Uncovering Olustee: Florida's Forgotten Battlefield

The Battle of Olustee was fought in Baker County, Florida on February 20, 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the largest battle fought in Florida during the war. nion General Truman Seymour had landed troops at Jacksonville, aiming chiefly to disrupt Confederate food supply. Meeting little resistance, he proceeded towards the state capital of Tallahassee, against orders, assuming that he would face only the small Florida militia. Confederates in Charleston sent reinforcements under General Alfred H. Colquitt and the two armies collided near Ocean Pond in Olustee. After 3 hours of brutal fighting, the Union forces were repulsed and retreated to Jacksonville.
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[@jakeyboy8402]

My great great grandfather E. O. Little and his older brother J. H. Little, both fought at Olustee. They were in the 27th Georgia Infantry. Thanks for this video it means a lot to me. To actually see the battlefield where they fought was humbling!

[@ProjectPast1565]

Thanks for sharing your family’s story. Love hearing about people’s ancestors. Happy to hear you enjoyed this one

[@truebeliever5233]

Awesome job. Very happy y'all produced content of this battle in our home state of Florida. Hopefully you will spotlight more Floridian battlefields in future episodes. Thank you so much for y'all's hard work in producing these videos which honor those brave souls on both sides of this tragic American conflict. It is greatly appreciated.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Thanks! Happy to hear you enjoyed it. More to come!

[@cyndiebill6631]

There are so many of these smaller battles that go unnoticed. Thank you for sharing this one. 👍😊

[@ProjectPast1565]

Completely agree. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment!

[@davidwhite9335]

I got a little boy that I'm been taken to downtown Jacksonville show him so much history. It is unbelievable.

[@t.c.stevensjr.5183]

Two of my great grandfathers fought for the Confederacy in this battle. The first was Absolem Sutley who was a member of Gambles Battery Florida Light Artillery. The other was William M. Stevens of Co. G 5th. Ga Cavalry.

[@ProjectPast1565]

I really appreciate you sharing your family’s history. I love learning about people ancestors.

[@p.k.5455]

As i have a big Civil War interest, I am so happy to find this channel!!! Thank you!!!

[@ProjectPast1565]

Happy to hear that! Plenty more on the way! Thanks for watching.

[@markpowers5907]

-That was an excellent presentation. Very few students of this battle dare to mention the atrocities committed by CSA troops against wounded United States Soldiers of the Mass 54th and the various USCT troops at Olustee You did and I commend you ! - Since April 16, 1865, The United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans sought to put forth a "sanitized" version of this battle glorifying the tactical CSA victory. - They also have made clear their intent to ignore the gallantry of the United States Army at Olustee and excuse the CSA of what today would be war crimes. Thank you for your work.

[@ProjectPast1565]

I appreciate you watching and thank you for the kind words. I try to tell history as it happened. No agenda or motive. Thanks again!

[@kennethswain6313]

I too am a life long Floridian. I know very little of this battle and Florida’s involvement. We should know more. Great job!

[@ProjectPast1565]

Happy to hear that you enjoyed the video. I learned a ton making this one.

[@vgahren]

600 men/ hour killed in this battle. That’s an insanely high rate of casualties. Tempered no doubt by the Union commander, seeing the day was lost, and retreating towards J’ville. I didn’t know about the 1st NCCT. I’m going to stop by this battlefield next time I’m passing Jacksonville. This was a great vid. Definitely never heard of Olustee battle before. Thanks for sharing.

[@ProjectPast1565]

I appreciate you watching! Despite its size, it was a pretty deadly battle. Thanks for the kind words and I’m glad you enjoyed the video.

[@ronniedeangelis5327]

Thank you for this video. I visited Olustee Battlefield State Park a few years ago . I am now just diving into the battle trying to learn as much as possible. Your video is a great starting point. So peaceful there when I visited. Hard to imagine the death and destruction that did occur. Thank you!

[@ProjectPast1565]

Happy to hear that! It’s a neat little sliver of history. Thanks for watching.

