{⋆★⋆} BG Finnegan, Joseph

Joseph Finnegan​

Born: November 17, 1814

Birthplace: Clones, Ireland

1st​ Wife: Rebecca Smith 1811 – 1870

(Buried: Old Jacksonville City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida)​

2nd​ Wife: Lucy Foster Cowan 1839 – 1910

(Buried: Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennessee)​

Children:

Josephine Finnegan 1843 – 1855​

(Buried: Old Jacksonville City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida)​

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Sgt. Joseph Rutledge Finnegan 1844 – 1871​

(Buried: Old Jacksonville City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida)​

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Agnes Finnegan Parramore 1845 – 1871​

(Buried: Old Jacksonville City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida)​

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Yulee B. Finnegan 1849 – 1868​

(Buried: Old Jacksonville City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida)​

Occupation before War:

Immigrated to the United States from Ireland​

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Established a Sawmill in Jacksonville, Florida​

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Attorney in Fernandina, Florida​

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Helped in construction of Florida Railroad​

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Owner of Five Miles of Shoreline along Lake Monroe​

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Member of the Committee of Vigilance and Safety for Jacksonville, Florida​

Civil War Career:

1861: Delegate to Florida State Secession Convention​

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1862 – 1865: Brigadier General of Confederate Army Infantry​

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1862 - 1864: Confederate Commander of Middle and East Florida​

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1864 – 1865: Brigade Commander in Army of Northern Virginia

Occupation after War:

Attorney in Fernandina, Florida​

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Cotton Broker in Savannah, Georgia​

Died: October 29, 1885

Place of Death: Rutledge, Florida

Age at time of Death: 71 years old

Cause of Death: Severe Chills

Burial Place: Old Jacksonville City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida

 

[Luke Freet]

Finnegan is most known for being the senior Confederate commander at Olustee, though many argue it was his senior brigade commander, Alfred Colquitt, who really managed the battle.

 

[Pollaco]

His brigade in Anderson/Mahone's division of the 3rd Corps in the ANV was appropriately called the Florida Brigade.

 

[Luke Freet]

Finegan led a brigade of three Florida regiments (consolidated from several battalions and companies under his command) and marched north to reinforce Lee around Cold Harbor. The 1500 men of the brigade joined the other three understength but veteran Florida Brigade, which consolidated under Finegan's Command.

 

[Luke Freet]

Finegan breifly commanded Mahone's Division at Hatcher's Run in February 1865, before leaving Virginia and returning to Florida.