2nd Florida Cavalry qUESTION

[41stVa]

Hey all,

This doesn't concern the event at all, but since most of you responding here are portraying cavalry maybe my question can be answered.

I had several ancestors that fought in the 2nd Florida Cavalry and am trying to do the research on what uniforms these men were issued so I can do an accurate impression. Any information would be greatful. I have found some information, but have come to several road blocks. Thanks in advance!

Ryan Protz
41st Virginia
Granville Mess
ONV

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: 2nd Florida Cavalry qUESTION

Was that 2d Florida Cavalry US or CS? If its US, I can send you a PM with alot of what I have, but if it is CS, send an email to James "Archie" Marshall at the Hillsborough County Veteran's Museum in Tampa (FloridaWar@msn.com) as he has more research than I do on that particular regiment.

[41stVa]

Re: 2nd Florida Cavalry qUESTION

It was a CS regiment. Thanks for the email address!

Ryan Protz

[T.Kern]

Re: Authentic Cav. Event/Muster????

below find a report on ordnance of the 2nd Fla. I edited the info on infantry. It comes from the O.R.'s. I believe the plain tree they speak of is the Jenifer, and they make note it has caused no problem with the horses back.

Todd Kern


CHARLESTON, S.C., February 10, 1864.
[Lieut. Col. J. R. WADDY :]
COLONEL: In obedience to special orders received from your office, I have the honor to make the following report in accordance therewith:
On the 11th of January, two companies of Major Scott's command, stationed within a mile of Tallahassee, Fla., were inspected; the companies <ar65_583> of this command are not lettered. Captain Browning's company has no arms; company has fifty-eight sabers. This command will be armed by Lieutenant Carlisle, ordnance officer, District of Middle Florida, as soon as possible. Saddles not very good; they have plain trees which are very narrow at the pommel; they are therefore very apt to make the backs of horses sore and thus incapacitate them for service.
Captain Hunter's company (not lettered) armed with sabers; but 28 men present for duty; company has eighteen Austrian rifles, which are in good order, and the men appear to have taken good care of the arms. Saddles same as Captain Browning's. Men all appear in good condition in these two companies. Though it does not come exactly under my orders, I take pleasure in stating the soldierly appearance of this squadron, the fine condition of their horses, &c., doing credit to the commanding officer, Major Camfield.
At the same camp, near Tallahassee, on the same date, were inspected Companies D and I, Second Florida Cavalry. Company D, Captain Maxwell, 78 men for duty, with seventy-eight Maynard rifles, sabers, and holster pistols, old pattern; the supply of ammunition for rifles small. I directed the captain to make requisition at once on Lieutenant Carlisle for ammunition. The saddles used by this company are the plain tree (saddle), but they seemed to do very well, as none of the horses' backs were at all sore. The arms of this company in perfect order; the horses appear well kept, and the command presented a very good appearance, doing credit to its commander.
Company I, Second Florida Cavalry, Captain Parramore, armed with Maynard rifles, 40; Mississippi rifles. 6; Enfield rifles, 5; caliber carbines, 30; Hall's carbines, 7; double-barreled shotguns, 5. Saddles same as those in Company D. This company has also sabers. I would respectfully state that the ordnance officer in the District of Middle Florida is informed about the armament of the troops in his district, and that so soon as arms are sent him he will issue them to the troops in proper order. This company has taken good care of their arms, though the horses were by no means as well kept, nor did the men present as good appearance as of Captain Maxwell's company (D) of this command.
On the 11th of January, the ordnance depot, under charge of Lieut. S. S. Carlisle, at Quincy, Fla., was inspected; there were in depot some few infantry accouterments made of canvas, covered with a sort of lacquer. These accouterments are necessarily very poor, and the ammunition can therefore last but a short time, comparatively, in such boxes. The belts are also much too short, which fault is general with these accouterments; it puts the men to much inconvenience, and when marching with a full supply of ammunition, the belts, only held by a simple cord or string, would be very apt to break and thus produce great confusion. I would respectfully suggest that these accouterments be either mended (that is, that the belts be made longer), or that other belts be issued to the troops having these very short belts. There were also in depot at Quincy some 300 damaged arms of various kinds and calibers, which Lieutenant Carlisle, ordnance officer, told me he would send to Major Humphreys, at Columbus, Ga., for repairs, as soon as the river, then very high, would allow, there being no means of repairing arms at Quincy. <ar65_584>
