Confederate Reenactment, Ocklawaha, MARION, FL, BATTLE
This Reenactment commemorates the March 1865 Union raid on plantations east of Ocala, Florida on the Ocklawaha River. This skirmish was the only battle that occurred in Marion County during the "War of Northern Aggression'. A raiding party of thirty (30) Union soldiers, run by Sgt. Major Henry James of the Jacksonville garrison, traveled by boat down the St. John’s River and disembarked and marched into Marion County and attacked and destroyed the Marshal’s Plantation. While the attack was going on a servant rode into Ocala, Florida and alerted the home guard. The home guard militia company came from Ocala and skirmished with the enemy. It was a running fight from the Plantation to what was then the 'Marshal's Bridge', which is where the present day Sharpes Ferry Bridge stands, on highway 314, east of Ocala. The skirmish ended at the bridge when the Federals burned it behind
them, which blocked the pursuit by the Southern home guard. The fighting then was virtually over.
Two (2) of the Southern home guard were killed in the fighting, with two (2) more of the Southern home guard dying later from wounds. The Federal raiding party had two (2) dead and four (4) wounded. The Federal raiding party then managed to attack another Plantation} on the opposite side of the river, but did not have time to destroy it. The Federal raiding party then headed to the Union garrison at St. Augustine, FL. The raiding party was pursued in route by 15 Confederate cavalry who caught up with them, nearly at the gated of the St. Augustine Union garrison. The Confederate cavalry was able to re-capture much of the property that the Union raiding property had taken off the Plantations. But there was no reported combat between the two forces at this time. and Federal raiding party made their escape into the St. Augustine Union garrison. Thus ended the raid.
ENLIST
The Yankee War is now being waged for "beauty and booty". They have driven us from them and now say OUR TRADE they must and will have. To excite their hired and rufian soldiers, they promise them our lands and tell them our women are beautiful - that beauty is the reward of the brave. Southerners! Your Country Calls! Shall we wait until our homes are laid desolute; until sword and rape has visited them! NEVER! Then TO ARMS and let us meet the enemy on the borders. Who is so vile, so craven as to not strike for his Native Land?
The undersigned purpose to immediately raise an infantry company to be offered to the Governor as part of the defense of the State and of the Confederate States. All those who desire to join with us in serving our common enemy will REPORT THEMSELVES IMMEDIATELY TO:
Capt. A. Turnbull or 1st Sergeant A.I. Morris of 37th Alabama Co. H C.S.A.
Southern Heritage, Rebel Pride, Civil War history, Civil War reenactment, Florida Southern history, War Between the States, Southern Homeland Security, Confederate History, Confederate reenactment, Ocala Florida history, CSA Reenactment and history, Save the South, War of Northern Aggression, Yankee Invasion of Ocala Florida, Ocklawaha River Raid
4 years, 10 months ago