The Battle of Marianna, Florida - The "Good Union Men of Marianna"

The Battle of Marianna was symbolic
of the "brother against brother" nature
of the Civil War. A full battalion of the
Union force was comprised of men
who Asboth called, "disaffected
Southerners." Most were deserters,
although some were conscientious
objectors who stood strongly for the
old Union. And, based on available
accounts, they were not alone.

There is strong evidence in the
records of the Union Navy of a series
of contacts between Unionist men
from the Marianna area and the
Federal blockade ships at St.
Andrews Bay and Apalachicola.

By way of example, the U.S.S.
Reckless at St. Andrews Bay was
hailed on January 16, 1864, by a man
who claimed to represent a number
of Marianna's key businessmen:

He made substantially the following
statement: That there was a schooner
of 60 tons burden, named the Kain,
lying at Bear Creek, North Bay, about
20 miles from here, and partly loaded
with cotton (of this fact I was already
aware); that she could carry about
120 bales, that he, George W. Maslin,
was the agent in this mission for four
Union men of Marianna, named John
T. Myrick, Alderman, Moore, and
Burnett, one or two of whom owned
part of the cotton on board the vessel.
All had determined to get away from
the Southern government, if possible,
except Burnett, whom domestic affairs
compelled to remain.

The captain of the Reckless, Acting
Master W.R. Browne, reported the
contact to his superiors, but
authorities to break the blockade was
denied to Myrick, Alderman, Moore
and Burnett.

The four men did not speak publicly around
Marianna regarding their Unionist
sympathies, but others did. Dr. Ethelred
Phillips, an elderly Marianna physician,
made no secret of his thoughts on
secession and the Confederacy. He was
profoundly Unionist and maintained his
stand publicly throughout the war. Although
he inspired hot debates with some of his
neighbors, no effort was made - as far as
is known - to disallow him the right to
speak his mind.

There were others who felt the same way
and, in fact, Marianna and Jackson County
had been nearly split on the issue of
secession and war, even though the area
was one of the richest plantation districts in
Florida.

Asboth was well aware of this fact as he
prepared plans for his raid against the
area, and Confederate authorities were
equally alarmed lest local Unionists should
openly join with the Federals.

When the attack finally came, though, the
issue of politics faded away and it became
a matter of defending hearth and home.

Despite its status as one of
Florida's major plantation
counties, Jackson County
was strongly Unionist in its
sentiments. Its delegates to
the State Convention were
among the last hold-outs
opposing secession. Once
Florida seceded from the
Union, however, the county
contributed heavily to the
Confederate cause in
manpower and material.