As the Federal column approached
Marianna via the Campbellton Road,
it first encountered resistance about
three miles northwest of the city along
a sluggish stream called Hopkins
Branch. It was here, according to
Armstrong Purdee, that the first shots
of the Battle of Marianna were fired:
When reaching the Hopkins Branch
about three miles from the city of
Marianna, soldiers were again sent
out on each side of the road. Firing of
the little short guns were made at
Hopkins Branch.... The Yankee that I
was riding behind left the road and
said to me: "Hold Fast; do not fall!"
They did not go around anything; they
jumped their horses over fallen trees
and logs, or anything.
The "little short guns" described by
Purdee, of course, were the Spencer
repeating carbines of the 2nd Maine
Cavalry. Exactly what happened at
Hopkins Branch is unclear, but from
Purdee's description the Union
cavalry clearly encountered
resistance and quickly spread out into
a battle line and charged.
The only Confederate force known to
have been northwest of Marianna
were the two cavalry companies that
had left Marianna on the afternoon of
the 26th under the direct command of
Col. Montgomery. The only logical
explanation is that Montgomery tried
to either test or delay the Union
column. The meandering swamp
along Hopkins Branch was probably
as good a defensive position as he
could hope to find between
Campbellton and Marianna.
The swamp is wide and sluggish and
it had been raining for days, ensuring
that it would be hard to cross.
Marianna via the Campbellton Road,
it first encountered resistance about
three miles northwest of the city along
a sluggish stream called Hopkins
Branch. It was here, according to
Armstrong Purdee, that the first shots
of the Battle of Marianna were fired:
When reaching the Hopkins Branch
about three miles from the city of
Marianna, soldiers were again sent
out on each side of the road. Firing of
the little short guns were made at
Hopkins Branch.... The Yankee that I
was riding behind left the road and
said to me: "Hold Fast; do not fall!"
They did not go around anything; they
jumped their horses over fallen trees
and logs, or anything.
The "little short guns" described by
Purdee, of course, were the Spencer
repeating carbines of the 2nd Maine
Cavalry. Exactly what happened at
Hopkins Branch is unclear, but from
Purdee's description the Union
cavalry clearly encountered
resistance and quickly spread out into
a battle line and charged.
The only Confederate force known to
have been northwest of Marianna
were the two cavalry companies that
had left Marianna on the afternoon of
the 26th under the direct command of
Col. Montgomery. The only logical
explanation is that Montgomery tried
to either test or delay the Union
column. The meandering swamp
along Hopkins Branch was probably
as good a defensive position as he
could hope to find between
Campbellton and Marianna.
The swamp is wide and sluggish and
it had been raining for days, ensuring
that it would be hard to cross.
The Battle of Marianna, Florida
Encounter at Hopkins Branch
Encounter at Hopkins Branch
The Battle of Marianna - Phase One
All material on this site Copyright 2005 by Dale A. Cox.
| Battle of Marianna Little Known Fact: |
| St. Luke's Episcopal Church preserves a key site of the Battle of Marianna |
Asboth did not mention the encounter in his
official report, other than to note that
Confederate troops were in constant
contact with his vanguard. Montgomery, of
course, was silenced by his capture during
the Battle of Marianna.
The only other known account of this phase
of the engagement was written by Private
Wade H. Richardson, of the 1st Florida U.S.
Cavalry. In the briefest of terms,
Richardson recorded that the Union
soldiers approached Marianna from the
northwest, "keeping up a brisk fire with
contesting rebels."
This encounter northwest of town has long
been ignored by those researching the
Battle of Marianna, but its importance
cannot be under estimated. If Montgomery
was fighting the Federals as they
approached Marianna, then many
traditional "facts" about the battle must be
reconsidered.
And based on the evidence, there
undoubtedly was a fight going on long
before the first gunfire was heard in town.
official report, other than to note that
Confederate troops were in constant
contact with his vanguard. Montgomery, of
course, was silenced by his capture during
the Battle of Marianna.
The only other known account of this phase
of the engagement was written by Private
Wade H. Richardson, of the 1st Florida U.S.
Cavalry. In the briefest of terms,
Richardson recorded that the Union
soldiers approached Marianna from the
northwest, "keeping up a brisk fire with
contesting rebels."
This encounter northwest of town has long
been ignored by those researching the
Battle of Marianna, but its importance
cannot be under estimated. If Montgomery
was fighting the Federals as they
approached Marianna, then many
traditional "facts" about the battle must be
reconsidered.
And based on the evidence, there
undoubtedly was a fight going on long
before the first gunfire was heard in town.
Major Nathan Cutler, who
commanded the lead
battalion of the 2nd Maine
Cavalry as Asboth
approached Marianna, was
only 20-years old. A Harvard
graduate and trained lawyer,
he was severely wounded
during the Battle of Marianna
and spent the rest of the war
in Confederate prison camps
at Macon and Andersonville.
After the war, he came back
to Marianna at the head of a
small detachment of
occupation troops, but was
treated kindly by the town's
people, primarily because he
spared the life of 14-year-old
Frank Baltzell during the
fighting. Baltzell subsequently
blasted him from the saddle.
commanded the lead
battalion of the 2nd Maine
Cavalry as Asboth
approached Marianna, was
only 20-years old. A Harvard
graduate and trained lawyer,
he was severely wounded
during the Battle of Marianna
and spent the rest of the war
in Confederate prison camps
at Macon and Andersonville.
After the war, he came back
to Marianna at the head of a
small detachment of
occupation troops, but was
treated kindly by the town's
people, primarily because he
spared the life of 14-year-old
Frank Baltzell during the
fighting. Baltzell subsequently
blasted him from the saddle.
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