Sunshine State Soldiers: Finley and Finegan

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Jesse J. Finley (b. 1812, d. 1904) Born in Tennessee, Jesse Johnson Finley had ties to several southern states. But during the Civil War, he made his career with troops from Florida. Finley was born in Lebanon, Tennessee, Finley came from a wealthy planting family. He read law in Nashville and later opened a practice in his hometown. During the Seminole War of 1836, Finley was elected captain of a company of mounted volunteers. After that, he became a nomad for the next 10 years. His adventures took him to Arkansas and Florida as well as his native state. He served in the state legislatures of Arkansas and Florida and served a term as mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. In 1852, Finley was living in Florida and was elevated to a judge’s position. From 1853-61, he was on the West Florida circuit. From the start of the Civil War until March of 1862, Finley served as a Confederate state judge. He resigned to become a soldier. After brief service as a private and captain, he was selected as colonel of the 6th Florida Infantry, a unit detailed to the campaigns of Maj. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith in Kentucky. At the Battle of Chickamauga, Finley led his regiment and a Virginia unit as part of the brigade of Col. Robert Triggs, which took heavy losses on both days of the battle (Sept. 19-20, 1863), but earned praise in supporting the brigade of Col. John Kelly. In November, the 6th Florida was in a Chattanooga siege position at the foot of Missionary Ridge. Finley was promoted to brigadier general Nov. 16, 1863, and assigned to command the Florida Brigade in the Army of Tennessee during the Atlanta Campaign. Finley was wounded at Resaca, Georgia, May 14-15, 1864. His brigade suffered heavily at Dallas, Georgia. At the Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia, Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 1864, the Florida brigade carried two lines of Federal works, but Finley was severely wounded. He was unable to return to field command, partially because of his wounds and partially because of the Federal advances. He then was part of the command of Maj. Gen. Howell Cobb in Columbus, Georgia. His surrender came in Quincy, Florida, May 11, 1865. Following the war, he returned to Florida, practicing law in Lake City. He served part of three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1875-79. In 1887, he was selected to fill a U.S. Senate seat, but was refused on a technicality. He also served as a U.S. Circuit judge. Finley died Nov. 6, 1904, in Lake City and was buried in Gainesville, Florida.

Brig. Gen. Joseph Finegan (b. 1814, d. 1885) Born in Clones, Ireland, Nov. 17, 1814, Joseph Finegan moved to Florida in his early 20s. Initially a planter, Finegan helped to build a lumber mill in Jacksonville. Later, he moved to Fernandina, where he practiced law and worked in railroad construction as an associate of U.S. Senator David Yulee. In 1861, he served as a member of the Florida secession convention. Later, he was placed in charge of military affairs for Florida by Gov. John Milton. He received a Confederate commission as brigadier general April 5, 1862, in charge of the District of Middle and Eastern Florida. Later, his command was reduced to the District of East Florida. Finegan’s troops were scattered and built defenses to oppose the U.S. Navy. Finegan got his chance in February of 1864. In charge of three brigades, he opposed a Jacksonville landing of Federal troops under Brig. Gen. Truman Seymour. At the Battle of Olustee, Florida, Feb. 20, 1864, Finegan’s forces routed the Federals of Seymour. For that, he received the thanks of the Confederate Congress. In May of 1864, Finegan went to Virginia, where he led a Florida Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia. His command was in Brig. Gen. William Mahone’s division in the Third Corps. At Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, Finegan’s men went into a gap in the right flank of the army. Finegan’s men repulsed the II Corps of the Army of the Potomac and later fought off another assault against the skirmish line. The brigade fought in the Petersburg Campaign, but during the winter, it suffered many desertions. Finegan was sent back to Florida March 20, 1865. After the war, Finegan resumed his law practice and served in the Florida state senate in 1865-66. He later moved to Savannah, Georgia, to work as a cotton broker. Finegan died in Rutledge, Florida, Oct. 29, 1885, and was buried in the Old City Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida.

[Gil R.]

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