A Brief History of the Battle of Olustee,
February 20, 1864

The Battle of Olustee or Ocean Pond was the the largest and bloodiest Civil War Battle in Florida

Union General Truman A. Seymour and his troops left Hilton Head, South Carolina with the sole purpose of occupying Jacksonville, Florida.

Brigadier General Joseph Finegan and Brigadier General Alfred Colquitt were assigned the task of defending Florida for the Confederacy. 

Union and Confederate troops came out of the pine trees to engage in an open field in north Florida.  The battle lasted four hours with nearly 5000 Confederate troops and 5,500 Union troops fighting.  When it was over, there were 1,861 Union soldiers dead and 946 Confederate men killed.

Reenactment Activities  

The Reenactment Battle of Olustee occurs each  February.  More than 2000 reenactors come from all over the United States.

Lake City, the small town about 60 miles west of Jacksonville on U.S. 90 in north Florida, has arts and crafts booths, square dancing, and the Miss and Little Miss Olustee Festival Pageant.  History buffs with their wares fill the main street the Friday and Saturday prior to the battle.  The number of visitors each year has swelled to 50,000.

Tips for Attending

The battlefield itself is 15 miles east of Lake City at the Olustee Battlefield State Park.

Set up among the pine trees outside the battlefield are authentic Union and Confederate military camps.  The scene, as much as possible, is circa 1864, including tents, cooking equipment, cots, weapons, wagons, horses, band instruments, medical supplies, and even prayer books for those “civilians” who want to attend church service with the troops on Sunday morning before the battle.  The uniforms of the men and the costumes of the women and children are often made from copies of original patterns.

Over 90 merchants make up an ever-growing “Sutlers Village” for reenactors and visitors to purchase memorabilia and period supplies.

Arrive several hours before the one o’clock start of the battle,to leisurely peruse the camps and the sutler stores.

For safety reasons, the battlefield is roped off, but arrive at the spectator area at least an hour before the fighting begins to stake out your seat.  Bring a blanket or folding chairs and  a cooler and snacks.  There are some spectator stands, and food is for sale. 

Don’t forget your camera and binoculars.

I highly recommend that you investigate reenactment battles for all periods.  They allow the entire family to gather history, education, and memorable times together.  

   Jane Marie

For more information, contact:
Olustee Battlefield Historic Site
P.O. Box 40
Olustee, Florida 32072
386/758-0400

http://battleofolustee.org/

click on the photos to enlarge them

 

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