[@unbreakable7633]

My wife and I visited this battlefield in the early '90's. Very interesting.

[@jasonwilliamson8416]

I would love to visit this battlefield. I'm a Civil War junkie since elementary school. I was in the Army for 21 years. I've been to 30 different states and 13 other countries but somehow I've never set foot in the state of Florida.

[@ProjectPast1565]

It's not very big but it's such an interesting battle to learn about. They do a reenactment every February that is a great time. Thank you for your service. I served as well for 6 years.

[@davidwhite9335]

I love your history on ouluste the last time I was there. I was 9 years old. I am a history buff. I wish you could do a video on the history of Jacksonville. Our city has so much history it's unbelievable.

[@ProjectPast1565]

I appreciate that. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the video. I’ve been to Camp Milton in Jacksonville, but you’re right, so much more history there to learn and cover.

[@mattandrews8528]

You should come back to the Olustee Battlefield when we have the Olustee Festival in late February! There’s even a small mock battle reenactment, I’m from the Lake City area born n raised and still live here, the festival is one of our few cherished times of year here locally. The locals are quite proud, I pass the battlefield every time I go out to hunt the large Osceola Forest of pine and palmetto or just pass it on the way to the I-10 interstate. It’s always a sober reminder that local boys had to fight off an invading federal troop force, I pray it’s the last time that occurs. But who knows what the future holds for this little area of North Central Florida. God shall have my soul, but these thick woods of hot n humid Florida shall always have my body. And for my fellow Floridians I give the blood inside and my arms to carry. Freedom isn’t Free. God Bless Florida. God Bless America. SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

[@ProjectPast1565]

I plan on it! I live in St Augustine so it’s not that far from me. I’ve heard it’s a great reenactment.

[@mattandrews8528]

@@ProjectPast1565 Right on, St Aug is where my in-laws live, I love visiting that town to see an take in its own rich history it has. Btw we also have a little parade to go along with the booths n food that makes up our Festival, ladies dress up in Antebellum dresses and the men in their battle attire. It’s quite the little sight downtown. We have a large obelisk monument for the confederate officers/soldiers that took place in the war/battle of Olustee that sits in front of the Columbia County/Lake City courthouse where they have the festival every year. And I don’t think I’ve said it yet, but great video!

[@ProjectPast1565]

Thanks for the info! Appreciate the feedback on the video.

[@Captkman]

7th Connecticut & 7th New Hampshire, AKA The 77th New England... I'm from Connecticut, my neck of the woods became the 14th Connecticut infantry Company D.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@HistorySavior1941]

Awesome!!!!!! Ten thumbs up man!!! I love the music track too on the opening. Outstanding job bro!

[@ProjectPast1565]

Appreciate you watching! It’s such a great little battlefield. I really enjoy learning about this overlooked battle.

[@HistorySavior1941]

I would not want to be marching through palmetto thickets lol…the terrain alone was enough of a fight!

[@ProjectPast1565]

Definitely not fun 😂

[@yank-tc8bz]

I spent a very wet week end there. Marching down Main St in a down pour. Soaked to the skin in a wool kilt, Woke up in the morning with 2 feet of water in my tent.

[@ProjectPast1565]

That doesn’t sound fun at all.

[@DustinWiseM1]

Excellent video. Those woods and surrounding terrain had to make for such a difficult fight. I like how you highlighted the railway and how both sides utilized the rail. One side for bringing firepower and the other to get men to safety . The courage and determination to manually pull a train is unreal. Great touch with those highlights.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Glad to hear you enjoyed this one. It’s an overlooked battle that matched any fighting in the war in ferociousness.

[@hornet7288]

You did a great job with this video! I've been reenacting here annually for over 30 years. The terrain is challenging to traverse in a line.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Appreciate that and thanks for watching!

[@saxman7131]

I’ve been there many times including watching re-enactments of the battle.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Awesome. I’ll be at the reenactment this year.

