atural
Bridge is an area where the water suddenly runs underground for a few feet and rises
again, forming a natural bridge. During the final weeks of the Civil War,the Battle of
Natural Bridge preserved Tallahassee as the only Confederate capitol east of the
Mississippi River neverto fall
into Union hands. The five-day battle ended with a group of old men and young boys
defeating the seasoned Union troops. The Battle of
Natural Bridge is re-enacted every year in March on a weekend near the
anniversary of the actual battle. Visitors can view authentic Confederate and Union
encampments.
In March of 1865, a Union flotilla arrived in Apalachicola Bay. General John Newton and
Naval Commander William Gibson had a joint assault plan in mind to cripple the Confederate
forces. On March 3, Union seamen surprised Confederate pickets and captured the East River
Bridge, four miles north of the St. Marks lighthouse. The following day, Navy gunboats
commanded by Gibson ran aground in the shallow waters of the St. Marks River. Gibson spent
the next two days desperately trying to get upstream to Port Leon but was unsuccessful.
Gibson's unexpected delay provided just enough time for a Confederate messenger to travel
to Tallahassee and warn the citizens of the danger to the Capitol caused by the Union
landing. In an effort to defend the Capitol, every man and boy who could bear arms
volunteered to join the thin ranks of the Confederate Army. The forces were made up of
wounded confederate
soldiers home to recuperate, men as old as 70 and cadets as young as 14 from West Florida
Seminary (now Florida State University). The Confederate troops, commanded by General
William Miller, were taken to New Port to prepare a defense.
On March 5, Union General Newton advanced past the East River Bridge, causing Confederate
troops from the Fifth Cavalry to withdraw to the New Port Bridge on the St. Marks River.
The Confederate cavalry was joined by the volunteers from Tallahassee here and gained
enough strength to force Newton to take a circuitious route to Natural Bridge. General
William Miller had second-guessed Newton's intentions and sent Confederate forces under
Lt. Colonel George Scott on an overnight march to defend the crossing at Natural Bridge.
In the
pre-dawn hours of the following day, a series of skirmishes lasting about 10 hours
occurred along the narrow natural bridge. Confederate forces, made up of 500 to 700 men,
fought off three major attacks and several minor attempts by Union forces of nearly
equivalent strength. The Union troops, having decided that the bridge was impassable,
began a hasty retreat.
By sundown on March 7, Union soldiers were in the protection of their own fleet. Union
General Newton, feeling that he had not been adequately supported by the Navy, took his
troops back to Key West. Union losses totaled 21 killed, 89 wounded and 38 captured.
Confederate losses were three killed and 22 wounded.
Natural Bridge State Historic Site is located six miles
east of Woodville, off State Road 363. Picnic areas are provided.
For more information, contact:
Natural Bridge State Historic Site
c/o San Marcos de Apalache State Historic Site
Post Office Box 27
St. Marks, Florida 32355
850.925.6216