April 2014 - 7th Florida Infantry Company K

7th Regiment of Florida Volunteer Infantry
Company K
OFFICIAL BULLETIN for April, 2014
Narcoossee Mill 2014
In This Issue
Presidential Pontifications
The Captain’s Desk
The 1st Sergeant’s Journal
The Quartermaster’s Report
Florida During the War
Southern Service on Land & Sea: Sgt. R. Watson
Upcoming Events
Wanted – To Buy/Sell/Trade
Civilian Board and Military Officers
Presidential Pontifications
Dave was unable to provide a report for this edition of the newsletter.
The Captain’s Desk
Captain Fletcher was unable to provide a report for this edition of the newsletter.
The 1st Sergeant’s Journal
Men of Company K,
The spring campaign has ended and we will return to Fort Brooke in due time. Until orders are
received from Captain Fletcher as to that particular date all men of Company K are on a well deserved
leave. Return to your homes and loved ones and enjoy whatever time you will have with them before
we are called to duty once again.
We defended the mill at Narcoossee with honor and courage and it was my pleasure to serve with
each and every one of you. Sgt. Hendrix led the Company efficiently and is well prepared to assume
that role should the need arise.
It has become apparent, however, that we have been in the field too long when we start violating each other when falling with a wound.
This has occurred to me personally at Bowlegs Creek, Ballast Point and again at Narcoossee and it is unacceptable. I consider myself
fortunate that my honor, among other things, is still intact. Company discipline will result if this behavior continues. The perpetrators
know who they are and will not be named but I think it will become evident by looking at the following photographs. The
photographs are courtesy of Mrs. Van Leuven and are presented with my profound gratitude.
On a side note, Private Christopher Hendrix will be leaving us shortly in order to attend and further his education at The Citadel. I am
certain that I am speaking for the entire Company when I state that Pvt. Hendrix will be missed and we wish him only success. It is
my hope that he will, one day, lead Company K to glory!
The Roll of Honor during the recent action at Narcoossee Mill: Lt. K. Van Leuven (acting as a private), Sgt. D. Hendrix (in
command), Sgt. G. Newman, Cpl. R. Howard, High Private R. Heisler, Pvt. M. Poteat, Pvt./Drummer M. Howard, Pvt. C. Hendrix.
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Taking the Field
Company K Beginning the Fight
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A Wounded Sgt. Newman
Sgt. Hendrix Pondering Whether to Shoot Me Again
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Sgt. Newman Stealing My Hat (Hope you got the grayback)
Being Trod Upon by the Yankee Horde
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Saluting the Locals
Back in Camp
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Sgt. D. Hendrix(Commanding the Company)
Sgt. G. Newman
Pvt. M. Poteat
High Private R. Heisler
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Lt. K. Van Leuven
Sgt. D. Hendrix, Pvt. C. Hendrix
Pvt. C. Hendrix
Cpl. R. Howard
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Pvt. R. Heisler & Pvt. M. Howard
With Deepest Respect,
1st Sergeant Van Leuven
The Quartermaster’s Report
Greetings all,
A concern that I have for our unit and personal rifles, is that we are sometimes too rough on
them. I cringe every time we do “Order Arms”, and rifle butts are slammed to the ground. This
is sometimes on concrete. It does harm to the rifles as the frame, mainly the wood under the
butt plate. Depending on your rifle different woods are used that may be damaged by the stress
or maybe not at all. The butt plate, secured by screws may eventually degrade. If the screws
are damaged, then replacement of the butt plate is necessary and the wood underneath may not
take the screws being reinserted. Dixie Gun Works does sell replacement parts though.
A safety concern is that as we age our aim may not be that good when slamming the rifle down
and it may hit your right foot. Our muskets are an effective, sturdy, weighty weapon for close
order combat. The damage to parts of the body brought into contact with the butt plate would
be very painful and debilitating. When you are loaded, treat the rifle gingerly and with great care- no slamming to the ground. If you
are at half cock and the lock plate mechanical parts take that moment to show how worn or cracked they may be, a slam to the ground
may be enough to set off your charge.
When taking a hit on the field, make sure the muzzle of your rifle does not come in contact with the ground and/or dig in. You may
get a little something extra mixed in with your powder charge. I usually end up with my unloaded weapon draped across an arm or my
chest. If ordered to “Ground Arms”, the muzzle is laid down last with the lock plate facing up. Not on the ground where it may
become wet or covered with debris.
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Did not have any orders for the bore butter, but I did buy 3 for the unit rifles as mine was all used up over
the winter campaigns. I did find musket caps at Bill Jackson’s though for $8 a tin. You have to go to the
gun sale counter and ask for it though as they are not on display. They are not the premium caps we are
used to, as I have had the occasional one that does not fire off, but it is a source at least.
