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Finegan and participated in the battle of Olustee, February 20, 1864, the most important battle fought in Florida during the war. It was for the time decisive of the fate of that State, completely thwarting the Federal scheme for its conquest and reconstruction.
When the Virginia campaign of 1864 opened, Finegan's brigade was sent to Richmond and participated in the battle of Cold Harbor, where it distinguished itself by recapturing, in a hand-to-hand conflict, the only part of the line where the Federals in their desperate charge made even the faintest show of success on that day, the most disastrous to Grant of his whole military career.
In this battle Brevard led his battalion.
In August, 1864, he was promoted to colonel of the Eleventh Florida, and in December he had command of that regiment and of Bonaud's battalion.
On March 22, 1865, he was commissioned brigadier-general, a promotion richly deserved.
Soon after this came the close of the war. Upon the restoration of peace General Brevard returned to Florida and strove to be as useful to his State under the new order of things as he had been when, as her valiant defender in the days of war, he braved the hardships and dangers of that fearful struggle which had so sorely tried the patience and endurance of the stoutest hearts.
Up to the time of his death he enjoyed the love and esteem of his countrymen, and his memory is cherished by the people of Florida.
Brigadier-General W. G. M. Davis was before the war a lawyer in Florida, widely known as a gentleman of great legal ability and high rank in his profession.
Forsaking his practice in 1861, he raised a regiment and was on January 1, 1862, commissioned colonel of the First Florida cavalry and put in command of the provisional forces of east Florida.
The Federals had already seized Fernandina, Jacksonville and other places along the coast.
The chief business of Colonel Davis' regiment
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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