The Alamo of Florida

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I was unfamiliar with this battle, who knew?

On September 27, 1864, Union troops led by Brigadier General Alexander Asboth struck the small Northwest Florida city of Marianna. The result was a bloody event remembered
today as the Battle of Marianna. The culmination of the deepest penetration of Confederate Florida by Federal soldiers during the entire War Between the States, the Battle of Marianna was deadly and fierce and has been labeled by some as "Florida's Alamo." Commanded by Colonel Alexander Montgomery of the regular Confederate army, an outnumbered force of Southern militia, reserves, volunteers, wounded soldiers home on leave and a few regulars tried to defend against Asboth's attack. One veteran participant described it as the "most severe fight of the war" for its size.

Union forces confronted Confederate cavalry three miles north of town and then launching a bold attack up the main street of the city while a flanking party moved to come in behind Montgomery and his defenders.

The fighting moved up Lafayette Street from the edge of town as Asboth drove back the commander and his mounted forces, only to charge right into an ambush prepared by the men of the Marianna Home Guard and local volunteers who joined in when the news of the Federal approach reached the city.

Asboth was severely wounded as were "nearly every officer and man" at the head of his column. His principal regiment, the 2nd Maine Cavalry, suffered its greatest losses of the war that day. Unfortunately for Marianna's defenders, it was not enough.

A portion of Asboth's cavalry continued to pursue Montgomery's horsemen, who fought their way through the flanking party that had taken up positions in the streets around Courthouse Square. Although Montgomery was unhorsed and captured, most of the mounted men reached the Chipola River where they tore up the planking from the wooden bridge and drove back Union attempts to seize the span.

The main body of the Union force, however turned on the Marianna Home Guard with a fury. The Confederates firing from along the Southern edge of the street were driven down a steep hill and virtually all either killed, wounded or captured.

Among those killed along the little creek at the bottom of the slope was Captain Henry O. Bassett, home on leave from the 6th Florida Infantry. His body was severely mutilated. The local men fighting from the north side of Lafayette Street fell back to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, where they used the wood fence surrounding the churchyard as a make-shift breastwork. It took a bayonet charge by two companies from the 82nd and 86th U.S. Colored Infantries to drive them back.

The Battle of Marianna then degenerated into a brutal fight in the cemetery behind the church. The battling forces fired at each other from just yards away. Even after the main body of the Home Guard surrendered, Union troops fired a volley into their ranks. Seeing this, Confederates firing from the windows of the church and two nearby homes refused to surrender and continued to fight.

The church and both homes were burned to the ground. Four men and boys died in the flames. By the time the battle was over, both sides had been severely bloodied. More than 25% of the male population of Marianna had been either killed, wounded or captured.
monument.jpg

posted on Facebook by The Regimental Quartermaster
 
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST FLORIDA,
Barrancas, October 1, 1864.

MAJOR: I have the honor to submit, in connection with my report Numbers 1090, dated Euchee Anna, Walton County, September 23, 1864, that after having escorted, by two companies of the First Florida Cavalry, the prisoners and arms taken, with contrabands and other incumbrances, down to the Four-Mile Landing (La Grange), Choctawhatchee bay, and after having destroyed on the Choctawhatchee River, by another detachment, Douglass' Ferry and all the smaller boats in the vicinity, I proceeded with the main command to Huett's Bluff, Cerro gordo, and crossing the river the following day, September 25, in a small scow, I followed up my advance speedily via Campbellton to Marianna, which place I took on the afternoon of the 27th, after a sharp engagement, returning the following night via Vernon to Washington Point, at the head of the Choctawhatchee Bay, where I reached in safety the steamer Lizzie Davis with provisions for my command.

Although on my whole line of march, from the Choctawhatchee to the Chipola River and down to the head of the Choctawhatchee Bay, rebel troops were constantly in close vicinity of my column, with frequent skirmishes with my vanguard, they gave us battle only at Marianna, which resulted in a brilliant victory for my command. The first charge upon the town, with the rebel cavalry in front formed in line of battle and the militia sharpshooters concentrated in the grave-yard, church, and other buildings on the left flank of the narrow path through which we had to pass, was repulsed. The second, however, led by myself, was a brilliant and successful one, and all my troops except the repulsed battalion of the Second Maine Cavalry behaved with the utmost gallantry and secured for our raid a most decided success.

We captured 81 prisoners of war, 95 stand of arms, quantities of commissary and quartermaster's stores, over 200 fine horses and excellent mules, 17 wagons, and over 400 head of cattle, already brought within our lines, besides over 600 contrabands who followed us with the greatest enthusiasm. The most prominent among the rebel officers taken and already brought within our lines are Brigadier General William E. Anderson, of the militia, and Colonel A. B. Montgomery, a West Pointer, of the regular Confederate Army, commanding the District of West Florida.

