The Confederate Monument at Marianna, Florida
Confederate Veteran
January 1922
Page 5
THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENT AT MARIANNA,
FLA.
That there is still a Dixie was emphasized in real Southern
style at the unveiling of the Confederate monument at Marianna, Fla., on
November 2 [1921] — the same Dixie that an eloquent Southern editor and orator
described as "Love's shadowland, peopled with the unfettered spirits of the
noble and great, redolent of memories that do not die because they cluster about
things immortal." Preparations of a State-wide scope forecast this occasion as a
memorable one in Florida, as it commemorates one of the three battles fought on
Florida soil in the War between the States, and which ranks in fierceness and
self-sacrifice with the battle which saved the State capital itself.
Immediately after her election as president of the Florida Division U. D. C.,
Mrs. Frank D. Tracy, of Pensacola, made the erection of this monument one of the
activities of her term of office, and with the enthusiastic cooperation of the
William Henry Milton Chapter, of Marianna, and the U. D. C. State Committee,
with Mrs. John H. Carter as chairman, interest was aroused in every Chapter of
the State, and their efforts secured an appropriation of $5,000 by the State
legislature to aid in the erection of the monument.
In the unveiling ceremonies State dignitaries participated, the dedicatory
address being made by Governor Hardee, Mrs. Tracy presenting the monument to the
city, with acceptance by the mayor. Misses Mary Bruce Milton and Floie Crigler,
two of Marianna's lovely little maidens, drew the cords which unveiled the
handsome shaft of Georgia granite, standing thirty-six feet high. Miss Milton is
a granddaughter of Maj. William Henry Milton, for whom the Chapter is named, and
a great-granddaughter of Governor John Milton, war Governor of Florida, Miss
Crigler is a granddaughter of J. 0. Russ, who fought in the battle of Marianna,
and a grandniece of Gen. William Miller, C. S. A., whose military science and
unconquerable bravery saved the State capital by winning the battle of Natural
Bridge.
The unveiling ceremonies were preceded by a grand parade, composed of militia
from the National Guard, Confederate Veterans, Sons of Veterans, Daughters of
the Confederacy, the Children's Chapter, and loyal citizens generally, with Hon.
J. D. Smith as Grand Marshal of the day. One of the interesting occurrences of
the parade was the salute fired by the National Home Guards as the Episcopal
Church was reached, the point where the culminating fierceness of the battle
took place, and where so many of the old men and boys met their death, some of
them being burned in the church, which was set on fire by the Northern troops.
The Battle of Marianna, fought on September 27, 1864, stands out conspicuously
as one where a home guard of old men and boys, numbering less than a hundred,
met the enemy of nearly a thousand, comprised of a cavalry corps from Maine and
a negro regiment from Louisiana, and sacrificed their lives-radiant hearts of
youth and weary ones of age—side by side, to bullet and sword and flame, to save
home and honor. Well does this inscription, chiseled in the enduring granite,
perpetuate their bravery: "The heroism of those who died for home and honor is
the priceless heritage of a loyal people."
Marianna Day is observed by all the U. D. C. Chapters of Florida.
Back to Battle of Marianna Page
