The Battle of Marianna, Florida

Less than one hour after it started, the
Battle of Marianna was over. Most
Union accounts, in fact, specify that
the entire fight took only about half an
hour. The results for the local
defenders were tragic. Montgomery's
command was shattered, the colonel
himself a prisoner of war. The
remnants of Norwood's company
were being herded up the street to the
courthouse. Although occasional
shots still rang out as Federal patrols
rounded up Confederates hiding
about town, the battle was over and
the Confederates had been destroyed.

The rest of the afternoon was not a
good one for the city of Marianna. In
the wake of the battle, Union soldiers
spread out through the town looting
and pillaging. According to the local
newspaper:

The town was completely sacked,
everything in the shape of provisions,
clothing and valuables that could be
carried off, were stolen and havoc
pretty generally made.

Even most of the printing paper for the
newspaper was destroyed, although
the presses themselves were not
materially damaged.

As darkness fell, things grew worse.
One resident remembered that the
Union Officer of the Day ordered all
homes brightly lighted for the
protection of the townspeople, but
had no way of conveying this news to
the very people he was trying to
protect. As a result, many were afraid
to show even the smallest light. Many
stories were told from this dark night
of Union soldiers ransacking through
homes and stores, making off with
whatever they wanted. Union
accounts, as might be expected, do
not mention random plundering but
do enumerate the liberation of slaves
and confiscation of horses, mules
and other livestock. The Federals
also rounded up wagons, carts and
other vehicles. Although their reports
do not mention it, they undoubtedly
collected weapons, ammunition and
other military supplies. The Marianna
"conscript camp" was also reportedly
"broken up."

Mute evidence of this night of destruction
can still be seen in the old Holden House,
now a medical office on West Lafayette
Street. A closet door there has a long crack
running from top to bottom. According to
legend, the crack originated when a Union
cavalry struck the door with his saber while
trying to search the closet for plunder. And,
in fact, a close examination of the crack
reveals that it does originate from the mark
of a sword point about halfway up the door.

At some point during the evening, the last
casualty of the Battle of Marianna was
inflicted. Private Isaac King, one of a
number of local members of the 15th
Confederate Cavalry who happened to be
home in Marianna that day had volunteered
for service with Montgomery's cavalry. He
was knocked or thrown from his horse
during the fighting at Courthouse Square,
but managed to escape on the riderless
mount of Lt. William McPherson, who was
shot at about this time. He spent the next
several hours riding around in the swamps
south of town. At some point, he emerged
only to stumble into a Union patrol that
immediately opened fire. King was shot,
but again escaped capture and managed
to hide until the following morning.

On the east side of the Chipola, the
Confederate force slowly grew as
reinforcements came in from the
countryside and there is every indication
Captain Milton, now in command there,
hoped for a resumption of the fighting on
the morning of the 28th.

In the midst of all the tragedy
and mayhem that followed
the Battle of Marianna, at
least some Union soldiers
showed they still had a
sense of humor. In a practical
joke that would continue for
years, they left a 12-pound
cannonball in the middle of
the parlor floor of the Holden
house. The occupants of the
home were warned that if
they moved the cannonball, it
might explode. As might be
imagined, it remained in
place for many years until
someone finally realized that
it was made of solid iron and
had no chance of exploding.
The unknown pranksters
were probably from Captain
John Roberts' Company M,
2nd Maine Cavalry, the
company to which the
regiment's two 12-pounder
howitzers were attached.