"A DEVILISH HARD RUB"

THE 1864 FLORIDA EXPEDITION

The Olustee Campaign
February 12,13,14,15


SANDERSON, February 20, 1864.

General TURNER:

Have met the enemy at Olustee and now falling back. Many wounded. Think I may be compelled to go to Baldwin, but shall go to Barber's immediately. Fribley, killed; Sammon, Hamilton, Myrick, wounded; seven guns lost. A devilish hard rub.

T. SEYMOUR.
From The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion


"This is the meanest state I ever saw, you stand up to look around & all you see is pine trees."

February 15, 1864, Lorenzo Lyon, 48th New York

Campaign Announcement!

The 1864 Florida Expedition will be a campaign style event held in conjunction with the 33rd Annual Battle of Olustee Reenactment.

The sponsoring organizations are:

The host units are the 15th U.S. Infantry and the 13th Indiana Volunteers.

Overall U.S. commander will be Brigadier General James Permane. Overall C.S. commander will be Major General Thomas Jessee. Campaign commanders will be Captain Ken Giddens, 48th New York and Colonel Hunter Poythress, Georgia Volunteer Battalion.

This will be a campaigner style event within the framework of the Battle of Olustee Reenactment. Troops will be on the move until reaching the main U.S. infantry camp Saturday morning. Infantry registration is open to all those that can meet the guidelines posted for this event.

Cavalry, Artillery and Citizen's registration is by invitation only. Confederate Infantry registration will be limited to 50 men on an invitation only basis. Federal infantry registration will not be limited. Registration is required for ration issues and logistics planning.

There is no reenactor fee. We only ask that participants stay for, and take part in Saturday and Sunday's scripted, spectator battles. The monies raised by the gate admission are for the preservation of the Olustee Battlefield and serve to educate the public.

All participants should be on site no later than 10 pm on Thursday, February, 12th. Federal check-in will be at the U. S. Army Headquarters.

Friday's Campaign Scenario

(See Campaign announcement above.)

Friday will be a march through the pine forest with non-scripted clashes with Confederate cavalry and infantry. The march will commence at dawn from the bivouac at the barrow pond, approximately 2 miles from the U. S. Army Headquarters and main Federal camp. The line of march will proceed to the east and south through the Osceola National Forest for about a mile. At various points contact will be made with Confederate pickets. A force of Confederate cavalry may attempt an ambush. On late Friday afternoon. the command will again go into bivouac and rations will be issued and pickets set. At all times the possibility of attack will be present. There a high probability of a night attack. Proper military procedures will be observed for grand guards and outposts. On Saturday morning the Expedition will join the main Federal Army.

"The night march was one of intense excitement…the night was dark, and the road over which the cavalry passed winded through a dense forest of pine trees, whose lofty tops were dimly traced against the blue sky above, and whose huge trunks looked like weird giants, somber and awful. On several occasions the guide lost the road; but it was soon regained, and the column was hurried forward through bogs and swamps, over trunks of fallen trees, across shaky and rotten bridges and over deep ditches, coolly and determinedly. At four different points the column was halted and the Massachusetts cavalry sent forward on a charge to capture the rebel pickets on the road, who were maintaining a very easy and comfortable guard, sitting by their camp fires, chatting or sleeping the watch hours away. Four posts were successively captured by the cavalry without firing a shot, and ten prisoners taken. At one picket post a number of men, women and children were captured, together with some Negroes, all of whom, being non-combatants, were released."

Mr. Whitmore,
Special Correspondent,
New York Times,
February 20, 1864

Saturday's Battle Scenario

The Ambush at St. Mary's River

"...a narrow, deep stream, completely hidden by cypress and palmetto trees... it was approached by a narrow road, through a thicket of pine and cypress trees, and could only be crossed in ordinary seasons, by a bridge which spanned it."

