Initial Report of Brigadier General Joseph
Finegan,
commanding Confederate Forces,
on the engagement at
Olustee
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF EAST FLORIDA,
Sanderson, February 23, 1864.
GENERAL: I had the honor to report by telegraph that the enemy had abandoned
his position at Barber's place, on the Little Saint Mary's River. I pressed
forward my cavalry force last night in the direction of Baldwin. I have
received no report from them yet, but think that the enemy has abandoned
Baldwin and retired to Jacksonville. The enemy destroyed the railroad at
this place for about three-quarters of a mile, burning a portion of the iron.
This delays my movements one day. I occupy Barber's place this morning with
my infantry, and my cavalry are in the vicinity of Baldwin. From all that I
can learn the enemy suffered severely in the late engagement and are greatly
demoralized. The reports of brigade and regimental commanders are not yet
in. I will forward my report as soon as those are received. I have several
hundred of the enemy's wounded, white and black. I am unable to state the
exact number at present, as the ambulances were still engaged in removing
them from the field when I left Ocean Pond yesterday morning.
Great credit is due Brigadier-General Colquitt, Colonel Harrison, and the
officers and men of their several commands for their distinguished bravery
in the late engagement against superior numbers. I will take pleasure in
bringing the names of the officers more particularly to the notice of the
commanding general in my detailed report.
Colonel Anderson, with the Fifth Georgia Cavalry, has not yet arrived. If I
had had a sufficient cavalry force I could have captured a very large number
of the enemy, as their rout was complete. I respectfully request that a full
supply of ammunition for this command be forwarded as soon as possible. The
ordnance office has urged it forward for several days, but it has not yet
arrived. Not a single man of my command was captured by the enemy, so far
as I can learn.
I have forwarded 150 prisoners (not wounded) to Major-General Gilmer, with a
request that he would dispose of them as the commanding general may direct.
Among them are 3 negroes. What shall I do with the large number of the
enemy's wounded in my hands? Many of these are negroes. I have one major, of
the First North Carolina (negro) Regiment, and some other officers. A
complete list will be forwarded as soon as it can be prepared.
The returns will show that I will have more wounded than I at first
supposed
. The list will probably reach between 600 and 700, 300 or 400 of
whom will be fit for duty in a few weeks, being but slight flesh wounds. I
think that we encountered nearly the entire force of the enemy in this
district.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH FINEGAN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Brig. Gen. THOMAS JORDAN,
Chief of Staff, Charleston, S.C.
Copied from The Official Records of the War of Rebellion.
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