The Battle of Marianna, Florida

As the Federals were pushing
southwest from Marianna and
engaging Jones' men in Washington
County, help was pouring into
Marianna from all directions.

Captains Jeter and Milton had arrived
with Companies E and G of the 5th
Florida Cavalry on the night of the
27th, as did Captain George
Robinson and his home guards from
eastern Jackson County. They were
joined the next morning by Luke Lott's
company from Calhoun County and
shortly thereafter by Lt. Col. G.W. Scott
of the 5th Florida Cavalry who arrived
ahead of his battalion with a company
of Georgia cavalry and a home guard
unit from Gadsden County.

Organizing these forces as best he
could, Scott established a strong line
of patrols around Marianna on the
28th and as soon as he could set out
in pursuit of the Federal raiders.

Telegrams also went to Gen. Dabney
H. Maury in Mobile, who sent the 15th
Confederate Cavalry east in an effort
to cut off Asboth's column.

The pursuit failed. The Union column was
too well-organized and had too much of a
head start. By the time Scott's
Confederates could reach Vernon, Asboth
was already at Point Washington on
Choctawhatchee Bay.

General Asboth and the wounded were
placed aboard the steamer Lizzie Davis,
while the rest of the column crossed East
Pass and marched down Santa Rosa
Island to Fort Pickens. The raid was over.

Lt. Col. George W. Scott of the
5th Florida Cavalry was a
successful businessman
and planter in Florida before
the war. In later years he
relocated to Georgia and was
a key donor to Agnes Scott
College, which was named
for his mother.