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The historic Natural Bridge battlefield is the site of the second largest Civil War battle in Florida, and where the St. Marks River goes underground and flows for a distance of about one-quarter of a mile before reappearing, therefore forming a natural bridge. In 1865, during the final weeks of the Civil War, a Union flotilla landed at Apalachee Bay, planning to capture Fort Ward (San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park) and march north to the state capital. With a timely warning, volunteers from the Tallahassee area-Confederate soldiers, old men, and young boys-met the Union forces at Natural Bridge and successfully repelled three major attacks. The Union troops were forced to retreat to the coast and Tallahassee was preserved as the only Confederate capital east of the Mississippi that did not surrender to Union forces.

Accompanying note: "LEST WE FORGET - The Stars and Bars of the Confederacy flew over Florida's Capitol dome today, the 98th anniversary of the Battle of Natural Bridge when Union troops were halted in an advance on Tallahassee. Hoisting the flag are Horace Marsh of Jacksonville, and Tommy King of Pensacola... members of Kappa Alpha fraternity at Florida State University, which traditionally marks the anniversary of the battle. Cadets of the old seminary which is now FSU, along with aged Home Guards, helped repulse the enemy south of Tallahassee. United Daughters of the Confederacy will sponsor the annual pilgrimage to the battle site Sunday afternoon."