There were lots of smaller battles and skirmishes during the war of northern aggression. One such smaller battle was The Battle of Natural Bridge,which took place just south of Tallahassee on the St. Marks River where a natural land bridge existed. The Battle took place on March 6,1865. A force of 893 Colored troops under the command of Brig. Gen John Newton ran aground offshore of the St. Marks Lighthouse. They had come to take St. Marks and Confederate Fort Ward so the federals could control the port. News of the federals arrival had reached CSA commanders ears long before they arrived and Confederate Brig Gen. William Miller had gathered a small confederate militia of Old Confederate soldiers from surrounding counties,and, young seminary cadets,numbering just 595, from what is now known as Florida State University. The Federal force,having been engaged since landing,attempted to march on Tallahassee,the only state capitol not in federal hands. After a fierce battle with the entrenched and dug in Confederates,the federals high tailed it back to their ships and sailed away. The defeat was resounding,with federal losses of 21 KIA and 89 Wounded,and,148 MIA. Confederate troops suffered just 3 KIA and 23 wounded,and,none missing in action. These photos are of the Memorial Markers and also of Gen. Miller and the Seminary Cadets.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 02:02:09 +0000
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