With the Thirty-Second Alabama, Eighteenth and Forty-Fifth Tennessee, and Fourth Alabama Cavalry, it advanced upon Nashville on November 5th 1862.
At Murfreesboro, on December 28th, it was placed under General William Preston, with First and Third Florida, Twentieth Tennessee, and Sixteenth North Carolina.
In the charge at 3 P.M., December 31st, it passed through the McCown burnt house, and lay that night and next day in the cedar thicket. On January 2nd, 1863, it was one of the last to leave the field, and lost half its members. In May, 1863, it was sent to Mississippi and was engaged in the battle at Jackson, July 12th.
Reaching Chickamauga, Tenn., September 1st, it fought in the battle of 19th and 20th under Brigadier Gen. M. A. Stoval. Before the battle of Missionary Ridge, it was placed in the Florida Brigade,--First, Thirteenth, Fourth, Sixth and Seventh Regiments. Being the left regiment, it was flanked in the ditch at the foot of the ridge. Only 18 of the 177 men men engaged escaped.
At Dalton it was consolidated with the First Florida Cavalry, as the First and Fourth Florida. Skirmished at Dalton in February and May; fought at Resacca May 14th, 15th; skirmished at Adairsville 17th, near Carsville on 19th, at Dallas from 26th of May to 1st of June. It was the left infantry regiment in the charge of May 28th.
Skirmished near Big Shanty and on Pine Mountain; fortified west side of Kennesaw; skirmished at Baldhill. On June 27th it reached Maney and Vaughn's Tennessee Brigades as they repulsed the Fourteenth army corps. Was in the trenches at Cheatham's Bend until night of July 2nd. Participated in all skirmishes of Bate's Division, also the battles of July 20th and 22nd and 5th and 6th of August, on Atlanta line.
It fought at Jonesboro August 31st and September 1st. With the Twentieth and Thirty-Seventh surrounded and captured the blockhouse at Mill Creek Gap, October 13th; skirmished at Decatur, Alabama, 26th; at Columbia, Tenn., Nov. 26th and 27th; was the left regiment at Franklin, 30th; skirmished at block- house near Stewart's creek, Decenber 4th; and west of railroad on 7th.
Reached Nashville line December 11th; was engaged on the 16th. Fought under W. B. Bate at Bentonville, N. C., March 19th, 1865, and surrendered April 26th, from High Point. On April 9th, 1865, it had been consolidated, with other Florida Regiments, into the First Florida Consolidated Regiment.
End
The Fourth Florida was made up of companies from every section of Florida--- and not alone from East Florida, as printed in the April Veteran.
I see that Capt. Robert Knickmeper, is Commander of Camp Thomas Moore, at Appalachicola. He was Captain of Company B, and served gallantly in (I believe) every battle in which that regiment fought.
Major Jacob A. Lash
1st and 3rd Florida, Capt. Matthew H. Strain 6th Florida, Capt. Angus McMillian 7th Florida, Capt. Robert B. Smith 1st Florida Cavalry and 4th Florida Infantry, Capt. George R. Langford
Artilliery Perry's (Florida) battery under Col. Melanctron Smith's Hoxton's Battalion.
Major General Benjamin F. Cheatum
Lieut. Col. E. Washburn
1st and 3rd Florida, Capt. A.B. McLeod 1st Florida Cavalry and 4th Florida Infantry, Capt. George R. Langford 6th Florida, Lieut. Malcolm Nicholson 7th Florida, Capt. Robert B. Smith
R.C. Langford of Fort Meade, Fla., would like to learn something of the fate of his brother, Madison Langford (called Mat), who was missing after the battle of Nashville. He belonged to Company A (Capt. York), 7th Florida Regiment.
The following was taken from the Confederate Veteran magazine, December, 1905 issue.
R.C. Langford of Fort Meade, Fla., has in his possession a fine sword which was picked up on the battlefield near Atlanta, Ga. On the blade is engraved: "Presented to Louis Tresvant Wigfall by John Manning." A silver snake with thirteen rattles is coiled around the handle, and there is a palmetto tree on the hand guard. The owner can get it with satisfactory proof.
Francis (Mat) Madison Langford Born - 1832 Married - December 19, 1849 to Jane H. Died - April 14, 1863 in P.O.W. Hospital in Lynchburg, Va. of "phthus pulmonary"
Enlisted March 8, 1862 in Lake City, Columbia County, Fla. Served under Capt. G. Vanzant, company 5, 5th Regiment Infantry. Was captured near Nashville, Tenn. after being wounded in the foot.
George Robert Langford was in the same battle.