Essay Sample on The Battle of Natural Bridge

Introduction

The Battle of Natural Bridge was a Civil War battle that was fought in Florida near Tallahassee (now Woodville) on March 6th, 1865. The battle is referred to as the second largest American Civil War battle in Florida. Protected by breastworks, the Confederate troops and small groups of volunteers mainly consisting of the elderly militia and young cadets from Florida State University (then Florida Military and Collegiate Institute) resisted the detached the United States colored troops crossing a one-quarter mile stretch Natural Bridge on the St. Marks River. The Confederate forces were determined to prevent the Union army from capturing the Florida capital Tallahassee (The Museum of Florida History 1; Cox 13).

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Led by Union commander Brigadier General John Newton, over 1000 Union army and the naval forces combined and assembled off St. Mark's in the northern Gulf of Mexico. They prepared to move inland aiming at expediting the town and fort of St. Mark's. They intended to engage and destroy the Confederate troops for their attack at Cedar Keys and Fort Myers. However, the Confederates felt with the massive force moving inland; this was a move to conquer the capital city, Tallahassee. When the expedition began, the Union troops experienced difficulties in getting their ships cross the shallow and narrow St. Mark's River.

The Union army landed at a lighthouse, but they were prevented from accessing the rear of St. Mark's river by the Confederate troops at the Newport When the expedition began. After much resistance from the Confederates and the volunteers who destroyed the Newport Bridge, Gen. Newton resorted to marching at the north to Natural Bridge hoping that he would find the southern troops unorganized and cross the river without opposition. The plan fell through as on the other side; the Confederates had sent out observant scouts who reported the move to their commander General Samuel Jones and redirected his forces to counter the threat.

In the dawn of 6th March, the gunfire could be heard coming from the Natural Bridge as the Union troops engaged the southern Confederates troops. Since the southern forces were well alerted, there was no breakthrough during the morning for the northern Union troops as the troops of the south reinforced their positions. The soldiers of the north were forced to search for another way if they were to cross the river.

Unable to find another way, Gen Newton commanded his troops to cross the river using the Natural Bridge calling for head to head collision with the southern forces. By midday, the Union army of the 2nd and 99th Colored Infantry regiments attacked the Confederate troops. The battle lasted for several hours as the southern troops were well reinforced. The southern Confederate forces had an advantage over the northern union troops as they had more canons, a more solid defensive position, and their numbers kept increasing as the battle continued. After conceding defeat, the Union troop retreated to the safety at the coast.

By the end of the battle which lasted most of the day, the northern side witnessed 148 causalities while the Confederate camp 26. The victory for the Confederate meant that Tallahassee would remain in their hands making it the only southern state east of Mississippi River the Union forces failed to capture during the war. The war also marked the last Confederate victory in the Civil War.

Works Cited

Cox, Dale. The Battle of Natural Bridge, Florida: The Confederate Defense of Tallahassee, 2007.

The Museum of Florida History. The Battle of Natural Bridge. The Battle of Natural Bridge, www.museumoffloridahistory.com/exhibits/permanent/civilwar/18.cfm