Battle of Natural Bridge

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Secretary of State Tom Adams showing battle flag of Natural Bridge (1961)

Part of American Civil War

Natural Bridge Monument

Date	March 6, 1865
Location	Leon County, Florida
Result	Confederate victory

Combatants

United States of America

Confederate States of America

Commanders

John Newton

Sam Jones

Strength

2nd U.S. Colored Infantry and 99th U.S. Colored Infantry

Kilcrease Artillery; Dunham’s Battery; Abell’s Battery; 5th Florida Cavalry; 1st Florida Militia; Barwick’s Company Reserves; Hodges Company Reserves; Company A, Milton Light Artillery; Companies A, B, and F, Reserves and reinforcements from Georgia amounting to approx. 1,000 men

Casualties

148

Lower Seaboard Theater
Fort Sumter - Santa Rosa Island - Fort Pulaski - Forts Jackson and St. Philip – New Orleans – Secessionville – Simmon's Bluff – Tampa – Baton Rouge – 1st Donaldsonville - St. John's Bluff - Georgia Landing - 1st Fort McAllister - Fort Bisland – Irish Bend – Vermillion Bayou - 1st Charleston Harbor – 1st Fort Wagner – Grimball's Landing – 2nd Fort Wagner – 2nd Fort Sumter – 2nd Charleston Harbor - Plains Store – Port Hudson - LaFourche Crossing – 2nd Donaldsonville – Kock's Plantation – Stirling's Plantation - Fort Brooke - Gainesville - Olustee - Natural Bridge

The Battle of Natural Bridge was a battle during the American Civil War, fought near Tallahassee, Florida on March 6, 1865. A small band of Confederate troops and volunteers, mostly composed of teenagers from the nearby university that would later become Florida State University and the elderly, protected by breastworks, prevented Union troops from crossing the Natural Bridge on the St. Marks River. This action prevented the Union from capturing the Florida capitol and made Tallahassee the only Confederate capitol east of the Mississippi River not to be captured by Union forces during the war.

The site of the battle is now Natural Bridge Battlefield State Historic Site, a Florida State Park, and contains a monument with the inscription:

This monument erected under authority of an act of the legislature of Florida of 1921 as a just tribute of the people of Florida to commemorate the victory of the battle of Natural Bridge. March 6, 1865. And to keep in cherished memory those brave men and boys who, in the hour of sudden danger, rushed from home desk and field and from the West Florida Seminary and joining a few disciplined troops by their united valor and patriotism saved their capital from the invaders. Tallahassee being the only capital of the South not captured by the enemy during the War between the States.