Jack,

A lot of tall tales grew up over the decades after the Battle of Marianna (people being thrown into the burning church, etc.).

The truth of the matter is that a single volley was fired into a body of Confederate militia (home guards)about a minute after they had surrendered. One man was killed and several wounded in this incident. A Union officer received a Congressional Medal of Honor for intervening and preventing any other attacks on the prisoners.

All of the rest of the men killed or wounded at Marianna went down fighting.

St. Luke's Episcopal Church and two nearby homes were burned in the fighting and the bodies of four Confederate soldiers were found in the church. They had refused demands to surrender and kept firing after the surrender of the rest of their company. Union soldiers, however, ran through the flames to rescue a woman who had been hiding with her infant child on the second floor of one of the buildings.

No women or children were killed or wounded at Marianna (unless you count the teenage boys who fought as members of the local home guard).

I think stories like these tend to diminish the true facts of what happened at Marianna. This was a very sharp small battle (some veteran participants described it as the most intense they saw during the war) with enormous economic and social implications. The battle was very bloody for its size and both sides put up an amazing fight.

As Alan noted, I think you will find an accurate account on my website at www.battleofmarianna.net. I also have a new book out on the topic that is based heavily on eyewitness accounts from both sides.

Best,
Dale Cox