The Skirmish of the Brick Church was the first land engagement in Northeast Florida between the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

and Confederate Army of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. It was fought on March 24, 1862 and resulted in the first

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

victory in

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

Background

After

seceded from the United States on January 1, 1861, President

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

assembled a large amphibious naval armada. The 1st Florida was one unit in this large armada. In early 1862 the coastal defenses of Florida were abandoned. At this point several warships of the Union Navy sailed down the St. Johns River to

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...

Skirmish

When Confederates heard the Federal forces landed in

Jacksonville Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...

Colonel Davis sent a detachment of cavalry to Camp Langford near Jacksonville. Confederate scouts reported that Federals established a strong picket outpost at a brick church. Colonel W. S. Dilworth was conducting raids and attacking Union pickets to annoy the enemy. One attack on a Union picket erupted into a battle at a brick church. Lieutenant Strange of the Third Florida at the brick church was ordered to capture the Federals and if possible with no bloodshed. Thirty Confederates encountered five Federals in the vicinity of the brick church. The Federals were behind tombstones, trees and in the church yard shooting at the advancing Confederate force. The five Federals were forced to retreat inside the church only to have the Confederates storm the church. Two Federals in the church were killed and the remaining three surrendered. Further Confederate advance was halted by return fire from the

4th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry The 4th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 4th New Hampshire Infantry was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire, and mustered in for a three-year enli ...

with one Confederate killed and two taken prisoner. Lacking forces to engage the Union forces directly, Colonel Dilworth continued hit-and-run raids.

Aftermath

After the Federals retreated to their ships they decided to torch the city. Any trace of the brick church has been lost but the church cemetery still remains. The battle, though small, had a number of firsts for the civil war. It was the first

victory in

and it was where the first Confederate officer was killed in Florida.

Notes

References

The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
{{authority control 1862 in Florida Brick Church Brick Church 1862 in the American Civil War Duval County, Florida March 1862 events