Department of Florida SUVCW

1. Department of FloridaSUVCW Olustee Battlefield State Park Monument Project Compiled by: Michael Farrell BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT 1

2. 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. BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT

3. 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 BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT

4. Union Regiments at Olustee Field Commander: Brig. Gen. Truman A. Seymour Colonel Joseph R. Hawley’s Brigade Colonel William B. Barton’s Brigade Data Source: CSO BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT

5. Union Regiments at Olustee Field Commander: Brig. Gen. Truman A. Seymour Colonel James Montgomery’s Brigade Support Units Data Source: CSO BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT

6. Union Regiments at Olustee Field Commander: Brig. Gen. Truman A. Seymour Support Units Totals 212 1,204 623 Total Union Casualties = 2,039 (CSO Count) Data Source: CSO BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT

7. 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 Re-enactment Area Federal Property Florida Parcel # 23-3S-19-0000-0000-0030 Baker County Highway 90 From I-10 Red Outline Olustee Battlefield SOURCE: Baker County Property Appraiser http://www.bakerpa.com/ Cemetery Red Outline, State Property 3 Acre Monument Area Olustee Battlefield BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT

8. 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 Funds • 2) Monument to Confederate General Finegan • Erected by the UDC • 3) 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 MONUMENT PROJECT

9. Battlefield Monuments Monument to Confederate General Colquitt Monument to Confederate General Finegan Monument to the Confederate Soldiers & Regiments BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT

10. 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. BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT

11. Monument Impact at Olustee Battlefield • 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. BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT 11

12. SUVCW Participation at Olustee Battlefield • 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. BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT 12

13. 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. BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT

14. Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War 1861 to 1865 Let Us Not Forget Their Courage at Olustee BATTLEFIELD MONUMENT PROJECT