FOURTH GENERATION

8. (1st. Lieutenant) James Washington PEARCE (Civil War CSA)^{(1) (2)} was born on 19 Feb 1826 in Camden County, Georgia.^{(24) (21)(25)} 1850 Columbia County, Florida Census: Listed as James W. Pearce age 24; Father James C. Pearce; Named in father James Cain Pearce Will dated, 2 Nov 1875; Charter member of the Columbia Lodge # 27, F & A.M. He served in the military on 11 Feb 1863 in Civil War C.S.A..^{(26) (27)} He enlisted; 11 February., 1863 Lake City, Columbia County, Florida; age 36

Commissioned as 3 rd. Lieutenant in C.S.A.

He served in C.S.A.:

1) Captain. Stewart's Company, Florida Volunteers; they became
2) Captain. Stewart's Independent Co., Florida Infantry; they became
3) 6th. Battalion Florida Infantry; which was formed of seven independent companies by S.O. No. 216. A & I.G.O. dated September 11, 1863; and was consolidated with three independent companies of Florida Infantry by S.O. No. 99. A & I.G.O. dated April 28, 1864; to form the 9th Regiment Florida Infantry.


6th BATTALION FLORIDA INFANTRY-BATTLE OF OLUSTEE

The Sixth Battalion Florida infantry, was formed in the late summer and early fall of 1863 from independent companies. Prior to the Battle of Olustee elements of the unit had garrisoned different points in north, and south central Florida, but had seen little combat. Major Pickens Bird led the Sixth at Olustee, where it lost eighty-two men, including nine killed or mortally wounded (one officer and eight enlisted men), and seventy-three wounded (four officers and sixty-nine enlisted men) for a total of eighty-two casualties according to the published compilation in the Official Records.

An historian of the unit lists an additional two men as having deserted during the battle. A company-by-company casualty total compiled by the same historian (broken down by company as it existed when it was the Ninth Florida Infantry Regiment, June 1864) is as follows: Company A-five wounded; Company B-one died of wounds, five wounded; Company C- five killed, four wounded; Company D- five killed or died of wounds, ten wounded; Company E- one wounded; Company F- two killed or died of wounds, nine wounded; Company G- four killed or died of wounds, nine wounded: Company H- two killed or died of wounds, seven wounded, two deserted; Company I- two killed or died of wounds, three wounded; Company K- one died of wounds, seven wounded.

9th REGIMENT FLORIDA INFANTRY-ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Early in May, 1864 General Patton Anderson, Commanding the District of Florida, received from the War Department an order to send a good brigade to Richmond Virginia with all possible expeditious. General Joseph Finnegan was ordered to immediately proceed to Virginia with his brigade, consisting of the 1st Battalion, Lieutenant.-Colonel. Charles Hopkins; 2nd Battalion, Lieutenant.-Colonel. Theodore Brevard; 4th Battalion, Lieutenant. Colonel. McClellan; and 6th Battalion, Lieutenant. Colonel. John M. Martin.

The order was obeyed immediately, and the Brigade arrived at Richmond, Virginia May 25, 1864 and joined Anderson's Division, in which Holmes was then commander, and then Hill's Corps at Hanover Junction, May 28, 1864. On June 8, 1864 the troops were organized into two regiments as follows: The 1st Florida Battalion, six companies, and the companies of Captain May, Stewart, Clark, and Powers of the 2nd Battalion, formed the 10th Regiment, Colonel Hopkins commanding. The 4th Florida Battalion, seven companies, the companies of Captains Dehue, and Robinson of the 2nd Battalion, and Captain Cullons' unattached company formed the 11th Regiment, Colonel Theodore Brevard commanding. The 6th Battalion before this as such, had served as independent volunteer companies in different parts of the State; they were commanded by Captains John C. Chambers, John W. Pearson, Samuel Hope, James Tucker, A.A. Stewart, J.C. DuPree, S.M.G. Garry, and Lieutenant. James W. Pearce.

At the Battle of Olustee these companies were formed into a battalion commanded by Major Pickens Bird. In concentrating, the troops between Waldo and Jacksonville, after the Battle of Olustee, Lieutenant.-Colonel. Martin was placed in command of the Battalion, and upon the arrival of the Battalion in Virginia the Regiment was formed, and the companies named, became; A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, under their respective captains.

To these companies were added the company of B.L. Reynolds, which became Company H; John McNiel, Company I; Jacob Eichelberger, Company K; John W. Martin was promoted to Colonel, John W. Pearson to Lieutenant. Colonel., and Pickens B. Bird, became Major. Major Bird was killed at Cold Harbor June 3, 1864 as was Captain B.L. Reynolds of Company H, and Lieutenant Ben B. Land of Company I. Regimental Adjutant Owens, Captain James Tucker, of Company D, and Lieutenant R.D. Harrison, command Company B were seriously wounded.

