Battle of Olustee
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The Battle of Olustee or Battle of Ocean Pond was fought near Lake City, Florida in Baker County, Florida, on February 20, 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the largest battle fought in Florida during the Civil war.[1]
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[edit] Background
In February 1864, the commander of the Department of the South, Maj. Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore, launched an expedition into Florida to secure Union enclaves, sever Confederate supply routes, and recruit black soldiers. Brig. Gen. Truman Seymour moved deep into the state, occupying, liberating, but meeting little resistance.[1][2]
Seymour's actions concerned the Confederate command in the key port city of Charleston, South Carolina. General P. G. T. Beauregard felt these Union actions posed enough of a threat that he detached reinforcements under Georgian Alfred H. Colquitt to bolster Florida's defenses and stop Seymour.[2]
[edit] Battle
Following the Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Railroad, General Seymour led his 5,500 men in the direction of Lake City. At approximately 2:30 in the afternoon of February 20, the Union force approached Brig. Gen. Joseph Finegan's 5,000 Confederates entrenched near Olustee Station. One infantry brigade pushed out to meet Seymour's advance units. The Union forces attacked but were savagely repulsed by withering barrages of rifle and cannon fire. [1][2]
The battle raged throughout the afternoon until, as Finegan committed the last of his reserves, the Union line broke and began to retreat. Finegan did not exploit the retreat, allowing most of the fleeing Union forces to reach Jacksonville. A small Confederate band did attempt to engage the rear element of Seymour's forces but were repulsed by elements of the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and the First North Carolina, both composed of African-American soldiers. [1][2]
[edit] Aftermath
Union casualties were 203 killed, 1,152 wounded, and 506 missing, a total of 1,861 men. Confederate losses were considerably lower: 93 killed, 847 wounded, and 6 missing, a total of 946 casualties in all. Additionally, Union forces allowed six artillery pieces and 39 horses to be captured as well. [2]
The high Union losses caused Northern lawmakers and citizens to question the necessity of further Union involvement in the militarily insignificant state of Florida. There is also considerable evidence that the high Union casualties were the result of Confederate troops murdering wounded and captured African-American Union soldiers. [2]
In the South, the battle was seen a spirit-raising rout. One Georgia newspaper referred to Union forces as walking "forty miles over the most barren land of the South, frightening the salamanders and the gophers, and getting a terrible thrashing..." [2]
Today, the battlefield is contained within the Olustee Battlefield Historic Site, a part of the Florida State Park system. This park is located within the Osceola National Forest, on U.S. 90. [3]
There is an annual historical reenactment that takes place on the site of the battle in north central Florida. [3]
[edit] Battle lithograph
The lithograph in the upper right was printed by the firm of Kurz and Allison in 1894. It depicts soldiers of the 8th U.S. Colored Troops advancing against Confederate entrenchments. While frequently used in media about the Battle of Olustee, it is inaccurate as the artist knew little about the battle. The Confederates troops during the battle were well in advance of their prepared positions, and neither side fought from behind fortifications as the battle took place in a pine forest (see map). Plus, there were very few large cleared areas (as also shown incorrectly in the lithograph). The annual reenactment begins in a pine forest so that reenactors can experience fighting as the soldiers did in 1864. However, it then moves into a large cleared area so that spectators can also view the battle.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program Battle Summary. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
- ^ a b c d e f g Wynne, Lewis N. and Taylor, Robert A. (2001). Florida In The Civil War. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0738513687.
- ^ a b Florida State Parkes Olustee State Park information. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
4. The Civil War in Florida, A Military History, Vol. II: The Battle of Olustee; Lewis B. Schmidt, Allentown, PA, 1989
[edit] External links
- Battle of Olustee Award winning Web site
- Perry's Saints at the Battle of Olustee
- Olustee Battle Festival
- Baker County listings at National Register of Historic Places
- Baker County listings at Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
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