The Philadelphia Inquirer
February 22, 1864


"The bugle sounded the call to mount, and the advance of the Massachusetts battalion under Major Stevens, started forward and entered a small defile leading through thick, impenetrable underbrush and pine trees to the bridge across the St. Mary's. The platoon of four men of the cavalry which had the advance had just passed a sharp turn in the road, and had approached close on the bridge, without anticipating an attack, when a half dozen reports were heard, and three of the four fell from their saddles, shot by a rebel force ambuscaded in a strong position beyond the stream.

"The column immediately came to a halt when the presence of the enemy was made known by the explosions of their guns, and the advance company pushed forward, under Captain Webster, to feel them and ascertain their position. It was received with a sharp volley of musketry, which dropped out of their saddles several brave men. The fire was instantly returned, with but little effect and the enemy was concealed behind bushes and stumps, from which they could use their guns with deadly effect The company, and the next behind it still pushed forward, and they were soon under a hot fire, which seemed to be concentrated on the advance with effect. On approaching the stream it was discovered that the bridge had been removed, and that the enemy was in strong force on the other side. The fell back, by order of Col. Henry, until he offered up another company, when all charged down the road and attempted to ford the stream. As the ford could not be found just then, they fell back, and two companies of the 40th Massachusetts were dismounted and ordered forward, with one company of the 1st Massachusetts battalion, as skirmishers. Leaving their horses in charge of the proper number of men, the dismounted men quickly advanced as skirmishers, and pushed down towards the river, and engaged the enemy sharply and effectively.

"Meanwhile, as the force of the rebels was unknown to us, Elder's battery was placed in position on the crest on a little hill in front of Barber's house, which gently sloped down to river bank, and the cavalry and mounted infantry were placed on either side of the line of battle to support it. Efforts were made to throw a force cavalry across the stream on the left of the rebel position; but it was discovered that the river at that point was not fordable, and the attempt was relinquished. A company of dismounted men was, however, thrown down the stream, and placed in a fine position where the river makes a sudden turn, and where our rifles enfiladed the rebel front. A few volleys, which did considerable damage to the rebels in men and material, induced them to break and run in the most unceremonious manner, leaving two dead on the field, several wounded and about fifty or sixty horses, most of which were uninjured.

"As soon as the enemy broke the cavalry dashed across the ford in front of the position just left by the rebels, and captured some four or five prisoners. The battery and mounted men were soon in column and across the river. We halted on the other side and made preparations for instant pursuit of the fleeing rebels. Those whom we found on the ground wounded and those picked up by some of the cavalry near the field pretended for the most part to have been Union men, conscripts in the service, and serving against their will."

Correspondent,
Boston Herald


"Just as Elder's guns were going into position near Barber's house ["Elder's Battery in line on the Hill"], a woman came out, followed by two little girls, and went to the well for water.

'You'd better go back to the house madam,' said Elder addressing her, 'You're in great danger here!'

"She, however, continued on, and while filling her pail, the younger of the children was tugging at her dress and sayin', 'Come mamma, you mustn't stay here, the Yankees will kill you'.

"The bullets were even then whistling over and about them, and before they had reached the house, Elder had opened with his guns. Within thirty minutes from that time, their home, had been transformed into a hospital."

Clotaire S. Gay,
First Massachusetts Cavalry

Sunday's Battle Scenario

The Battle of Olustee
Camp Finnegan, Near Baldwin,
Fla., Feb. 24, 1864.

PRELIMINARY.

You have doubtless, ere this, had some news of a severe engagement in Florida on the 20th, and probably of an exaggerated character, arriving as it necessarily did through rebel channels. Gen. Gillmore directs the correspondents to send no dispatches by the Fulton, and if any go, the direct disobedience of a very proper order issued by a General of whom no correspondent can justly complain, is sufficient to throw discredit on whatever statements they contain. Your correspondent remains at the extreme front till this morning, in company with Mr. Oscar G. Sawyer, Special Correspondent of the New York Herald, and our news is consequently two days later than that of any other correspondent. We have availed ourselves of every opportunity to revise and extend our reports, and particularly to obtain a correct list of casualties.