After the Battle of Cold Harbor Finnegan's Brigade, which now consisted of the 2nd, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Regiments, took up the line of march for Petersburg. On June 23, 1864 they moved from the breastworks, under heavy fire of shell, and canister, and marched down the Weldon Road, six miles below, and drove back the enemy, who were tearing up the land.

On June 30, 1864 the Battle of Ream's Station was fought. A Florida Brigade marched, reached the battle field at day-break, and attacked the enemy, driving him back in a running fight four miles, capturing seven pieces of artillery, many horses, a few prisoners, and 1300 Negroes. On the morning of the 21st August, 1864 the Florida Brigade advanced within one hundred yards of the Federal breastworks on the Weldon Railroad, where the enemy were strongly entrenched. Repeated charges were made to dislodge them, but failed. The loss in killed, and wounded was very severe. Lieutenant.-Colonel. John W. Pearson, of the 9th Regiment, was so severely wounded that he died in Augusta, Georgia while on his way home.

The death of Colonel Pearson left the 9th Regiment with no field officers, except Colonel Martin. An attempt was made to have outsiders appointed to these positions, but Colonel Martin objected on the ground that Captains in his regiment had earned promotion ,and were entitled to the offices; but for some reason the War Department failed to make these deserved promotions, and the 9th Regiment served to the close of the war without either Lieutenant.-Colonel. or Major.

On December 7, 1864 the Florida Brigade, of which the 9th was a part, made a forced march of 30 miles, and struck the enemy at Bellfield on the 9th of December, 1864 but, the enemy numbering 20,000 who had been on a raid declined to accept the gage of battle, and retreated, and the Brigade returned to camp foot-sore, having marched over frozen roads, and through sleet , and snow more than one hundred miles.

Early in February, 1865 the 9th was engaged at Hatcher's Run, opposing the Federal attempt to extend their line of battle. In this engagement S.W. Crewson was seriously wounded.

The Brigade was now ordered to winter quarters, but before reaching them, received orders to return to reinforce General Gordon south of Hatcher's Run. In this engagement the Brigade numbered but 3,500 effective men. After a charge the enemy fled in confusion, and night ended the battle.

On the morning of 2 April, 1865 General Lee's lines were broken, and the retreat began. The 9th Regiment retreated by way of High Bridge, and marched to Farmville, Virginia; being crowded it halted, and fortified for an attack, which was repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy, 1st. Lieutenant James Washington Pearce, was killed in this battle. This was the last battle in which the 9th Regiment was engaged. The regiment surrendered 9 April, 1865 at Appomattox Court House, with 15 officers, and 108 men.

Company E., 9th. Regiment, Florida Infantry Was Engaged At;

Cold Harbor (June 1-3, 1864)
Petersburg Siege (June 1864-April 1865)
Weldon Railroad (June 23, 1864)
Ream's Station (June 30, 1864)
Weldon Railroad (August 21, 1864)
Bellfield (December 9, 1864)
Hatcher's Run (February 5-7, 1865)
Farmville (April 7, 1865)

1st. Lieutenant.. James Washington Pearce C.S.A. Roll Company E., 9th. Regiment, Florida Infantry; Killed In Action Farmville, Virginia April 07, 1865; He Was 39 Years Old;

The Field Officer's Were Colonel. John M. Martin, Major. Pickens B. Bird, and Acting Colonel. Robert B. Thomas. It Was With Perry's-Finegan's Brigade, Anderson's-Mahone's Division, 3rd. Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

Some Of Its Members Were Recruited From The Counties of Levy, Hernando, and Marion.

He died on 7 Apr 1865 in Farmville, Virginia Civil War. ⁽²⁸⁾ Killed at the Battle of Farmville, Virginia 7 April 1865 He has reference number 5745-G5. He was a Landowner-Farmer-Soilder in Lake City, Columbia County, Florida.

9. Margaret Jane WILLIAMS^{(1) (2)} was born on 2 Nov 1833 in Lulu, Columbia County, Florida. ⁽²¹⁾ Killed by lighting, prior to 1870; children raise by brother William F. Williams. She died about 1867 in Killed By Lighting. She has reference number D1DH--ZR. Children were:

i. Abbott Theadore PEARCE^{(1) (2)} was born on 4 Jan 1860 in Lake City, Columbia County, Florida. ^(29)(30) Living with uncle William F. Williams in 1870 and 1880 Census
4 ii. Charles David PEARCE I.
iii. Edward Foster PEARCE^{(1) (2)} was born about 1863 in Lake City, Columbia County, Florida. ^(31)(32) Living with uncle William F. Williams 1870 and 1880 Census
iv. Mary Francis PEARCE^{(1) (2)} was born about 1864 in Lake City, Columbia County, Florida. ^(33)(34) Living with uncle William F. Williams in 1870 and 1880 Census