This is the grave of John T. Gilbert on Orange Hill in Washington County. He served on the Union side during the Civil War, a clear demonstration of the "brother against brother" nature of the conflict.
Many other members of Gilbert's family served in the Confederate armies, but rather than fight for the South, he slipped away and crossed over into Union lines in 1864. Taken to Cedar Key, he joined Company E of the 2nd Florida U.S. Cavalry on August 10, 1864 as a private.
The 2nd Florida (U.S.) served in the Natural Bridge campaign during March of 1865 and fought in the action at Newport Bridge leading up to the Battle of Natural Bridge.
Gilbert was furloughed from the unit in November of 1865 and discharged with the rest of the regiment the next month. He died in Washington County in 1938.
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