Although in consideration of the character of the fight our loss is not large, yet it is deeply felt by the whole command. Among the killed is Captain M. M. Young, Seventh Vermont Veteran Volunteers, who acted as my assistant adjutant-general a highly educated gentleman and a most efficient officer; and Lieutenant Ayer, Second Maine Cavalry. Among the wounded are the dashing young Majors Hutchinson and Cutler, Second Maine Cavalry; Captain Stanley and Lieutenants Adams and Moody, of the same regiment, and Lieutenant Rowley, First Florida Cavalry, acting as one of my aides-de-camp. I myself was also honored by the rebels with two balls, the first in the face, breaking the check bone, the other fracturing my left arm in two places.

In consequence of those serious wounds received I embarked at Washington Point, where the troops were already out of any danger, with the wounded and prisoners and board the steamer Lizzie Davis for Barrancas, after providing them with provisions and placing the command in charge of Colonel L. L. Zulavsky, Eighty-second U. S. Colored Infantry, ranking officer, with directions to move down the peninsula and Santa Rosa Island to Fort Pickens, where they are expected to arrive on the 4th instant, after a march of over 400 miles.

The troops comprising the expedition were as follows, viz: Three battalions Second Maine Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Spurling commanding; one battalion First Florida Cavalry, Major Ruttkay commanding, and two companies mounted infantry selected from the Eighty-sixth and Eighty-second Regiments U. S. Colored Infantry, under command of Colonel L. L. Zulavsky.

A full report will be forwarded as soon as the troops arrive.

I am, very respectfully, major, your obedient servant,

ASBOTH,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=065/0444
 
Alexander (Sandor) Asboth was a Hungarian born immigrant. He had been trained in the Hungarian military academy and served under Batthyány and Kossuth in the Revolution of 1848. Following the failure of the Revolution Asboth followed Kossuth into exile, eventually arriving in the United States in December, 1851. Asboth became an American citizen and offered his services to the Union at the outbreak of the Civil War. Major General John Fremont knew Asboth and requested he be appointed a Brigadier General to serve as his chief of staff, but Senate confirmation was not forthcoming until March 21, 1862, two weeks after he had been wounded while commanding a division at the Battle of Pea Ridge. Asboth served at posts in Missouri and Kentucky prior his assignment in Florida.

After Marianna Asboth continued in his command in West Florida until the end of the war. He was brevetted to the rank of Major General of Volunteers on March 13, 1865, and mustered out of the Volunteer Army in August of that year. In 1866 President Andrew Johnson appointed him as U.S. Minister to Argentina and Uruguay. Asboth died at his post in Buenos Aires in January, 1868, as a result of complications of the wound he received at Marianna and was buried in the British Cemetery there. In 1990 his remains were repatriated to the United States following a campaign by Hungarian Americans who viewed him as a hero. Asboth was reburied in Arlington Cemetery in a formal ceremony held October 23, 1990, the 34th anniversary of the start of the 1856 Hungarian Revolution.

http://www.sk-szeged.hu/statikus_html/vasvary/newsletter/07dec/asboth.html
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/asasboth.htm
 
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST FLORIDA,
Barrancas, October 1, 1864.

MAJOR: I have the honor to submit, in connection with my report Numbers 1090, dated Euchee Anna, Walton County, September 23, 1864, that after having escorted, by two companies of the First Florida Cavalry, the prisoners and arms taken, with contrabands and other incumbrances, down to the Four-Mile Landing (La Grange), Choctawhatchee bay, and after having destroyed on the Choctawhatchee River, by another detachment, Douglass' Ferry and all the smaller boats in the vicinity, I proceeded with the main command to Huett's Bluff, Cerro gordo, and crossing the river the following day, September 25, in a small scow, I followed up my advance speedily via Campbellton to Marianna, which place I took on the afternoon of the 27th, after a sharp engagement, returning the following night via Vernon to Washington Point, at the head of the Choctawhatchee Bay, where I reached in safety the steamer Lizzie Davis with provisions for my command.

Although on my whole line of march, from the Choctawhatchee to the Chipola River and down to the head of the Choctawhatchee Bay, rebel troops were constantly in close vicinity of my column, with frequent skirmishes with my vanguard, they gave us battle only at Marianna, which resulted in a brilliant victory for my command. The first charge upon the town, with the rebel cavalry in front formed in line of battle and the militia sharpshooters concentrated in the grave-yard, church, and other buildings on the left flank of the narrow path through which we had to pass, was repulsed. The second, however, led by myself, was a brilliant and successful one, and all my troops except the repulsed battalion of the Second Maine Cavalry behaved with the utmost gallantry and secured for our raid a most decided success.

We captured 81 prisoners of war, 95 stand of arms, quantities of commissary and quartermaster's stores, over 200 fine horses and excellent mules, 17 wagons, and over 400 head of cattle, already brought within our lines, besides over 600 contrabands who followed us with the greatest enthusiasm. The most prominent among the rebel officers taken and already brought within our lines are Brigadier General William E. Anderson, of the militia, and Colonel A. B. Montgomery, a West Pointer, of the regular Confederate Army, commanding the District of West Florida.

