The Battle of Olustee

Rip and I visited the Olustee Battlefield as we were driving back from Jacksonville. It was a beautiful day to check out the largest Civil War battle in the state of Florida. The battle occurred on February 20, 1864, and was significant for the large number of U.S. African-American troops, many of whom became casualties in this battle. General Truman A. Seymour described the carnage at Olustee as a 'devilish hard rub,' losing 1,861 men, including troops of the famed 54th Massachusetts, who stabilized the line while Seymour retreated back to Jacksonville. The battlefield includes a one mile trail that gives the history of the battle, and a small unmanned visitor's center with a film.