The results of our observations and investigations is that our forces have been very badly used, but have not been defeated, or suffered in their morale, or had anything to dishearten them.

OUR POSITION.

At your last previous advices the advance of our troops, under Brigadier General Truman Seymour, was at Sanderson, about forty miles north west of Jacksonville. The latter place, you know, is twenty-five miles up the St. John's river. Subsequently our advance withdrew to Barber's, nine miles back, and remained there on Saturday last, Feb. 20th.

ADVANCE ORDERED.

On that day Gen. Seymour ordered an advance in force, which commenced at seven o'clock in the morning. Col. Guy V. Henry's brigade had the advance. It consisted of his own regiment, the 40th Massachusetts Mounted Infantry, under command of Capt. Jenkins, the Independent Battalion of Massachusetts Cavalry, Major Atherton H. Stevens, and Elder's Battery, Horse Battery B, 1st U. S. Artillery.

DISPOSITION OF OUR FORCES.

Col. Hawley's Brigade, consisting of his own regiment, (the 7th Connecticut,) and the 7th New Hampshire, had the right of the infantry column. It was found that the enemy were in force on each side of the road, near where the railroad crossed it, with each flank protected by strong entrenchments, some works in their center, and three batteries of field artillery. They had a strong cavalry force, and at this time it is supposed they had in the engagement from twelve to fifteen thousand men, a superior force to ours, in their own chosen position. - The 7th Conn., were sent forward as skirmishers on the right, towards the enemy's left flank, which was protected by a swamp and a small pond. They skirmished up with the cavalry, to near the enemy's main line, which was ascertained by drawing their fire, and then the 7th N.H., deployed to the right in line of battle. The 8th U.S. Colored Troops deployed to the left, where the enemy's right flank was protected by another marshy tract. Langdon's Battery, Battery M, 1st U.S. Artillery, and Elder's Battery, had positions on each side of the road, in the center, and Capt. John Hamilton's Battery E, 3rd U.S. Artillery, were placed on the left, to be supported by the 8th Negroes. Elder's Battery had the advance up the road, and fired the first gun. This was the position of our forces, when the battery commenced at three o'clock in the afternoon.

OPENING OF THE FIGHT.

Capt Elder ran his guns up very close to the enemy's center, and in an almost incredible time had them playing effectively into their works with shell, solid shot, grape and canister. With a quick comprehension of the emergency, the Captain backed up his limbers, instead of reversing them, according to the ordinary tactics, so that before the enemy had time to recover from the shock of his attack, he had withdrawn to a safer position, with astonishing rapidity. The 7th Conn. were doing good service as advance skirmishers.

A WARM RECEPTION.

Now the engagement became general on both sides. The rebels opened with their batteries, a large force of sharpshooters picked off infantry officers and our artillerist, and vollies of musketry were poured in with great accuracy and rapidity on our two front regiments. The rebel fire was quite low, so that our men were wounded in the feet and legs a good deal, but they were brought down and disabled as effectually as though shot in the head, and they toppled over with most disheartening frequency. The rattling of musketry, the roar of artillery, the shrieks of wounded horses, the groans of dying men, the defiant shouts of those engaged in the combat, the dense smoke lighted up with flashes from the belching guns, tree-tops falling, grape shot flying, companies and regiments depleted from the iron storm - these were the characteristic of the four hours' scene which followed. To the soldiers it was exciting - to the mere spectators appalling. The fight grew hotter as it continued - the charges got desperate. Those who had trembled with fear at first, trembled with solicitude now, and neglected entirely the dangers which it was impossible to avoid.

A REPULSE.