We had our battle at Narcoossee Mill in March. Very slow on Saturday, but a lot of action on Sunday. Here
is the battle chronology:
BATTLE AT NARCOOSSEE MILL
January 30th, 1864: Union Major General Q. A. Gilmore sends orders to Brigadier General Truman
Seymour to take certain units and embark from South Carolina to Florida. Confederate General
P.G.T.Beauregard, concerned with Union ship movements, sends orders to Major General Gilmer to hold
units in Georgia and Florida in readiness to be sent to Florida.
February 2nd, 1864: Confederate Brigadier General Joseph Finnegan reports to Beauregard, via telegraph, the arrival of five Union
gunboats and two troop transport on the St. Johns River, five miles from Jacksonville.
February 3rd, 1864: Confederate Finnegan reports the arrival of additional gunboats and troop transports. Union Troops land m
Jacksonville late in afternoon; begin westward advance. Objective: Lake City; sever Confederate supply lines.
February 5th, 1864: Union Seymour after taking on provisions, several gunboats and troop-transports continue upriver (south on the St.
Johns River)
February 8th. 1864: Confederate Finnegan reports he received information from Confederate spy in St. Augustine, Lola Sanchez, on
Union river boats. Union gunboats and troop transports anchored at St. Augustine along the St. Johns River. Taking on provisions
and men.
February 10th. 1864: Union Seymour after taking on additional men, horses, provisions and cannon, five gunboats and eight
transports continue south along St. Johns.
February 13th. 1864: Confederate troops assemble east of Lake City (small train station - Olustee) to meet Union threat.
February 14th. 1864: Battle of Olustee (Ocean Pond) Small skirmishes ensue as Confederate and Union troops maneuver.
February 15th. 1864: Battle of Olustee (Ocean Pond) 5000 Confederate and 5000 union clash.
February 16th, 1864: Confederate victory at Ocean Pond (Olustee). Yankees routed from the battlefield and chased to Fort Clinch,
Amelia Island.
February 18th, 1864: Confederate general Finnegan receives word of Union flotilla continuing south on St. Johns River. Sends
reinforcements south to Ocala. Ft Brooke, near Tampa, sends reinforcements to Lake Kissimmee.
February 19th. 1864: Union Riverine unit enters Lake George continues south. Fired upon by Confederate snipers near Deland.
February20th. 1864: Union ships enter Lake Monroe, receives Confederate artillery fire from Sanford. Continues to southern end of
Lake Jessup. Disembarks troops. Objective: Expedition to inspect all eastern Seminole Indian War Forts for rebel activity.
February 23rd. 1864: Union arrive Ft. Christmas. Confederate troops depart Ocala en route Ft. Gatlin. Lake Kissimmee - troops
embark upriver via river boats. Jacob Summerlin receives word of possible Union attack.
February 26th, 1864: Confederate Summerlin sends small force to Narcoossee Mill. Build breastworks and prepare for battle.
March 8th, 1864: Union receives word from northern sympathizer of rebel supply depot at Narcoossee Mill.
March 23rd. 1864: Confederate Summerlin meets with reinforcements from Ft. Brooke and Ocala in Kissimmee. Union expedition to
Ft. Davenport - Investigate Narcoossee Mill.
March 28th, 1864: Union arrive Narcoossee - met there by small contingent of sympathizers from St. Cloud. Cavalry scouts report of
rebel supply depot at Narcoossee Mill and exchange fire with a small band of rebels. Confederate reports sent to Summerlin about
skirmish with Union Cavalry.
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March 29th. 1864: Battle at Narcoossee Mill. Confederate and Union forces clash. Confederates are outnumbered and are routed
from the supply depot. Union repair breastworks and dig in along lakeshore. Confederate forces arrive during the night from
Kissimmee. A large contingent arrives from Ft. Brooke by river boat via the Kissimmee River & the Chain of Lakes.
March 30th. 1864: Confederate & Union forces clash. Confederate forces overwhelm the Union forces. Union suffers defeat.
Narcoossee 2014: Stealth Company K. It worked. Nobody could see us.
Always check the dead before taking stuff. Otherwise they put up a fuss. Next check the items for lice and other bugs before wearing.
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Our event at Fort Cooper was well attended by the US Militia of Company K for the Seminole War event. The Seminole Indians were
pesky the entire time. Would not stand and fight, just kept on firing and disappearing after everyone was riled up enough to go get
them. Turns out that Mark Poteat is half Indian and ended up joining them, a hanging offense waiting for him someday. The park
people were very nice though. Good camping areas by the lake, no registration fee, free powder and fed us too!
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Flintlock rifles were in use by the regulars for Seminole War:
The Crystal River replacement event in Williston was on good ground, but we had to galvanize to even up the numbers some. The
train was a nice effect, but on our final ambush, one of the bullets must have hit a hydraulic line and it stopped dead right in front of us
loaded with Confederates. A spirited fight then ensued.