[@John-ty6vw]

Man, your content and story telling are amazing. I had no idea there were battles in FL. Please keep up the good work!

[@ProjectPast1565]

Hey, welcome! Thanks for the kind words. I learn so much doing this and I hope you do as well.

[@andrewc2491]

So let's see...the fighting there consisted of musket fire, smoothbore, artillery, cannister, grapeshot, yelling, screaming, the insanity of war, incongruent formations, choppy terrain, perhaps the soggy patch /swamp-like environment, obscured views, and from the looks of it (and if that wasn't enough) every now and then, ya gotta believe...someone stepped on an angry SNAKE.

[@ProjectPast1565]

😂😂 you know what, I’ve never thought of that but it’s certainly a possibility!

[@jeg5438]

Don't forget spiders.

[@robertbates6057]

Yeah, that's perfect Eastern Diamondback country. Head as big as your fist. 6-8' long.

[@user-su1cl3vf9z]

Very interesting Video. Greets from Hungary.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Thanks for watching!

[@VanlifeNoonan77]

Thank You Bud for that information. I hope to visit at some point.

[@ProjectPast1565]

It’s a great little battlefield. Thanks for watching.

[@r1865]

Thanks for the very informative video! I've 'fought' in 3 of the annual reenactments at Olustee and I actually learned some things I had never known before by watching this video!

[@ProjectPast1565]

Glad you enjoyed this one! Thanks for watching

[@nunyabusiness3920]

Been there a couple times during reenactments with kids when they were in scouts.

[@ProjectPast1565]

It’s a great spot to learn. Thanks for watching!

[@jannarkiewicz633]

Thanks for the research

[@ProjectPast1565]

Thanks for watching!

[@Sonnyer01]

Thank you for making this video. I love learning about these smaller, but still significant, Civil War battles.

[@ProjectPast1565]

I do as well. They have so many other stories to learn from.

[@robertspecht1911]

Thank You for your Historical update.

[@Rkymroz]

Fabulous video. I was just there for the first time this past weekend for the 160th Anniversary reenactment and wasn't aware of a lot of what you showed and talked about, appreciate the detail. I also agree and find it very odd that someone other than the reenactors had a memorial erected for the fallen Union Army Soldiers. You mentioned the 54th pulling the train..do you happen to know where the Ten Mile Station was located? Baldwin?? From what i understand they started this train pull from there. Thank you.

[@ProjectPast1565]

I appreciate you watching! The 160th was a great time! Reenactment was very well done. I want to say that sounds right but I don’t know the exact location for certain.

[@blakelorentzson5957]

The annual reenactment of the battle is next month and will be the 160th anniversary of the battle

[@ProjectPast1565]

Yup I’ll be there!

[@allanburt5250]

Fantastic thanks for sharing with us 👍

[@ProjectPast1565]

Thanks for watching!

[@dewayneray2072]

Great video 👍

[@ProjectPast1565]

Thanks!

[@carson1861]

Awesome video... learned a lot from you. THANK YOU

[@ProjectPast1565]

Glad to hear that! Thanks for watching.

[@liberalman8319]

Keep making more videos

[@ProjectPast1565]

That’s the goal! Thanks for watching

[@kenfox22]

New subscriber. Great video

[@ProjectPast1565]

I really appreciate that. Thank you for watching

[@soxbigdog]

Most times I don't even think of any battles happening south of Georgia during the war, need to expand my mental map some. Great video.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Most of the engagements in Florida were tiny. However, Olustee was a very unique and deadly fight. Thanks for watching!

[@soxbigdog]

@@ProjectPast1565 I've read a lot on Sherman, and read that prior to heading out on the March to the Sea he had Pensacola as an option for an exit point to meet up with the Navy in case they got turned from the Atlantic coast.

[@ProjectPast1565]

@@soxbigdog that would of been an Interesting turn of events!