Books and stationery are very much needed in the office of Lieutenant Carlisle, at Quincy; he made requisition for stationery some time since; I directed him to again require for what he needed in this line. I would respectfully submit that a depot of repairs could easily be established at Quincy, provided a fund were furnished Lieutenant Carlisle for the purpose; the establishment of this depot of repairs is rendered the more necessary for the reason that the communication between Quincy and Columbus Arsenal, Ga., the nearest place for repairs, is very often interrupted by the rising of the river. I would therefore most respectfully recommend that a depot for repairs of arms, harness, &c., be established, under charge of Lieutenant Carlisle, at Quincy, Fla., who is a willing and very energetic officer, and fully acquainted with the duties he is called upon to perform. Further, the repairs which occasion sometimes demands to be done at once are done by the quartermaster's department, but they have as much as they can well attend to in keeping up their own repairs...
On the 15th of January, Captain Griffin's company, Scott's battalion of cavalry, stationed near Newport, Fla., 5 miles from Camp Randolph: 59 men; no arms; men have their own horses and saddles.
Captain Gwynn, Major Scott's battalion of cavalry, stationed near Newport, Fla.: 73 men; arms just received; smooth-bore muskets, caliber .69, in very poor condition; most of the locks in very bad order--lock-bound, &c. General appearance of arms very bad, and will doubtless soon become unserviceable. The men have no car-tridge-boxes to carry their ammunition in. Men have their own saddles generally; pretty fair ones.
Captain McElvey (no letter to company), Major Scott's battalion of cavalry, stationed near Newport: 67 men; arms just received; same condition as those of Captain Gwynn--very poor. This company is supplied with ammunition which is in good condition; they have also cartridge-boxes.
On the 14th were inspected the company of Captain Simmons, Company G, Second Florida Cavalry, armed with Maynard rifles and sabers; 71 men present; arms in good condition, well taken care of, but have only 5 rounds of ammunition. None of the companies armed with Maynard rifles are able to procure a supply of ammunition, owing to its peculiar character, requiring brass cylinders, which the ordnance officers state they cannot procure. Saddles fair. This company, stationed at Camp Randolph, 5 miles from Saint Mark's, acts as support to Gamble's battery. The company of Captain Blocker, stationed at Punch Bowl, on Ocklockonee Bay, 12 miles from Camp Randolph, armed with Maynard rifles and sabers; only 4 or 5 rounds of ammunition, the difficulty of procuring it being the reason for not being properly provided...
On the 23d, Companies B and D, Bonaud's battalion, stationed at Hammock's Landing, 14 miles below Chattahoochee: Armed with Austrian rifles; canvas accouterments lately issued; waist-belts too short; arms and ammunition show care and attention. Capt. A. C. Smith's company of Scott's battalion of cavalry stationed at Rickoe's Bluff, 50 miles below Chattahoochee, on the Apalachicola River; no letter to company. Number of enlisted men in company, 87; armed with Austrian rifles and sabers; number of arms, 79; very little ammunition on hand, and it is very necessary to have this company well supplied with ammunition, as this company sends a <ar65_587> picket to Bloody Bluff, which is the nearest picket-post on the river to the enemy. Arms in only tolerable order. The company have in use some private and some public saddles; this company was inspected on the 21st of January.
Captain Thigpin's company (A), Second Florida Cavalry, stationed on Dead Lakes, some 90 miles below Chattahoochee, Fla.: 67 men for duty; no Government arms; private arms in hands of company; 4 flint-and-steel Sawyer, 14 Harper's Ferry rifles, 9 carbines, 4 private shotguns, 29 State shotguns. Saddles good; company well supplied with ammunition for present purposes...
On 27th January, two companies of Second Florida Cavalry, Col. Caraway Smith, were inspected. Station, Camp Finegan, within 8 miles of Jacksonville, Fla. Companies F and K, Captains Rou and Jones: These companies are armed with the Enfield rifle, and the guns are in very fine order, but, as in case of Sixth Florida Infantry, carry too much ammunition in their cartridge-boxes. I found some cartridges with no powder in them at all, caused by the paper wearing out by friction. Saddles, fair; armed also with sabers.
As far as I could observe I am of the opinion that the Government property in the hands of troops in Florida, such as arms, accouterments, &c., is well taken care of, and is generally in good order, especially the arms, which in several commands are in the most excellent order.
I have the honor, colonel, to submit the above report.
Your obedient servant,
L. JAQUELIN SMITH,
Captain, Artillery, Assistant Chief of Ordnance.

[41stVa]

Re: 2nd Florida Cavalry qUESTION

Thanks for the information! It mentioned Co. K of the 2nd in there and that was the company that my ancestors were in! Thanks alot!

Ryan Protz
41st Va
Granville Mess
ONV