[1] Unbeknownst to the Southerners, their route had taken them straight toward the withdrawing Federal column under Brigadier General Alexander Asboth, which was returning to their main base at Pensacola after their victory at Marianna.

The two forces met on a wooden bridge across Hard Labor Creek in Washington County; refusing to heed Union demands to disperse, the badly-outnumnered Floridians chose to resist and were quickly defeated, with most of them being taken prisoner.

Additionally, some country residents had already defected to the Federals, including the county Sheriff[1] With barely thirty available men, the local Home Guard company chose Second Lieutenant W.B.

[1] Meanwhile, the Federal column—over 700 strong— had left Marianna to return to Pensacola in the early morning hours of April 28, driving a large herd of confiscated cattle, horses and mules, and accompanied by over 600 liberated slaves.

[1] According to local legend, a Confederate named Stephen Pierce (a veteran of the 4th Florida Infantry, invalided home from Tennessee) cursed and taunted the Union soldiers, who responded by firing a volley into the Southerners and then charging across the bridge.