The 7th New Hampshire went into the fight under very unfavorable circumstance. Through no fault of its officers, the regiment is not what it was when the heroic Col. Pitman led it over the parapets of Fort Wagner, where hundreds of its brave men fell with their gallant commander. Its reduced ranks had been partially filled with unwilling conscripts and mercenary substitutes from Canada, and the Lord and the brokers only know where else. The bulk of the regiment, with an esprit de corps dating from Wagner, well disciplined as it is possible to have a volunteer regiment, went into the fight with perfect confidence and valor.

But an unfortunate circumstance was that the left wing had been deprived of their Spencer seven-shooters, by an exchange with a portion of the 40th Massachusetts for unserviceable muskets, many of which were without ramrods, some without locks, and all without bayonets. The regiment marched up to take their position in column by division, left in front, bringing the left wing first under the enemy's fire which was a hot one and totally unexpected, as the 7th encountered no advanced skirmishers, and got their first notice of proximity of the enemy in a tremendous volley of musketry, and a continuous and deadly fire from sharpshooters. The men tried to return the fire, but wavered as their muskets proved unserviceable, and finally retreated in disorder, in spite of Col. Abbott's exertions to hold them steady. This retreat confused the rest of the regiment and they retired some distance.

On the left, the 8th Negroes were met with a deadly fire which rapidly thinned out their ranks and soon caused them to retreat, with a heavy loss. A part of the cavalry were disposed so as to stem the tide of retreat. It is doubtful if either of the regiments in the first line did much damage to the enemy, covered as they were by their works.

Left thus unprotected, the artillery suffered severely. Every man was picked off some of the guns, and a great many horses were killed. But the batteries were fought with credit, even to the regulars who worked them, and no signs of flinching.

A SECOND LINE.

Gen. Seymour now ordered the 54th Massachusetts in on the left, to replace the 8th U.S., and Barton's brigade, consisting of his regiment, (the 47th N.Y.,) the 48th N.Y., and the 115th N.Y., to advance on the right. The 1st N.C. (colored), was placed on the extreme right, and Henry's brigade of cavalry protected both flanks.

A BLOODY FIGHT.

All these troops went into the fight in fine style. The 54th Massachusetts sustained the reputation they earned at Fort Wagner, and won the commendation of all who saw their splendid behavior. They fought like tigers, and so did Barton's brigade, and so did the 1st North Carolina, and so, never shrinking, never cringing, even, did the artillerists, in spite of the fearful havoc which was made in their ranks. Once a rebel double column closed en masse was deploying to form in line of battle for an attack on Elder's battery, in which the sharpshooters were making much havoc and which was temporarily unprotected, Elder brought his guns to bear on them diagonally, and mowed them down in heaps. They rallied several times, and then they ran like sheep, and this from a small battery, surrounded with dead and dying, in an almost unprotected position. It was sad to witness such terrific havoc even among our enemies. But the repulses were not all of the enemy. Sometimes they would drive us slowly back, then we would make them retreat to their works, but we could not take them. - The rebels fought splendidly, but not better than our own troops, after the first repulse. Their battle cry "Hi-hil" was responded to with defiant shouts.

A RETREAT.

But our ammunition began to run short after a fours' hour combat,- the men were wearied with their seventeen miles' march, and their afternoon of hot fighting under the warm sun. So at 7 o'clock they began to fall back, from pure exhaustion and lack of sufficient ammunition. They retreated a short distance and there formed another line, but the enemy did not follow us at all. Capt. Hamilton was wounded early in the fight, and so many of his men killed that two of his pieces had to be left from sheer inability to take them off.

Langdon lost three guns from the same cause. The enemy would not let us recover them, nor could they get possession of them themselves, up to the time when we finally withdrew. After holding this line about half an hour it was deemed advisable to retreat back to the mill beyond Sanderson. The retreat was in just as good order as the advance, and in successive lines, the mounted infantry and cavalry covering the retreat in splendid shape.

Boston Journal Report of the Battle of Olustee
FEBRUARY 24, 1864.
THE FLORIDA EXPEDITION.