The miraculous escape from death by another High Private:
Gary Newman
Quartermaster Sergeant
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Florida 100 Years Ago: Florida Civil War Centennial
The following are from the Florida Civil War Centennial Commission and were published monthly in the early 1960’s to remember
the centennial of the war. The series will continue in the Newsletter for the next several months. My thanks to Bob Howard to
providing them for our use.
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Southern Service on Land and Sea:
The Wartime Journal of Robert Watson CSA/CSN
It has been several years since we shared the diary of one of the original men of Company K. This series will
continue for several editions of the newsletter – Editor.
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The story will continue next newsletter – Editor.
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Upcoming Events
April 5, 2014. Duette Heritage Festival, Duette, FL.
April 5, 2014. Living History, Webster, FL.
I need reenactors to come out on Saturday, April 5th 2014. We will setup at First Baptist of Webster and educate the public on this
very important time in our history! I will send the address out on Friday and the time would be from 10-3p.m. I need at least 20
reenactors to setup and I want to let everybody know that this is living history. *I really need support for this event and I will have
tables, chairs and food for all that come to display!* If anybody wants to try to sell items at event I will provide a table for you but
only Civil War area items please.
Thank-You!
Paul Remis
The address is 173 S.E. 1st street, Webster, Florida
May 16-18, 2014. 150th Battle of Resaca, Resaca, GA.
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June 26-29, 2014. 150th Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Kennesaw, GA.
Kennesaw, GA– The National Park Service today announced the details of the upcoming commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Kennesaw
Mountain. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park will offer three days of commemorative programs, battlefield tours, and living history demonstrations at
sites throughout the park from June 26–29, 2014.
June 27, 2014, marks 150 years since Union Major General William T. Sherman launched his frontal assault at Kennesaw Mountain against the Confederate Army
of Tennessee, led by General Joseph E. Johnston. The battle was a tactical defeat for the Union army, and was General Sherman’s last frontal assault of the Atlanta
Campaign.
“As we approach the sesquicentennial of the Atlanta Campaign and the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, this is the opportune time to reaffirm our national
commitment to the protection of these hallowed grounds and create a lasting legacy of this commemoration, one that will be enjoyed for generations to come,” said
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Superintendent Nancy Walther.
On Thursday June 26 at 7:30 p.m., the commemoration will officially begin with an opening ceremony featuring guest speakers followed by a performance of
period music. From June 27-29, at sites around Kennesaw Mountain, re-enactors will present programs including musket and artillery demonstrations. Visitors can
also join national park rangers and volunteers for interpretive programs about the battle, walk around a Civil War camp, explore tents and camps interpreting civilian
life, Civil War medicine, and activities geared especially for children.
Evening programs will be available every night during the commemoration. On Friday June 27 at 7:30 p.m. popular musical historian and composer, Bobby
Horton, will open for Claire Lynch, Female Vocalist of the Year from the International Bluegrass Music Association. On Saturday June 28 at 8:30 p.m. the park will
rededicate the Illinois Monument at Cheatham Hill; this program will include speakers from Georgia and Illinois, a wreath laying, and 3,400 luminaries representing
the lives lost during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Finally, a closing ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 29 at 5:00 p.m. featuring keynote speaker Rebecca
Burns, author and lecturer on Southern and Atlanta history and Dr. Oral Moses and the Georgia Symphony Choir.
The Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club has partnered with the National Park Service to raise funds and recruit volunteers for the 150th Anniversary
Commemoration. The group has also created a special website for the event, where visitors can learn about events leading up to the commemoration,
commemoration events, frequently asked questions, and how to support the 150th events. More information on the group’s efforts can be found on
www.battleofkennesawmountain150.com.
For more information on the interpretive programs being offered, you can follow us on Facebook or visit the Kennesaw Mountain Sesquicentennial webpage.
June, July, August Drill. Veteran’s Park, Tampa, FL. Dates to be announced shortly.
September 19, 20, 21, 2014. 150th Battle of Atlanta. Nash Farms. Hampton, GA.
November 15, 16, 2014. 150th Battle of Franklin, TN. Franklin, TN
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7th Regiment of Florida Volunteer Infantry
Company K
www.7flcok.com
Civilian Board
President: Dave Hendrix
[email protected]
Vice President: Burt Reynolds
[email protected]
Secretary: Keith Van Leuven
[email protected]
Treasurer:
Quartermaster: Gary Newman
[email protected]
Military Officers & NCOs
Captain Skip Fletcher, Commanding
[email protected]
1st Sergeant Keith Van Leuven
[email protected]
2nd Sergeant Dave Hendrix
[email protected]
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