Final Report of Brig.
General Joseph
Finegan,
commanding Confederate Forces,
final report on the
engagement at Olustee
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF EAST FLORIDA,
In the Field, 12 miles from Jacksonville, February 26, 1864.
GENERAL: For the information of the commanding general I have the honor to
report that on the evening of February 7 the enemy landed at Jacksonville,
from eighteen transports and gun-boats, a large force of cavalry, artillery,
and infantry, which was largely augmented by arrivals on the 8th instant. On
the receipt of this intelligence I immediately notified Lieutenant-Colonel
McCormick, commanding an effective force of near 350 men, of all arms, at
Camp Finegan, to guard against a surprise, advising him that I would join the
command as soon as I had issued the necessary orders for collecting my widely
scattered troops and dispatched telegrams and letters for re-enforcements.
On the night of the 8th instant, the enemy advanced from Jacksonville with
great rapidity in three heavy columns, cavalry in the advance, artillery and
infantry following, under command of Brigadier-General Seymour. They approached Camp Finegan as the command there were in the act of retiring. Their largely superior numbers deterred Lieutenant-Colonel McCormick, commanding, from attacking them, and in the darkness of the night he withdrew his command with caution and address and joined me at Camp
Beauregard, near Ocean Pond, on the Olustee, on the 13th instant. The enemy
with celerity pressed on to Baldwin, capturing on their way 5 guns of
Companies A and B, Milton Light Artillery, which had been ordered to Baldwin.
Reached Baldwin at daylight on the 9th instant. Remaining a short time, they
continued on to Barber's the same night. At this point they were met on the
10th instant by two companies of cavalry under Maj. Robert Harrison, Second
Florida Cavalry
, whom I had ordered to join me, and who, with much gallantry,
checked their progress for several hours at the Saint Mary's Crossing, with
but small loss to us and a considerable loss to the enemy.
On the 9th instant, I removed all the Government stores from Sanderson,
except 1,500 bushels corn, which was burned under my orders.
On the 10th, the enemy reached Sanderson. On the 11th instant, they were
within 3 miles of Lake City. Here I had hastily collected, principally from
the District of Middle Florida, a small force of 490 infantry, 110 cavalry,
and two pieces of artillery. On the night of the 10th, I placed this force in
a favorable position, 2 1/2 miles from Lake City, in the direction of the
enemy. At 9.30 the enemy advanced upon us with a force estimated to be 1,400
mounted infantry and five pieces of artillery. Here they opened upon us,
fighting as infantry, and skirmished heavily with my advance line.
Discovering my position and its strength, and probably presuming my force
larger than it was, they retreated to Sanderson, thence to Barber's, on the
east bank of the Saint Mary's, where they constructed field-works and
concentrated their whole force for a final movement on Lake City.
In the mean time I used every possible effort to gather re-enforcements, and
on the 13th, moved to Ocean Pond, on Olustee, 13 miles from Lake City, and
occupied the only strong position between Lake City and Barber's. Here I had
field-works thrown up, and for several days, with a force less than 2,000
strong, awaited the enemy's advance.
In this time my command was increased by the arrival of re-en-forcements,
and I organized the command as follows: The Sixth, Nineteenth, Twenty-third,
Twenty-seventh, and Twenty-eighth Georgia Regiments Infantry and Sixth
Florida Battalion Infantry
, as the First Brigade, under the command of
Brigadier-General Colquitt, with the Chatham Artillery (four guns) attached.
The Thirty-second Georgia Volunteers, First Georgia Regulars, Sixty-fourth
Georgia Volunteers
, First Florida Battalion, and Bonaud's battalion, as the
Second Brigade, under command of Col. George P. Harrison, Thirty-second
Georgia Volunteers, with Guerard's light battery attached, the Florida Light
Artillery being held in reserve. I assigned Col. R. B. Thomas, C. S. Army, to
duty as chief of artillery, and organized the cavalry into a brigade, under
the command of Col. Caraway Smith, Second Florida Cavalry, my whole effective
force being as follows: Infantry, 4,600; cavalry, less than 600; artillery, 3
batteries--twelve guns.
