| Copyright 2007 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |
The Battle of Marianna, Florida
The Battle of Marianna: Phase Three
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The Federals charged down Lafayette Street in pursuit of
Montgomery's retreating horsemen. Asboth described the charge as
"brilliant and successful," but it also proved deadly.
The New Orleans Times reported:
Charging down the street, they found a barricade of wagons across it.
Passing that, some over, some through and others around it, they
continued the pursuit, when all at once a body of militia, who were
concealed in houses, churches and stores, opened a furious fire, and
literally mowed down every officer and man at the head of the column.
The fighting grew intense. The head of the Union column continued to
push Montgomery's cavalry down the street, but the rear wheeled on
the volunteers who had assaulted them.
The firepower of the 2nd Maine Cavalry soon proved too much for the
Confederates positioned along the street, and they were gradually
driven back. There were fewer men on the south side of the street and
these were the first to give way. Captain H.O. Bassett, a regular army
officer home on leave but fighting as a volunteer with Norwood's men,
was killed along the banks of Stage Creek in what must have been an
intense confrontation. His body was so mutilated that he could only be
identified by his Confederate officer's pants.
On the north side of the street, the Confederates were pushed back
into St. Luke's churchyard, where they continued to fire on the Union
soldiers in the street. Some took refuge inside the church itself and
while others went into the neighboring homes of Dr. R.A. Sanders and
Mrs. Carolina Hunter.
The home guards planned to withdraw deeper into town, but found
themselves cut off when some of the Union troops that had gone
around the northern bypass came in behind them. Cornered in the
churchyard, they used the board fence surrounding the grounds as a
makeshift fortification and continued to fight.
Montgomery's retreating horsemen. Asboth described the charge as
"brilliant and successful," but it also proved deadly.
The New Orleans Times reported:
Charging down the street, they found a barricade of wagons across it.
Passing that, some over, some through and others around it, they
continued the pursuit, when all at once a body of militia, who were
concealed in houses, churches and stores, opened a furious fire, and
literally mowed down every officer and man at the head of the column.
The fighting grew intense. The head of the Union column continued to
push Montgomery's cavalry down the street, but the rear wheeled on
the volunteers who had assaulted them.
The firepower of the 2nd Maine Cavalry soon proved too much for the
Confederates positioned along the street, and they were gradually
driven back. There were fewer men on the south side of the street and
these were the first to give way. Captain H.O. Bassett, a regular army
officer home on leave but fighting as a volunteer with Norwood's men,
was killed along the banks of Stage Creek in what must have been an
intense confrontation. His body was so mutilated that he could only be
identified by his Confederate officer's pants.
On the north side of the street, the Confederates were pushed back
into St. Luke's churchyard, where they continued to fire on the Union
soldiers in the street. Some took refuge inside the church itself and
while others went into the neighboring homes of Dr. R.A. Sanders and
Mrs. Carolina Hunter.
The home guards planned to withdraw deeper into town, but found
themselves cut off when some of the Union troops that had gone
around the northern bypass came in behind them. Cornered in the
churchyard, they used the board fence surrounding the grounds as a
makeshift fortification and continued to fight.
The History of Florida's Forgotten Civil War Battle
| The Holden House Damaged during the Battle of Marianna Marianna, Florida |
| Lt. Isaac Adams, 2nd Maine Cavalry Mortally Wounded The Battle of Marianna, Florida |
| Books by Dale Cox |
| The History of Florida's Forgotten Civil War Battle |
$19.95
| The Battle of Marianna, Florida |
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