The immediate strategic objective for
both sides in the Battle of Marianna
was control of the town's bridge over
the Chipola River. The river was the
only real natural defence, aside from
hilltops, in Marianna. For the
Confederates, maintaining control of
the bridge meant they could prevent
Asboth and his men from crossing
over into eastern Jackson County -
should they try to do so - and further,
the east bank of the river offered
some degree of security for the
Confederates should the battle turn
against them. For the Federals,
control of the bridge thoroughly
limited means by which Confederate
reinforcements could attack them.
As Col. Montgomery and his
horsemen retreated up Lafayette
Street ahead of the oncoming 2nd
Maine Cavalry, they clearly were intent
on reaching the bridge and making a
stand on the east bank, using the
river itself as a natural moat to hold
back their enemies. Unfortunately for
the Confederates, at least part of the
Union flanking party had already
made it around the north side of town
via the old bypass and was
positioned directly across their path at
Courthouse Square. Montgomery and
his men poured into them and tried to
cut their way through to the river.
That there was an intense fight
around Courthouse Square is evident
from a number of eyewitness
accounts. Surgeon Henry Robinson,
the doctor in charge of the military
hospital in Marianna, recorded a
hand-to-hand fight here, noting that
Union and Confederate soldiers were
in "closest possible contact." A couple
of the men from Captain A.R.
Godwin's Campbellton Cavalry
unhorsed a Federal trooper and took
his saber. Lieutenant William
McPherson, Montgomery's post
adjutant, was shot through the side
here and fell from his horse. And the
colonel himself, making it as far as
the southeast corner of the square,
was thrown from his horse and forced
to surrender. Local residents were so
embittered by their defeat that years
later they suggested the colonel
might have been in league with the
Federals, but this was untrue.
both sides in the Battle of Marianna
was control of the town's bridge over
the Chipola River. The river was the
only real natural defence, aside from
hilltops, in Marianna. For the
Confederates, maintaining control of
the bridge meant they could prevent
Asboth and his men from crossing
over into eastern Jackson County -
should they try to do so - and further,
the east bank of the river offered
some degree of security for the
Confederates should the battle turn
against them. For the Federals,
control of the bridge thoroughly
limited means by which Confederate
reinforcements could attack them.
As Col. Montgomery and his
horsemen retreated up Lafayette
Street ahead of the oncoming 2nd
Maine Cavalry, they clearly were intent
on reaching the bridge and making a
stand on the east bank, using the
river itself as a natural moat to hold
back their enemies. Unfortunately for
the Confederates, at least part of the
Union flanking party had already
made it around the north side of town
via the old bypass and was
positioned directly across their path at
Courthouse Square. Montgomery and
his men poured into them and tried to
cut their way through to the river.
That there was an intense fight
around Courthouse Square is evident
from a number of eyewitness
accounts. Surgeon Henry Robinson,
the doctor in charge of the military
hospital in Marianna, recorded a
hand-to-hand fight here, noting that
Union and Confederate soldiers were
in "closest possible contact." A couple
of the men from Captain A.R.
Godwin's Campbellton Cavalry
unhorsed a Federal trooper and took
his saber. Lieutenant William
McPherson, Montgomery's post
adjutant, was shot through the side
here and fell from his horse. And the
colonel himself, making it as far as
the southeast corner of the square,
was thrown from his horse and forced
to surrender. Local residents were so
embittered by their defeat that years
later they suggested the colonel
might have been in league with the
Federals, but this was untrue.
The Battle of Marianna, Florida
Fight for the Chipola River Bridge
Fight for the Chipola River Bridge
The Battle of Marianna - Phase Four
All material on this site Copyright 2005 by Dale A. Cox.
| Battle of Marianna Little Known Fact |
| The Chipola River Marianna, Florida |
The original road from Courthouse Square
to the bridge led down what is now East
Jackson Street and a local resident later
described how she watched soldiers
fighting and going down the red clay hill on
Jackson Street.
A number of Confederates - the exact count
varies - finally reached the river and, after a
brief firefight, tore up the planking to keep
the Federals from following.
The correspondence of Governor John
Milton reveals that there was a determined
attempt by the Union soldiers to take
possession of the bridge. Writing shortly
after the battle, Milton informed the
secretary of war that Captain Robert
Chisolm's (Chisholm's) cavalry company
fought gallantly here, driving back attempts
by the Federals to seize the bridge. This is
a little known aspect of the battle, but Milton
was so impressed with the determination
of Chisolm and his men that he requested
they be assigned to the 5th Florida Cavalry
- even though they were an Alabama militia
unit. His request was granted and
Chisolm's unit soon became Company I,
5th Florida Cavalry.
Chisolm and his men, with most of Captain
Godwin's Campbellton company, used the
east bank of the river as a rallying point and
were joined there later in the evening by
Captains Milton and Jeter of the 5th Florida
Cavalry.
The next day Captain Jeter crossed over
the stringers of the bridge, found the
Federals gone, and led the way back into
town.
to the bridge led down what is now East
Jackson Street and a local resident later
described how she watched soldiers
fighting and going down the red clay hill on
Jackson Street.
A number of Confederates - the exact count
varies - finally reached the river and, after a
brief firefight, tore up the planking to keep
the Federals from following.
The correspondence of Governor John
Milton reveals that there was a determined
attempt by the Union soldiers to take
possession of the bridge. Writing shortly
after the battle, Milton informed the
secretary of war that Captain Robert
Chisolm's (Chisholm's) cavalry company
fought gallantly here, driving back attempts
by the Federals to seize the bridge. This is
a little known aspect of the battle, but Milton
was so impressed with the determination
of Chisolm and his men that he requested
they be assigned to the 5th Florida Cavalry
- even though they were an Alabama militia
unit. His request was granted and
Chisolm's unit soon became Company I,
5th Florida Cavalry.
Chisolm and his men, with most of Captain
Godwin's Campbellton company, used the
east bank of the river as a rallying point and
were joined there later in the evening by
Captains Milton and Jeter of the 5th Florida
Cavalry.
The next day Captain Jeter crossed over
the stringers of the bridge, found the
Federals gone, and led the way back into
town.
Courthouse Square in
Marianna was the scene of
intense fighting during the
Battle of Marianna. Union and
Confederate cavalry clashed
here and, according to one
participant, were in "closest
possible contact." After the
battle, the captured
Confederates were herded
into the courthouse - then a
two-story wood-frame
structure - and held in the
upstairs courtroom. At least
some of the Federal dead
were buried in shallow
graves on the courthouse
grounds, but were later taken
up by local residents and
reburied in Riverside
Cemetery. According to
legend, some local citizens
hid under the courthouse
during the battle. A large
cavern, now sealed, leads
from the bank of the Chipola
River as far under the city as
the general area of
courthouse square. No solid
proof can be found, however,
that the cave was actually
used as a refuge during the
Battle of Marianna.
Marianna was the scene of
intense fighting during the
Battle of Marianna. Union and
Confederate cavalry clashed
here and, according to one
participant, were in "closest
possible contact." After the
battle, the captured
Confederates were herded
into the courthouse - then a
two-story wood-frame
structure - and held in the
upstairs courtroom. At least
some of the Federal dead
were buried in shallow
graves on the courthouse
grounds, but were later taken
up by local residents and
reburied in Riverside
Cemetery. According to
legend, some local citizens
hid under the courthouse
during the battle. A large
cavern, now sealed, leads
from the bank of the Chipola
River as far under the city as
the general area of
courthouse square. No solid
proof can be found, however,
that the cave was actually
used as a refuge during the
Battle of Marianna.
 | |  | |  | |  |
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