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Marianna, Battle of
September 27, 1864 Battle of Marianna St. Lukes Episcopal Church Cemetery 4362 Lafayatte Street, 32446 In September of 1864 a small Federal force under Brig. Gen. Alfred Asboth left Fort Barrancas in Pensasola to quell Confederate forces in Marianna. The defenses of Marianna were commanded by Marianna resident General Alexander Montgomery and consisted of militia. General Asboth skirmished with Confederates on the way and outside of town. When he arrived at Marianna on September 27, Asboth moved his main force into Marianna along its main street, now highway 98, and was soon engaged by Confederate militia and volunteers arrayed on both sides of this road. U.S. forces split the defenders, quickly defeating those to the south and driving those on the north to St. Luke's Episcopal Church and burrying ground. Here, fierce fighting continued, including burning of the church building and several nearby houses, until the Confederate militia surrendered. Cavalry were engaged on the outskirts of town as well, ultimately resulting in the capture of General Montgomery and the retreat of the balance of the Confederates across the Chipola River. Today, the Marianna battlefield is the town of Marianna, and is commemorated by monuments to the battle, a historical marker, and a monument and graves in Riverside Cemetery. Several buildings in town stand as witness to the battle, and an annual reenactment seeks to keep the memory of what happened here alive. « prev 1 next »

Marianna, Battle of

September 27, 1864

Battle of Marianna

St. Lukes Episcopal Church Cemetery

4362 Lafayatte Street, 32446

In September of 1864 a small Federal force under Brig. Gen. Alfred Asboth left Fort Barrancas in Pensasola to quell Confederate forces in Marianna. The defenses of Marianna were commanded by Marianna resident General Alexander Montgomery and consisted of militia.

General Asboth skirmished with Confederates on the way and outside of town. When he arrived at Marianna on September 27, Asboth moved his main force into Marianna along its main street, now highway 98, and was soon engaged by Confederate militia and volunteers arrayed on both sides of this road. U.S. forces split the defenders, quickly defeating those to the south and driving those on the north to St. Luke's Episcopal Church and burrying ground. Here, fierce fighting continued, including burning of the church building and several nearby houses, until the Confederate militia surrendered.

Cavalry were engaged on the outskirts of town as well, ultimately resulting in the capture of General Montgomery and the retreat of the balance of the Confederates across the Chipola River.

Today, the Marianna battlefield is the town of Marianna, and is commemorated by monuments to the battle, a historical marker, and a monument and graves in Riverside Cemetery. Several buildings in town stand as witness to the battle, and an annual reenactment seeks to keep the memory of what happened here alive.

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