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The Battle of Marianna was a small yet significant Civil War engagement. Fought in the streets of the small Northwest Florida city of Marianna on September 27, 1864, the battle pitted Federal troops from the 2nd Maine Cavalry, 1st Florida U.S. Cavalry, 82nd U.S. Colored Infantry and 86th U.S. Colored Infantry against Confederate soldiers from the 1st Florida Infantry Reserves, Florida Home Guards and Alabama State Militia.

The battle erupted when the Union force, commanded by Brigadier General Alexander Asboth, attacked Marianna at high noon on September 27, 1864. A former Hungarian revolutionary, Asboth moved against the city in two columns. One came directly up the main street while a second column flanked the Confederates from the north. The Confederate commander, Colonel Alexander Montgomery, opened fire on the first column as it entered the edge of the town.

The initial Union charge was driven back, but Asboth rallied his troops and attacked a second time. The second attack forced the Confederates up the street, where they ran into the flanking party sent around the northern edge of the town. Some of the Confederates managed to break through and escape to safety by tearing up the flooring of the Chipola River bridge on the east side of Marianna. Others were cornered in and around St. Luke's Episcopal Church where intense hand to hand fighting took place.

The Southern troops at the church were finally compelled to surrender by a Union bayonet charge. The last resistance ended when the church and two nearby homes were burned to force out the last defenders.

The Confederates suffered losses of 10 killed or mortally wounded, 16 wounded and 44 captured. Federal losses included 8 killed or mortally wounded, 19 wounded and 8 captured.

The battle resulted in significant economic damage to a vast region of Northwest Florida. The Union troops also liberated more than 600 African American men, women and children from slavery during their movements.

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