[@jimmyraythomason1]

My great great grandfather was in this battle. He was in the 64th Georgia Regiment CSA.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Waterkiller_AK]

Greetings from Germany! I love the American Civil War and because of my location, I cannot visit these battlefields. Thank you for sharing this video, it is much appreachiated :)

[@ProjectPast1565]

Happy to hear that! I hope my videos can help you get your civil war fix. Thanks for watching

[@jodisue741]

Thank you! I didn't know anything about this battle.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Glad you enjoyed it. Appreciate you watching!

[@jimgrimes7409]

And plenty of snakes , palmetto's are a real pain in the a_ _ to get threw I grew up here in Florida

[@emmettbell-sykes3597]

As a Black reenactor [54th Mass], I truly appreciate your respectful and even reverential treatment of the Black troops who bravely fought - with some cynicism ("...$7 a month!"😂) - in Pres Lincoln's army. 🙏🏽 Thank you

[@ProjectPast1565]

Happy to hear you enjoyed this one. Thanks for watching!

[@lcroofer]

Home...

[@asuperstraightpureblood]

Spent many hours navigating in these saw palmetto thickets. It's everything you would imagine it is, plus holes in the ground.

[@ProjectPast1565]

My ankle is hurting just thinking about that.

[@astaboy]

I was there just last year with Garry Adelman and Co.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Dang, I wish I would’ve known he was there

[@2104dogface]

being from MA i feel bad as i totally over looked that the 54th has taken part in this battle. as a reenactor i'am proud to see a unit step up to honor the fallen.

[@ProjectPast1565]

I think it’s awesome that group put up that monument. That was a great gesture on their part.

[@TheArmchairEmperor]

Excellent video! I don't know a whole lot about Florida history being from the northeast. Have you done any videos on the War of Jenkins Ear? I'd be interested in that. Also I'm not sure which parts of Florida have alligators, are there any at that battlefield?

[@ProjectPast1565]

Appreciate that man. I’ve been to Fort Frederica for a visit. The video should be on my page somewhere. Also I’ve been to fort king George. I think you’d like those spots. As far as alligators, they are pretty much everywhere there is fresh water. Even have some crocs in south Florida area.

[@TheArmchairEmperor]

@@ProjectPast1565 Shelby has an aunt in Florida, good excuse for a "family visit" aka Shelby visits family while I run around and visit historic sites!

[@ProjectPast1565]

Perfect! I live near St Augustine and we have tons of history here. Most from the 1700s. Here is fort Frederica in Georgia. It touches on the War of Jenkins Ear. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4iYpoRvadiHZ9k

[@TheArmchairEmperor]

@@ProjectPast1565 so no alligator 🐊 there?

[@ProjectPast1565]

In St Augustine we have a place called the alligator farm 😂. I’m Georgia has some gators as well

[@raymccarty4612]

Nobody has forgotten this battle. It is reenacted every year. The true forgotten story is that of the skirmish that happened on properties, mine included, when the Union Army started to cross at the Ford at the south fork of the St Mary's River. The skirmish ended up in Harper's Weekly.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Nobody? Just because it’s re-enacted every year doesn’t mean everyone knows about it. Plenty of people have no idea about this battle, including those interested in civil war history. Making it largely forgotten.

[@zachv1942]

There is a Battle that happened in Tampa on Bayshore. Literally all you get is a historical marker.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Really?! I know something similar happened in Gainesville. Just a lonely marker. I believe a small cavalry skirmish.

[@robertbates6057]

You mentioned that the Union soldiers were buried in a mass grave by Confederates. That beats how the Union just left Confederate bodies on the field. Great great grandson of a 16th IL Volunteer.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Both armies buried the enemies dead, and both left them. War is a terrible thing

[@michaelkane3326]

Im in Jacksonville Florida.I love Civil War History.I had some Ancestors that fought in the War of 1812,and Civil War.Im into Paranormal stuff,isn’t Old Luste Haunted?

[@ProjectPast1565]

Glad to hear that! I’m located in St Augustine. I haven’t experienced anything there so I wouldn’t know.

