Florida Independent Blues, Company B, 3rd Florida Infantry
The 3rd Infantry Regiment was formed near Pensacola, Florida, in July, 1861. It recruited from the counties of St. Johns, Hernando, Jefferson, Duval, Wakulla, Madison, Columbia, and Suwanee. The unit served along the coast at Talbot Island and Cedar Keys, then moved to Mobile. After fighting at Perryville it was assigned to Preston's, Stovall's, Finley's, and J. A. Smith's Brigade, and during December, 1862, consolidated with the 1st Florida Infantry Regiment. The 3rd was engaged at Murfreesboro and Jackson, then participated in the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee from Chickamauga to Bentonville. It was organized with 950 officers and men, and the 1st/3rd lost twenty-six percent of the 531 engaged at Murfreesboro and thirty-four percent of the 273 in action at Chickamauga. In December, 1863, this command totaled 240 men and 119arms, but only a remnant surrendered in April, 1865. The field officers were Colonel William S. Dilworth; Lieutenant Colonels Lucius A. Church, Elisha Mashburn, and Arthur J. T. Wright; and Major John L. Phillips.