The Event

This will be a different Battle of Olustee reenactment weekend.

The 1864 Florida Expedition is designed to give the campaign oriented re-enactor a unique experience and contribute to public education and preservation. It is the purpose of the organizers to create a dynamic, unique experience for the veteran and the recruit.

Preservation

The Battle of Olustee is a not for profit event. By participating in the spectator battles on Saturday and Sunday the participant will be contributing to the preservation of the Olustee Battlefield. Revenues from the admission fee charged to spectators are designated for the upkeep and improvement of the park as well as funds for improving the Visitor's Center. An ongoing project is negotiating with Plum Creek Timber Company for use of the portion of the battlefield east of U.S. 90 by the Park Service and, perhaps, eventual acquisition of the property.

Education

Civil War sites in the State of Florida are few and far between. Your participation will help educate the public as to the part the played by the State during the war. Public awareness is vitally important for the future of historic sites.

Registration

Each individual unit member must register on site. This is to afford the participant the protection of state liability protection and Worker's Compensation. We also need pre-registration for the FLORIDA EXPEDITION participants.

The volunteer understands the service of reenacting the Battle of Olustee and participating in the 1864 Florida Expedition is not for monetary compensation. Volunteer hours may be used for work experience in applying for positions with the State of Florida.

The volunteer further understands that volunteers are not considered employees of the State of Florida. Volunteers are covered by state liability protection in accordance with Chapter 768.28, F.S. and by worker's compensation in accordance with all applicable department and agency rules. No state employment, unemployment, leave, or hours of work provisions or collective bargaining agreements shall apply to volunteers. This agreement may be cancelled by either party at any time following notice of the other party. This agreement for any volunteer may be cancelled for documented violations of safety rules regulations.

The certifies that volunteers are participating in providing volunteer services described in the above volunteer agreement and that permission has been obtained from the parents of all volunteers under age 18.

These policies are for your protection and enjoyment as well the protection and enjoyment of others who attend the event.

The event coordinators reserve the right to deny registration to anyone if they feel that person will adversely effect the event. Substitutions with out prior permission will not be allowed. All those that attend the event must be registered including any approved substitutions. To be considered registered, the participate must have submitted a completed registration form.

Participant Fee

There is no fee to participate in the FLORIDA EXPEDITION. We only ask for your participation in the spectator battles.

Rations

Authentic rations will be issued to the troops at the bivouac sites. Rations will consist of: hardbread, bacon, coffee and sugar. Rations will be donated by the Olustee Citizen's Support Organization and the Blue-Grey Army of Lake City, Inc.

Ammunition

Participants are asked to bring 80 rounds of ammunition, wrapped in arsenal packs of ten.

Water

Water will be placed at the bivouac sites and along the route.

Support

The U.S.D.A, Division of Forestry and the Florida Park Service will supply medical and emergency support. The Expedition commanders will have radio contact with park personnel.

Site & General Guidelines

  1. No cutting of standing wood, live or dead.
  2. No leaving of trash in the park while on the march. If you bring it in, take it out.
  3. No digging will be allowed. Federal and State laws prohibit digging of any kind at the Olustee Battlefield State Park. You may be fined for violating this rule.
  4. No pets. Fur bearing animals (dogs and cats) are prohibited at the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park.
  5. No anachronisms: this includes modern eyeglasses, modern jewelry, wristwatches, etc.
  6. Smoking and tobacco use should be in period fashion only, such as plug tobacco and pipes.
  7. This will be a mobile event. Tents, except shelter halves, will not be practical.
  8. Rammers will not be drawn while engaged in combat.
  9. Troops may begin arriving on Thursday, February 12th, and may stay through Monday, February, 16th. All participates in the Campaign March should be on site by 10 pm on Thursday night.

The above received from James Permane, U.S. Commander, Battle of Olustee

Battle of Olustee home page
http://battleofolustee.org/