[@michaelkane3326]

@@ProjectPast1565 I lived and worked in Saint Augustine for 8 yrs.Liked the town.Used to be a Ghost Augustine Tour Guide.Used to work at Cafe Heldago,under Sangarias.If your ever by there,go in ask for Scott,tell him Sasquatch said hi.All the food/Gellato is made from. Scratch.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Oh cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@pelonehedd7631]

No mention made of the 54th Massachusetts’s pulling a broke down locomotive and its train cars full of wounded to safety .

[@ProjectPast1565]

You should watch again. 17:28

[@michaeljenkins4895]

Hot and humid not likely in North Florida in Febuary.

[@ProjectPast1565]

More common than you think. One day it’s 50, the next day it’s 80 here.

[@hokehinson5987]

Over lookedby post war historians those forest were full of hard woods hickoy, oaks, even walnut. The pines you see now are pulp wood pines replanted after the northern folks came thru and cut down all the hard wood for their furniture factories. These folks pretty much raped the forest thru Alabama & Mississippi too. Much of florida down to just south of dizzyworld was thick in hard woods & pine red pine...not the scrawny pulp wood & scrub wood pines seen today...thank you international paper Co.

[@user-nr4fc7ds3f]

It's haunted I've been there check the cemetery out next to it

[@user-nr4fc7ds3f]

Ross's stepping on a mass grave

[@JamesGoetzke]

I'm from Florida. Trust me that is snake country. Coral. Rattlesnakes. And in wet areas Cottonmouth. Not a good place for a Yankee.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Absolutely. I was constantly scanning the paths. I wonder if anyone was bit before or during the battle.

[@johndesalvo3348]

The chances of NORTH Florida being "hot and humid in mid to late Feb are extremely rare. The 4 times I have been to Re-enactments in Feb have been mild to chilly. Avg lows in 40s with highs in 60s are normal. People like the "host" making ASSANINE comments are why so many out of state folks have silly misconceptions about Florida and support ignorant people's idea that All of Florida is Tropical like San Juan or Kingston. So when a Yankee visits Tallahassee in mid to late fall and sees ACTUAL FALL COLORS, A "nip" in the air, "mountainous" hills and red clay, Hoodie needed at night and some days...well their false imaginings come crashing down and stunned disbelief sets in as a group of ditsy spring breakers head to Panama Beach the FIRST WEEK OF MARCH thinking everyday would be like Honolulu in winter...are given a reity crash course as a late season powerful Arctic blast came storming through and did not stop until even Havana's weather was affected by unusual cool weather. The ditsy blonde "Ohioins" what came thinking Cancun but arrived to weather moretypical of Ohio than most uneducated think. The broads brought thin long sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans as they heard oy nights and early morning get cool enough on rare occasion so shocked were they when Their first day's temps failed to top 47 degrees with lows ranging from 27 to 31 with stiff breezes the day felt like upper 20s to 33 all day with only the final two days of one week Trip rising above 70 and 72 the last day...with night s in 40s andow 50s last couple nights. Firs three days highs ranged from 47 to 55 with chilly to cold nights... Some of the women what were in the College group from FAR FLUNG OHIO.... we're so devastated and stunned they actually CRIED and sobbed In Disbelief as the realization set in that All those postcards falsely representing ALL Florida with Coconut-Palms.- lined Beaches with Carribean -blue-like.ocean/Surf...South Carolinians are experiencing how it feels to feel the wind and the comfortable Sunny 73 degrees..but under one sun..using two suns prea nted no benefits for Vets. Decent camping ..might try a Yurt next time.

