A.G. (Chief) Langford Sr.

HISTORY of THE FOURTH FLORIDA REGIMENT

Written by Judge W. M. Ives, Lake City, Fla., Orderly Sergeant of Company K: Article printed in the CONFEDERATE VETERAN magazine, April, 1895 issue .

My memory goes back to the days of secession---the organization of companies, the formation of regiments, and the preparations to hold the Southern territory. The Fourth Florida Regiment was composed of companies from the east section of the state. One of these, Company F, of Bradford county, with Company D, of the Second Florida, of Columbia county, on July 4th, 1861, at Cedar Keys, Fla., participated in the recapture of three schooners which lay off that port in charge of Lieutenant Seldon, of the U. S. Navy. In May, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Mississippi, but the order was counter - manded at Mobile, Ala., where it performed provost duty until July. It was then sent to Chattanooga, Tenn., where it was ordered to remain after Bragg's army went to Kentucky. On October 8th it was ordered to support the Thirty- Second Alabama Infantry and Fourth Alabama Cavalry at Murfreesboro. It remained at Murfreesboro until the memorable battle in December and January.

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

Editor's Note: Judge Ives made the following corrections to the above in the June, 1895, issue:

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.

CHEATUM'S CORPS.

Army of Tennessee, commanded by General John B. Hood, December 10, 1864

Finley's Brigade

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.

CHEATUM'S CORPS. Near Smithfield, N.C., commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston, March 31, 1865.

Major General Benjamin F. Cheatum

Bate's Division Major General William B. Bate
Finley's Brigade

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

The following is taken from the Confederate Veteran magazine, July, 1920 issue.

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.

The following was taken from Celia Christensen's book

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.