed a balanced
budget with a balance in the black. Perry returned to private life and
while on a trip to visit his sister in Texas he suffered a stroke and
passed away on October 15, 1889. His body was returned to Pensacola
and interred in St. Johns Cemetery.
E. A. PERRY
CDV by J.H. Young
Baltimore Md.
CDV by J.H. Young
Baltimore Md.
E.A. PERRY
Post War Cabinet Card
photo by Larony
New York
Post War Cabinet Card
photo by Larony
New York
THE SWORD OF CAPTAIN ROBERT A. WALLER CO. B EIGHTH FLORIDA INFANTRY
KILLED IN ACTION SEPTEMBER 17, 1862 ANTIETAM, MARYLAND
KILLED IN ACTION SEPTEMBER 17, 1862 ANTIETAM, MARYLAND
Robert Aurelius Waller was born in Greenwood
County, South Carolina in 1837 the son of
Albert and Elizabeth Creswell Waller, both
native South Carolinians. Robert Waller enlisted
in Company B 8th Florida Infantry on May 10th
1862 at Quincy Florida. He would see action
with the Florida Brigade during the 7 Days
Battles and 2nd Manassas. At Antietam Captain
Waller was killed while leading the 8th Florida
with the regimental colors draped over his
shoulders.
County, South Carolina in 1837 the son of
Albert and Elizabeth Creswell Waller, both
native South Carolinians. Robert Waller enlisted
in Company B 8th Florida Infantry on May 10th
1862 at Quincy Florida. He would see action
with the Florida Brigade during the 7 Days
Battles and 2nd Manassas. At Antietam Captain
Waller was killed while leading the 8th Florida
with the regimental colors draped over his
shoulders.
3.4 Hotchkiss shell fired from a 3.4 inch Dahlgren boat howitzer
found near the site where the gunboat Ottawa fired on the train
fleeing Fernandina.
found near the site where the gunboat Ottawa fired on the train
fleeing Fernandina.