Report of Captain John M. Guerard,
commanding Guerard's Light Artillery, on the
engagement at Olustee, Florida
HEADQUARTERS GUERARD'S LIGHT ARTILLERY,
Camp in the Field, February 22, 1864.
COLONEL: I have the honor to report that this command carried into the
engagement of 20th instant 67 rank and file and 2 commissioned [officers], and
that it met with no casualties. The number present for duty is 87.
My battery went into the action by sections. The left section was first
ordered forward and went under my own command. It was assigned a position by
Brigadier-General Colquitt on the extreme right of the line, with orders not
to fire unless the enemy advanced. It marched forward in the prolongation of
the line as the latter was advanced, being constantly exposed to a severe
fire, which it was not permitted to return. Lieutenant Lewis was with me in
the section. The officers and men present with it behaved with commendable
coolness under the trying circumstances mentioned.
The right section, under the command of Lieutenant Gignilliat, entered the
field at a later period. It was posted in the center of the line and was
fortunate enough to take position at the crisis of the engagement. The section
of the Chatham Artillery which first took position had exhausted its
ammunition and was enabled to maintain its fire only by a supply from the
chests of my section. Lieutenant Gignilliat, though for the first time exposed
to fire, managed his section with skill and coolness. He reports that the
conduct of his non-commissioned officers and men was deserving of praise.
I am, colonel, with great respect,
JOHN M. GUERARD,
Captain, Commanding
Col. R.B. THOMAS,
Chief of Artillery
Copied from The Official Records of the War of Rebellion.