On March 6, 1865 Natural Bridge was the site of the second largest Civil War battle in Florida During the final weeks of the Civil War, a Union flotilla landed at Apalachee Bay, planning to capture Fort Ward (San Marcos de Apalache) and march north to the state capital. Tallahassee area-Confederate soldiers, old men, and young boys-met the Union forces at Natural Bridge and successfully repelled three major attacks. However ,before sundown on March 7th. Union losses totaled 21 killed, 89 wounded and 38 captured. Confederate losses were 3 killed and 22 wounded. After the battle, Confederate veterans later claimed they threw the bodies of the Union dead into sink holes .
The Union troops were forced to retreat to the coast and Tallahassee was the only Confederate capital east of the Mississippi not captured by the Union.
In the predawn hours of March 6, BBGT went to the battlefield site . In the crisp clear night in ones minds eye you could hear the sounds of a far away bugle call and the sounds of old men and young men dressed in blue and gray all ready to battle for each owns cause.
As you wandered around one could feel the tenseness in the air . An orb captured here and the sounds of whispering from unknown origins there . With a sudden cold shiver chilling one all the way to the feet you had to stop and wonder WHO IS OUT THERE?
What secrets does this battlefield hold? Is a long ago war still being fought on the anniversary of an important battle ? Or is it one of our brave boys in Gray still on the lookout for yanks....or more could it be a long lost brave soldier in Blue even in death still fighting for his cause.
The conclusion is : At this place and that particular night the ghosts of a long ago battle seemed to be actively lurking around.
Who was there: BBGT members; Betty, Valynda, Lacey, Lisa. Scott and Ron
