Battle of Olustee

Battle of Olustee
Part of the American Civil War

Battle of Olustee, by Kurz and Allison, 1894
DateFebruary 20, 1864 (1864-02-20)
Location30°12′58″N 82°23′19″W / 30.21611°N 82.38861°W / 30.21611; -82.38861
Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Truman Seymour Joseph Finegan
Units involved
District of Florida District of East Florida
Strength
5,500 5,000
Casualties and losses
1,861
(203 killed
 1,152 wounded
 506 captured/missing)[1]
949
(93 killed
 848 wounded
 8 captured/missing)[1]

The Battle of Olustee or Battle of Ocean Pond was fought in Baker County, Florida on February 20, 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the largest battle fought in Florida during the war.

Union General Truman Seymour had landed troops at Jacksonville, aiming chiefly to disrupt Confederate food supply. Meeting little resistance, he proceeded towards the state capital of Tallahassee, against orders, assuming that he would face only the small Florida militia. Confederates in Charleston sent reinforcements under General Alfred H. Colquitt and the two armies collided near Ocean Pond in Olustee.

The Union forces were repulsed and retreated to Jacksonville. Some were garrisoned there to occupy territory. Other troops were transferred to other, more active, areas where they were needed.

  1. ^ a b "The Battle of Olustee". battleofolustee.org. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2014.