BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT 1 Department of Florida SUVCW Olustee Battlefield State Park Monument Project Compiled by: Michael Farrell 5/14/2015 1

BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT 1

Department of FloridaSUVCW

Olustee Battlefield State Park Monument Project

Compiled by: Michael Farrell

04/18/23 1


The Battle of Olustee & Union Objectives To help bring about the early surrender of those forces in rebellion

• Military Mission: To cut off the principle source where the commissary Department of the Confederacy was obtaining its supplies. To secure recruits for colored regiments in the service of the United States.

• Political Strategy: To repatriate the citizens of Florida and re-establish a loyal State Government.

• Military Results: Failure; due to poor intelligence regarding the strength of Confederate forces combined with tactical errors made by the Union field Commander.

•Political Results: The Union Army withdrew to Jacksonville, continued to patrol the St. Johns River while protecting loyal citizens. The war would drag on another year.

Facts About the Battle


• The Battle of Olustee (Ocean Pond) was the largest engagement of the Civil War in Florida.

• The Battle of Olustee began at Noon on Saturday of February 20th, 1864 lasting about 5 hours.

• Confederate Victory

• Total Estimated Losses (Killed, Wounded, MIA)Union 1,861 men.Confederate 946 men.

Data Source: OR

Union Regiments at Olustee


Service State Regiment Company/Battery

Total Strength

Killed Wounded Missing

Infantry Connecticut 7th 5 42 22

Infantry New Hampshire

7th 13 67 132

Infantry USCT 8th 50 202 88

Field Commander: Brig. Gen. Truman A. Seymour

Colonel Joseph R. Hawley’s Brigade

Colonel William B. Barton’s Brigade


Total Strength


Infantry New York 47th 20 185 138



Data Source: CSO




Total Strength


Mt. Infantry Massachusetts 40th 1 31 18

Cavalry Massachusetts Battalion 0 9 4

Artillery US 1st B 4 13 1

Support Units


Colonel James Montgomery’s Brigade


Total Strength


Infantry Massachusetts 54th 8 72 18

Infantry North Carolinaaka USCT

1st

35th 20 148 59

Data Source: CSO




Total Strength


Engineers New York 1st A, E 4 2

Artillery Rhode Island 3rd B, C 0 9 1

Artillery US 1st M 6 19 9

Artillery US 3rd E 11 21 7


Support Units

Data Source: CSO

6231,204212

Total Union Casualties = 2,039 (CSO Count)

Totals

LOCATION


Description:LEG 000306 ACRES COMM 462 FT WEST OF SE COR OF NE 1/4 OF SW 1/4 TH S 396 FT TO RWY R/W TH SWLY ALONG RWY 2207 FT TH N 462 FT TO S LINE OF

Parcel #23-3S-19-0000-0000-0030

Florida

Baker CountyHighway 90From I-10

Red OutlineOlustee Battlefield

Red Outline, State Property3 Acre Monument AreaOlustee Battlefield

Re-enactment AreaFederal Property

Cemetery

SOURCE:Baker County Property Appraiserhttp://www.bakerpa.com/

http://www.bakerpa.com/

Battlefield Monuments


• No Battlefield Monuments to Union Soldiers and Regiments exist at Olustee

• 3 Confederate Monuments exist on State owned property.1) Monument to the Confederate Soldiers & Regiments Erected by the UDC 1912, with State Funds2) Monument to Confederate General Finegan Erected by the UDC3) Monument to Confederate General Colquitt Erected by the UDC

• A museum has exhibits for the public.

• A grave marker was placed in the Cemetery to the Union Soldiers who were buried in a mass grave.

Battlefield Monuments


Monument to Confederate General Finegan Monument to Confederate General Colquitt

Monument to the Confederate Soldiers & Regiments

Battlefield Cultural & Land Management


•The Olustee Battlefield is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites

•The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service has authorized the State of Florida’s Division of Recreation and Parks to manage 688 acre property owned by the Federal Government as part of the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park.

•The State Division of Recreation and Parks also partners with private and local government agencies to manage Cultural objectives.


Monument Impact at Olustee Battlefield

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• The State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Recreation has an approved Unit Management Plan for the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. • Where to place a Monument would need to be considered on an Environmental basis with reference to the approved May 2008 Unit Management Plan . • Considering Environmental impact, the best possible site for a Monument would be in the Field where the UDC monument also exists. • Considering Cultural impact, the best possible site for a historic monument would again be the field where the UDC monument presently exists.


SUVCW Participation at Olustee Battlefield

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• The Department of Florida, SUVCW has attended this re-enactment of the Olustee Battle as an Educational Exhibitor for several years. Many visitors to the re-enactment express surprise when they are unable to find a monument to Union Soldiers.

• The SUVCW has approved the Battle of Olustee as a Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Event in February 2014. At that time it will be the 38th annual re-enactment of the battle

•Every year an estimated 15,000 people attend the annual re-enactment.


Olustee Battlefield Monument Commission • A Monument to Union Soldiers is needed to complete a BALANCED cultural picture of the Battlefield.

• The monument would Commemorate those Union Regiments that fought there and recognize the African American Regiments who comprised 1/3 of the Union Army at Olustee.• Our mission as Sons is to keep green the memory of the Valor and Courage of those Soldiers and Veterans who fought to preserve the Union and purchased with their blood the end of slavery in our land.

• The Department of Florida, SUVCW has established a Monument Commission to petition the State of Florida to place a Union Soldiers Monument in the Olustee Battlefield State Park.

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War 1861 to 1865

BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT

Let Us Not Forget Their Courage at Olustee

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Documents

BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT 1 Department of Florida SUVCW Olustee Battlefield State Park Monument Project Compiled by: Michael Farrell 5/14/2015 1