According to Captain John Lavendar's book, They Never Came Back about a week or so after Chickamagua the "Brigade was ordered Back South and returned to Meredian Miss Where we remained for the winter (or) aboute the First of March. Was nothing of any Importance occured during the winter, only rotine Camp Life."
The next chapter of his book is a page and a half long, and is an interesting one called "Fishing and Shooting Alligators in Florida".

"Aboute the above Date *So roughly the 1st of March* our Regiment the 4th Ark Inft was ordered to Mobile then to Florada near Pensacola to a Place known as Gonziles. The Federals had Pensacola and was sending Raiding Parties out in the Country doing Considerable Damage. We remained at the Place aboute two months. The Enemy never came out while we was there. The Regiment went out once to try and Draw them out from Pensacola. We went almost in Rifle Shot of their Fortification but they made no efort to Drive us away. After we fell Back they sent out a Small Squad of Calvery and made a little Faint, Fired a few shots but went Back without Doing any Damage.
While we was at This Place the Escamba River was in aboute 2 1/2 or 3 miles of our Camp and Run into the Escamba Bay at this Point and I must say we had the Gratest sport Fishing with Hook and Line that I Ever saw any Place. There was no End to the amount of Fine Fish that weighed From aboute two to 10 lbs. One or two hours would give us all the Fish we could carry to Camps.
Then we had Great Sport Shooting alligators as they was very numerous and some very Large and Extreamly Gentle and Familure a round where we would Fish. So we used our spring Field Rifles very Freely on them though never got one out of the water but we shure Had a good time Eating Fish and Honey as There was more wild Bees There Than any Place I have Ever Saw. A man Could Find 4 or 5 Trees in a day and nearly all Rich with Honey. The Entire Regiment had all the Fish and Honey They could Eat During our Stay at That Place."

The next chapter then goes on to discuss the Georgia Campaign.
"Aboute The First of May This Frolic was Broken up by us being ordered Back to Joine our Brigade Then Near Dalton GA. Georgia Campaign Then Commenced, the Great Georgia Campaign of 1864. We Joined our Command near Resaca Ga and taken Part in the Fighting of 13-14-& 15th of May Which was heavy Skirmishing and some heavy Fighting Each day."