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By the Spring of 1865, nearly four years of the War Between The States had gone by. Though numerous battles had occurred in surrounding areas, no engagement had yet taken place within the borders of Marion County. However events were soon to set in motion to change this fact. On March 7, 1865, Sergeant Major Henry Thomas and a company of the 8th United States Colored Troops from the Union garrison at Jacksonville moved up the Saint Johns River, disembarking at a place known as Fort Gates. From here the Federal soldiers marched overland into Marion County. Crossing the Ocklawaha River, the raiding party fell upon the Marshall’s Plantation, a large syrup and sugar making facility that supplied provisions to Confederate forces. Here the attacking Federals destroyed some 80 gallons of syrup and 200 hogsheads of sugar along with the machinery and the main plantation house. Taking the slaves, wagons, horses, and assorted property with them, the Union troops started back toward the Ocklawaha River. Before long, local Confederate troops became aware of the Federals’ presence. While the Union men were setting about their actions at the plantation, a servant took to horseback and rode into Ocala bringing word of the raid. Captain Samuel Howse and the Ocala Home Guard militia responded and were soon on the march toward the Marshall’s Plantation. Further, Captain John J. Dickison of Company H, 2nd Florida Cavalry, was near Ocala at the time and received similar word of the enemy’s actions. The Home Guard soon caught up with the raiding force just as they were leaving the plantation, and a running battle began toward the Ocklawaha River. Falling back to the Marshall’s Bridge (near the site of the present-day Sharpes Ferry Bridge), the Union troops withdrew across the Ocklawaha River and set fire to the bridge, blocking the pursuit of the Home Guard. The skirmish resulted in two of the Home Guard killed and two mortally wounded, with two dead and four wounded among the Federal ranks. Once across the Ocklawaha, the Federals attacked another plantation but did not destroy it. The soon resumed their march, but the challenges for the Union force were not ended yet. Upon hearing of the raid, Captain Dickison moved toward the scene with 50 Confederate soldiers. The skirmish had concluded by the time he arrived in the area. Still, his command crossed the Ocklawaha River and continued in pursuit of the Union force, which was now headed for the Federal garrison at Saint Augustine. Within a few miles of the city, Dickison’s troops nearly caught up with their adversaries. Realizing that the enemy was close behind, Thomas’ Union soldiers abandoned their captured prizes and successfully entered the safety of Saint Augustine. All that they had taken from the plantations, save one horse killed during the raid, was returned to Marion County by the Confederates.
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Original 1865 Battle History |
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