The Battle of Marianna, Florida - Preliminary Episodes

In late summer of 1864, military
events in Northwest Florida began to
show signs of a serious escalation.

The first clear indication came on July
20, 1864, when 400 Union troops
came ashore at St. Andrews Bay,
seized the ferry at Bear Creek, and
started to push inland. The move
caught the Confederates in the area
completely by surprise.

A picket from Captain Jeter's cavalry
(Company E, 5th Florida) was then on
the bay, but was cut off by the sudden
appearance of the Federals and had
to travel for miles to get around them
and alert the command at Marianna.
By the time they could, it was too late.
Col. Montgomery dispatched Capt.
Jeter's full company to pursue the
raiders, but they had already marched
to within 30 miles of Marianna, done
considerable damage, and returned
to their transport.

The raid (carried out by troops from
Cedar Keys) was an alarming one
and Montgomery immediately called
for reinforcements.

Governor Milton came to his support
and traveled to West Florida to help
organize militia or "home guard" units
there. A number of such companies
were formed, including one at
Marianna under Captain Jesse
Norwood. Milton also intervened to
prevent the transfer of Captain Wilson
Poe's reservists (Company C, 1st
Florida Reserves) from Marianna to
Quincy and requested additional
arms and supplies from the
Confederate government in
Richmond.

These sudden signs of toughness by the
Confederates sent another wave of
"disaffected Southerners" fleeing through
the lines to Asboth's headquarters at Fort
Barrancas. At least one of these individuals
brought him rather significant information
about the state of Confederate defenses in
Northwest Florida. In particular, Asboth
learned the specific strengths, locations
and even commanding officers of the
various companies in the Marianna area.
He also was informed that:

They have commenced to fortify Marianna
and expect artillery. The negroes of the
neighborhood are placed at work on the
fortifications.

While this report has often been
discounted, it may have been accurate. At
some point a line of fortifications was
begun at Marianna. As far as is known, the
works never stretched beyond an arc
around the northeast side of town, but the
report was alarming to the Union general.