Battle of Marianna facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Marianna
Part of American Civil War
Date September 27, 1864 Location Marianna, Florida Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States of America	Confederate States of America
Commanders and leaders
Brig. Gen. Alexander S. Asboth	Col. Alexander B. Montgomery
Units involved
Subdistrict of West Florida
Strength
700	300-400
Casualties and losses
8 killed 19 wounded 10 missing or captured	10 killed 16 wounded 41 missing or captured

The Battle of Marianna was a small but important fight during the American Civil War. It happened on September 27, 1864, in the Florida panhandle. In this battle, Union soldiers defeated Confederate troops and local defenders in the town of Marianna. This fight was the main event of a big Union cavalry raid into northwest Florida. After the battle, the Union forces went back to Fort Barrancas.

Why the Battle Happened

Marianna was a key town for the Confederates in Florida. It was a place where they stored supplies. It was also a center for gathering new soldiers and training local defense groups. By late 1864, Marianna was one of the last big towns in northwest Florida still controlled by the Confederates.

On September 18, 1864, about 700 Union soldiers on horseback began a raid. They were led by Brig. Gen. Alexander Asboth. They started from Fort Barrancas near Pensacola, which the Union already controlled. They rode east through northwest Florida.

The few Confederate soldiers in the area could not warn everyone in time. This made it hard for Confederate commander Col. Alexander B. Montgomery. He didn't know where the Union troops were going or how strong they were. This caused delays in getting more soldiers and asking for help.

As the Union raid continued, their cavalry spread out. They took or destroyed local food and supplies. On September 23, they captured or scattered a small group of Confederate soldiers. General Asboth tried to hide his real plan. He had some of his men destroy a ferry on the Choctawhatchee River. This closed the direct road to Marianna. He then took a different route that went northwest of Marianna.

On September 26, his soldiers had a small fight near Campbellton. This was less than twenty miles from Marianna. General Asboth then let his tired men rest. They were getting ready for a big fight in Marianna the next day.

Colonel Montgomery still waited to gather his forces. He also delayed calling out the Marianna home guard. Campbellton was a crossroads, so the Union could go to Georgia or Alabama. They could also go to rich farming areas or back to Marianna. Montgomery tried to guard every possible path with his small group. Because of this, he couldn't bring his few soldiers together to defend any one place strongly.

The Battle Begins

On the morning of September 27, the Union soldiers rode towards Marianna. When they passed the Old Fort crossroads, Montgomery finally knew their target. He called out the local home guard. He also gathered the few soldiers he already had.

Montgomery's cavalry tried to stop the Union at Hopkins' Branch. This was about 3 miles (4.8 km) from Marianna. Their plan was to fall back into town using an old bypass road.

In Marianna, Montgomery placed his soldiers, local militia, and home guard in an ambush. They waited along the main road. As his skirmishers (soldiers who fight in small, scattered groups) pulled back, the home guard waited behind fences. They also used a rough barricade made of wagons and carts. St. Luke's Episcopal Church was nearby. It would become important later in the fight.

Here, the plans of both sides went wrong. General Asboth split his forces. He led the main group in a direct charge down the main road. At the same time, he sent another part of his force around the bypass. This was the same route Montgomery's cavalry had taken.

Montgomery saw this and realized his whole force could be trapped. He tried to pull out, but it was too late. The home guard and militia at the barricades would not move.

Fierce Fighting in Town

Asboth's main group turned the corner, not knowing what was waiting. They were hit by a strong volley of shots from the hidden home guard. General Asboth was wounded in the face. Many other Union officers were also hit in this first attack.

Even though they were surprised, the Union cavalry quickly pushed past the Confederate cavalry. They chased them down the road. Meanwhile, the Union flanking force (the group that went around the side) swept in from behind. Many Confederate cavalry soldiers managed to get past the Union flanking force and escape. But many home guards, new recruits, and militia were trapped in town.

Colonel Montgomery was captured while trying to escape to the Chipola River bridge. His escaping cavalry took positions on the other side of the river. They were able to stop the Union forces from crossing the bridge.

In town, the remaining Confederate defenders on the south side of the street ran away. But those near the church kept fighting hard. A group of U.S. Colored Troops fought against them. A charge with bayonets (knives fixed to rifles) finally forced them to surrender. However, some Confederates kept firing from the church and nearby homes. This led to the church being set on fire. The defenders were shot as they were forced out by the smoke.

Who Was Hurt

When the fighting ended, about 10 Confederates were dead or dying. 16 were wounded, and 54 were captured. 13 of the captured were later released. Among the wounded was Thaddeus Hentz, a dentist. He was the son of a famous writer, Caroline Lee Hentz. He was shot near his mother's grave.

The Union had 8 soldiers killed or badly wounded. 19 were wounded, and 10 were captured. General Asboth himself was among the wounded. Before the war, Asboth was a hero in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. He also helped plan Central Park in New York City. His wound never healed properly. He eventually died from its effects in 1868.

What Happened Next

The fighting was tougher than expected. Many officers were hurt. Because of this, General Asboth's plan to go south to St. Andrews Bay was canceled. Instead, that evening and the next morning, the Union raiders went back towards Choctawhatchee Bay.

The Union column took with them over 600 freed slaves. They also had 17 wagons full of captured weapons and supplies. They took 200 captured horses and 400 cattle. At Vernon, the Union force defeated Captain W.B. Jones' scout company. They took more prisoners there. In total, 96 prisoners from the different fights returned with the Union raiders. Many of these prisoners later died in prison. The Confederate forces were too few and too far behind to chase the Union effectively.

It would take many decades for the Marianna region to recover from the damage caused by this raid.

Soldiers in the Battle

The groups of soldiers who fought in the battle were:

• Confederate:

* Chisolm's Cavalry Company, Alabama Militia * Company C, 1st Florida Infantry Reserves * Norwood's Home Guard * Greenwood Club Cavalry * A.R. Godwin's Cavalry

• Union:

* 2nd Maine Cavalry * 1st Florida U.S. Cavalry * 82nd U.S. Colored Infantry (part of the unit) * 86th U.S. Colored Infantry (part of the unit) * 7th Vermont Veteran Volunteers (one member, Captain M.M. Young) * Company M of the 2nd Maine brought two 12-pounder howitzers (small cannons) on the trip, but they were not used in the battle.