Theophilus West, M.D., SVC Camp 1346
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Cutler Bible
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| "Cutler Bible" | Major Cutler |
These two photographs relate to one of the most intriguing stories to arise
from the events of September 27, 1864.
The book shown here is the historic Bible of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
The soldier shown at right was Major Nathan Cutler of the 2nd Maine Cavalry.
After finally forcing the surrender of most of the Marianna Home Guards in
the cemetery at St. Luke's, Colonel Zulavsky and his men found themselves
still being fired upon by Confederate soldiers barricaded inside the church
and two nearby structures. Unable to convince them to surrender, Zulavsky
ordered them burned out.
Union soldiers approached the west end of the church with artillery swabs,
coated the timber of the structure with a flammable liquid and then set it
on fire.
According to legend, Major Cutler objected to the burning of the church.
When Zulavsky repeated the order, the young officer supposedly dashed into
the building to save the Bible. As he was emerging from the burning
structure, however, he was confronted by two teenagers from the Marianna
Home Guard. He turned on them with his sword, but when he saw their ages
(under 14), he hesitated. The two youths shot him with loads of buckshot
from their shotguns.
It is difficult to say whether the story is true. One Union eyewitness said
that Cutler was wounded while leading the charge down the street.
Confederate eyewitnesses said that he saved the Bible. Interviewed later in
life, he did not admit to his role in the incident, but said that "someone"
in the Union forces objected to the burning and expressed his own opinion
that it was not a military necessity but had been an act of vandalism.
Whatever the truth of the story, the Bible remains a cherished artifact of
the Battle of Marianna and is now on display inside the church. Other than
the Bible, on the bell of St. Luke's survived the fire.
Pictures and article from: http://civilwarflorida.blogspot.com/2008/09/battle-of-marianna-florida-september-27_7410.html
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