The Florida in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Massacre at Perry, Florida
In Response To: Re: Massacre at Perry, Florida ()

It appears you have heard a convoluted combination of two stories, the Battle of Natural Bridge and the Confederate attack on Strickland's band.

First, there was no massacre. The first episode took place when W.W. Strickland and a small group of followers declared themselves the "United States of Taylor" and refused to be conscripted (drafted) into Confederate service. The Confederates sent troops into the region to root these men out and most of them, Strickland included, fled to the Union post at Cedar Keys. The Southern troops, however, rounded up a number of women and children and took them to Tallahassee where they were placed in an internment camp south of the city.

Local residents and Governor Milton himself objected to this treatment and the civilians were eventually passed through the lines to the Union fleet.

The second episode was the Battle of Natural Bridge. A large Union force landed on the coast at St. Marks Lighthouse in March 1865 and marched on Tallahassee, but were defeated at Newport and Natural Bridge (on the St. Marks River) on March 5-6, 1865 and forced to withdraw.

None of these episodes could be considered a massacre and the latter was a pretty good ways from Perry.

Best,
Dale Cox

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