[@ProjectPast1565]

1. If you listen carefully I said “IMAGINE your a union soldier marching through the hot humid Florida forests” It’s a hypothetical situation. I think the problem with the average temperature stat is it’s just that, the average temperature for the entire month. What that doesn’t account for is it being a high of 40 one day and the next it’s a high of 80. Large temperature swings like that are fairly common. Technically those 2 days have an average temperature of 60. So it’s a bit misleading. In February of this year in Olustee, 9 days were in the 80s. Another 4 were at 79 degrees. That’s almost half the month pretty warm in February and now add some humidity. Now add wool uniforms, fully loaded down with equipment and marching from Jacksonville to Olustee, then fighting a battle. It would be pretty warm and exhausting. So not as rare as you are insinuating.

[@johndesalvo3348]

@@ProjectPast1565 When it does get warm Nov through April in most of Florida... ESPECIALLY North Florida...the humidity is normally low ... NOTHING like Summer humidity. If it is a sunny 80 degrees in North fl in winter the humidity level is normally low...sometimes dangerously low. I have seen it as low as 12 percent but upper teens to upper 30's humidity percentage is the norm.

[@johndesalvo3348]

@@ProjectPast1565 Or you can look back to 2010 Winter when Tallahassee and other Panhandle towns had a colder winter than Seattle. Last year when sleet fell in SOUTH FLORIDA days leading up to Christmas. Last year several panhandle cities saw highs around 32 -35 in days before Christmas. I have been to Olustee reenactments about a dozen times and have experienced highs ranging from upper 30s to low 80s with upper 50's - upper 60s the most frequent high temps but 38 to 82 the extremes.

[@fourtomidnight]

You never even talked about the Florida brigade in your Gettysburg video. And you only talk about the north in this video.Also Florida was in the confederacy,they put up a monument for the Floridians that fought for the south.

[@ProjectPast1565]

That’s because Im making a video just on the Florida brigade at Gettysburg (I walked their charge on day 2 during the 160th) and that’s not true at all. Guess you missed the part I talked about the confederate positions and when they ran out of ammo.

[@fourtomidnight]

@@ProjectPast1565 I forgive you than

[@ProjectPast1565]

@fourtomidnight I also covered Florida’s actions on Shy’s Hill in Nashville.

[@michaelsullivan2554]

Because it was a Confederate victory, the federal government wasn't going to contribute much. Had they won the battle, things would have been different.

[@ProjectPast1565]

What about the federal monuments/markers at Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chickamauga and countless other places the Union lost?

[@michaelsullivan2554]

@@ProjectPast1565 larger

[@michaelsullivan2554]

@@ProjectPast1565 maybe they were larger battles closer to DC. Might get more attention from the public possibly especially post-war in near the war's end? I think I've already heard of a lefty being one of those lost battles. So wouldn't surprise me if they forgot to erect a monument in the pines. I mean that's part of the start of the civil war is the North neglecting the south except to tax it and put export duties on cotton headed to Europe. We paid for highways that were only in the north. The South used the rivers for their commerce.

[@michaelsullivan2554]

@@ProjectPast1565 forgive what looks like a rant from me please. I use the microphone and did not go back and look at what my trusty phone had pounded out. Thanks for your hard work. I know it takes a lot of digging and organizing to put on a video.

[@ProjectPast1565]

I’m all for debate and discussion. I appreciate you watching and you made some good points about the proximity to DC. It’s definitely weird about how the north didn’t have a monument at Olustee for a long time.

[@user-rj5wq6vl3r]

Similar to Russia invading Ukraine this battle is about a foreign army invading someone else's land. This video seems to be heavily sympathetic to the invaders who came to kill and conqueror. Perhaps the maker of this video would enjoy traveling to Ukraine and telling the heroic stories of the brave Russian men who invaded Ukraine.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Clearly the writer of this comment has no ability to keep his personal bias or feelings out of history. I simply just told the stories that unfolded during this battle including the Confederate regiment that ran out of ammunition and held it’s ground. This is also a weird way of accusing someone of being patriotic 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@williamstuhldreher2466]

Dude, had to stop watching. Way too amateurish and horribly described.

[@ProjectPast1565]

Dude, that’s okay. Everyone has different preferences and opinions. I’m an ordinary guy wondering around battlefields with a camera. It’s the definition of amateur.