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Natural Bridge   

March 6, 1865
Leon County, FL
Campaign: The Blockade

Maj. Gen. John Newton, US
Maj. Gen. Sam Jones, CSA

Newton had two regiments of U.S. Colored Infantry; the Southerners had about 1,000 men (mostly local Florida troops) including three artillery batteries.

The Union lost about 150, the South 25.

Maj. Gen. John Newton had undertaken a joint force expedition to engage and destroy Confederate troops that had attacked at Cedar Keys and Fort Myers and were allegedly encamped somewhere around St. Marks. The Navy had trouble getting its ships up the St. Marks River. The Army force, however, had advanced and, after finding one bridge destroyed, started before dawn on March 6 to attempt to cross the river at Natural Bridge. The troops initially pushed Rebel forces back but not away from the bridge. Confederate forces, protected by breastworks, guarded all of the approaches and the bridge itself. The action at Natural Bridge lasted most of the day, but, unable to take the bridge, the Union troops retreated to the protection of the fleet.

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