Col. J. J. Dickison, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 11.2, Florida
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[143] and T. W. Givens, quartermaster-sergeant. The personnel of the regiment was second to none raised in the State. It was made up of the bravest, most gallant and gifted of Florida's patriotic sons. On July 13, 1861, the regiment was mustered into the service of the Confederate States, for 12 months service, by Maj. W. T. Stockton, and a few days later it departed from Jacksonville by rail, arriving at Richmond on Sunday afternoon, the memorable 21st of July, 1861. They were disappointed in their expectation of being sent immediately to Manassas, and were kept in the vicinity of Richmond for nearly two months, part of the time performing the duty of guarding the Federal prisoners captured at Manassas. On September 17th they left for Yorktown, where, during the fall of 186i and winter following, the Second Florida constituted a part of the army of the Peninsula, under the command of Maj.-Gen. J. B. Magruder. Early in October, Adjutant Thomas was ordered to report to Richmond for duty, and his place was filled by Lieut. Charles Seton Fleming, of Captain Starke's company. With the opening of spring began the advance of McClellan with his formidable army. It was during the siege of Yorktown that the Second Florida received its baptism of fire. With the Second Mississippi battalion it was selected to make a sortie to dislodge a detachment of the enemy's sharpshooters which had approached very near Fort Magruder. How this duty was performed is told in the report of General Magruder: ‘The enemy's skirmishers pressed closely in front of Yorktown. Brigadier-General Early ordered a sortie to be made from the redoubts for the purpose of dislodging the enemy from Pulmentary's peach orchard. This was effected in the most brilliant manner by the Second Florida, Colonel Ward, and the Second Mississippi battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, all under command of Colonel Ward. The quick and reckless charge of our men, by throwing the enemy into a hasty flight, enabled us to ’