Although in consideration of the character of the fight our loss is not large, yet it is deeply felt by the whole command. Among the killed is Captain M. M. Young, Seventh Vermont Veteran Volunteers, who acted as my assistant adjutant-general a highly educated gentleman and a most efficient officer; and Lieutenant Ayer, Second Maine Cavalry. Among the wounded are the dashing young Majors Hutchinson and Cutler, Second Maine Cavalry; Captain Stanley and Lieutenants Adams and Moody, of the same regiment, and Lieutenant Rowley, First Florida Cavalry, acting as one of my aides-de-camp. I myself was also honored by the rebels with two balls, the first in the face, breaking the check bone, the other fracturing my left arm in two places.

In consequence of those serious wounds received I embarked at Washington Point, where the troops were already out of any danger, with the wounded and prisoners and board the steamer Lizzie Davis for Barrancas, after providing them with provisions and placing the command in charge of Colonel L. L. Zulavsky, Eighty-second U. S. Colored Infantry, ranking officer, with directions to move down the peninsula and Santa Rosa Island to Fort Pickens, where they are expected to arrive on the 4th instant, after a march of over 400 miles.

The troops comprising the expedition were as follows, viz: Three battalions Second Maine Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Spurling commanding; one battalion First Florida Cavalry, Major Ruttkay commanding, and two companies mounted infantry selected from the Eighty-sixth and Eighty-second Regiments U. S. Colored Infantry, under command of Colonel L. L. Zulavsky.

A full report will be forwarded as soon as the troops arrive.

I am, very respectfully, major, your obedient servant,

ASBOTH,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=065/0444


Interesting, my 3rd gen great-grandfather William Thomas was in the 1st Florida Cavalry although I'm not sure if he was in Ruttkay's Battalion. Marianna is about 2 hours East of Pensacola and maybe an hour or so West of Tallahassee.
 
Following the battle, prisoners were sent to Ship Island, Miss, then on to Elmira, NY. This is a link to some of the prisoners, including my GGgrandfather, WL Hatton, who was captured in Eucheeanna, Fl in a predawn raid. He died on Christmas eve, 2 weeks after arriving from chronic diarrhea. Can't imagine how horrible that must have been..

http://interactive.ancestry.com/112...32768z0q26pgplz0q3dpid&backlabel=ReturnRecord
 
Following the battle, prisoners were sent to Ship Island, Miss, then on to Elmira, NY. This is a link to some of the prisoners, including my GGgrandfather, WL Hatton, who was captured in Eucheeanna, Fl in a predawn raid. He died on Christmas eve, 2 weeks after arriving from chronic diarrhea. Can't imagine how horrible that must have been..
List of Confederate Dead Soldiers at Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira, New York
http://www.chemunghistory.com/confederate1.html
 
They even have his grave marker wrong.. Should be Alabama Home Guard or 5th Fla Calvary. Anyone know if this can be fixed?
 

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At the bottom of the second link,there is an Amazon link to a book. Bought in on Abebooks for $3.64 total and read it. Thought about posting a review of it in the Book Review forum but it would get buried quickly in that forum.

Marianna.jpg
 
The book above is a first edition and is hard to find. He did an expanded edition which is plentiful on Abebooks and Amazon. Not sure what new material is in or if I am going to buy it to find out.

9781460949498-us.jpg
 
Had only done a little study on Civil War Florida and that was at least 2 years ago. Not sure if I had read this before,but Dale Cox's book says that Pensacola, Florida was in Union hands early in the War and that the Union troops who fought at Marianna were based at and staged out of Pensacola. I gotta do a little more reading about wartime Pensacola.
 
Had only done a little study on Civil War Florida and that was at least 2 years ago. Not sure if I had read this before,but Dale Cox's book says that Pensacola, Florida was in Union hands early in the War and that the Union troops who fought at Marianna were based at and staged out of Pensacola. I gotta do a little more reading about wartime Pensacola.

Keep us informed of your results.

Looks to be a very interesting bit of history.
 
According to Dale Cox's book, Pensacola was a refuge for Unionists,runaway slaves and Confederate deserters from northwest Florida and parts of Alabama. Some of the thus freed black persons and Confederate deserters joined the Union army in Pensacola,some as infantry, some as cavalry. Took some time to get weapons and horses for them,but eventually they did and those troops were among the Union forces that fought at Marianna.
 
Had only done a little study on Civil War Florida and that was at least 2 years ago. Not sure if I had read this before,but Dale Cox's book says that Pensacola, Florida was in Union hands early in the War and that the Union troops who fought at Marianna were based at and staged out of Pensacola. I gotta do a little more reading about wartime Pensacola.
Of course Pensacola's harbor is the location of Fort Pickens, commanded by artillery Lt. Adam Slemmer in 1861. Along with Ft. Sumter, Pickens was the target by early secession forces, but unlike its much more famous sister, the fort was never taken, although it was invested as much as possible by Confederate forces under Braxton Bragg. I believe that once Bragg's force was withdrawn to Corinth, Miss. to bolster Albert Sidney Johnston's army for the attack on Pittsburg Landing/Shiloh Union forces were able to then occupy Pensacola itself.
 
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