HISTORICAL NOTES:

The Florida 6th Infantry Battalion was formed in the late summer and early fall of 1863 from units which had served as independent volunteer companies in different parts of the State. These companies were commanded by Captains John C. Chambers, John W. Pearson, Samuel Hope, James Tucker, A.A. Stewart, J.C. DuPree, S.M.G. Garry, and Lieutenant James Washington Pearce. Prior to Olustee elements of the battalion garrisoned different points in north and central Florida, but saw little combat.

Major Pickens Bird led the Sixth at Olustee, where it lost eighty-two men, including nine killed or mortally wounded (one officer and eight enlisted men), and seventy-three wounded (four officers and sixty-nine enlisted men) for a total of eighty-two casualties according to the published compilation in the Official Records.

After the Battle of Olustee, Lieutenant Colonel Martin was placed in command of the Battalion which was concentrated between Waldo and Jacksonville,

Early in May, 1864 General Patton Anderson, Commanding the District of Florida, received from the War Department an order to send a good brigade to Richmond Virginia with all possible expediency. General Joseph Finnegan was ordered to immediately proceed to Virginia with his brigade which included the 6th Florida Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Martin. The brigade arrived at Richmond, Virginia May 25, 1864 and joined Anderson's Division, of which Holmes was then commander, and then Hill's Corps at Hanover Junction, May 28, 1864. A number of other companies were added to the 6th Battalion which then became the 9th Florida Regiment under the command of Colonel Martin.

OFFICERS:

Colonel:


John M. Martin

Major:

Pickens Butler Bird

BATTLES:

Olustee

ROSTERS:

No rosters of this battalion have been found,