On the 20th instant, the enemy advanced in three columns, since ascertained
to have been twelve regiments of infantry (nine of white troops and three of
black), estimated at 8,000, and some artillery (number of guns unknown), and
1,400 cavalry. At 12 m., the enemy were within 3 miles of my position. I
ordered the cavalry, under Col. C. Smith, Second Florida Cavalry, supported
by the Sixty-fourth Georgia, Colonel Evans commanding, and two companies of
the Thirty-second Georgia, to advance and skirmish with the enemy and draw
them to our works. The remaining force was placed under arms and prepared
for action. Apprehending that the enemy was too cautious to approach our
works, I ordered Brigadier-General Colquitt, commanding First Brigade, to
advance with three of his regiments and a section of Gamble's artillery, and
assume command of the entire force then ordered to the front and feel the
enemy by skirmishing, and if he was not in too heavy force to press him
heavily. I had previously instructed Colonel Smith, commanding cavalry, to
fall back as our infantry advanced and protect their flanks. This movement
was predicated on the information that the enemy had only three regiments of
infantry, with some cavalry and artillery. Perceiving that in this movement
the force under Brigadier-General Colquitt's command might become too heavily
engaged to withdraw without a large supporting force, and intending that if
the enemy should prove to be in not too great strength to engage them, I
ordered in quick succession, within the space of an hour, the whole command
to advance to the front as a supporting force, and myself went upon the field.
These re-enforcements were pushed rapidly forward, and, as I anticipated,
reached the field at the moment when the line was most heavily pressed, and
at a time when their presence gave confidence to our men and discouragement
to the enemy.
I directed Lieutenant-Colonel Hopkins, commanding First Florida Battalion,
and Major Bonaud, commanding Bonaud's battalion, to fall into line on the
left in the direction of the enemy's heaviest firing. After I had ordered
these re-enforcements, and they were some distance on the way to the front,
and while I was myself on the way to the front, I received from
Brigadier-General Colquitt, commanding in the front, a request for the re-enforcements which had already been ordered.
The engagement became general very soon after its commencement. The enemy
were found in heavy force, their infantry drawn up in three supporting lines,
their artillery in position, cavalry on their flanks and rear. I ordered
Brigadier-General Colquitt to press them with vigor, which he did with much
judgment and gallantry. They contested the ground stubbornly, and the battle
lasted for four and a half hours. At the end of this time, the enemy's lines
having been broken and reformed several times, and two fine Napoleon and
three 10-pounder Parrott guns and one set of colors captured from them, they
gave way entirely, and were closely pressed for 3 miles until night-fall. I
directed Brigadier-General Colquitt to continue the pursuit, intending to
occupy Sanderson that night; but in deference to his suggestion of the fatigue
of the troops, the absence of rations, and the disadvantages of the pursuit
in the dark, and in consequence of a report from an advanced cavalry picket
that the enemy had halted for the night and taken a position (which was
subsequently ascertained to be incorrect), I withdrew the order. During the
continuance of the battle, also after the enemy had given way, I sent
repeated orders to Colonel Smith, commanding cavalry, to press the enemy on
his flanks and to continue in the pursuit. But through some misapprehension
these orders failed to be executed by him, and only two small companies on
the left, and these but for a short distance, followed the enemy.
The enemy retreated that night, hastily and in some confusion, to Sanderson,
leaving a large number of their killed and wounded in our possession on the
field. Their loss in killed, both officers and men, was large. Four hundred
and eighteen of their wounded were removed by us from the field, and 400, or
near that number, of their killed were buried by us; also nearly 200
prisoners were captured; several officers of high rank were killed and others
severely wounded. Their loss cannot be less than 2,000 or 2,500 men, 5
superior guns, I set of colors captured, and 1,600 stand of arms; also
130,000 rounds cartridges (damaged by having been thrown into water), as
appears by the report of the ordnance officer, herewith inclosed.
The victory was complete and the enemy retired in rapid retreat, evacuating
in quick succession Barber's and Baldwin, and falling back on Jacksonville.
The enemy's forces were under command of Brig. Gen. T. Seymour, who was
present on the field.
The conduct of Brigadier-General Colquitt entitles him to high commendation.
He exhibited ability in the formation of his line and gallantry in his
advance on the enemy. I have also to speak most favorably of Col. George P.
Harrison
, commanding Second Brigade, who exhibited in the engagement all the
qualities of a capable and efficient officer. Col. R. B. Thomas, as chief of
artillery, likewise rendered efficient service on the field. Colonel Evans,
commanding Sixty- fourth Georgia Volunteers
, and Col. Duncan L. Clinch,
commanding Fourth Georgia Cavalry
, were wounded while bravely performing
their duty. Lieutenant-Colonel Barrow, Sixty-fourth Georgia Volunteers, and
Captain Cannon, commanding, and Lieutenant Dancy, of the First Georgia
Regulars
; also Lieutenant Holland, commanding detachment from conscript camp,
all officers of high promise, were killed.
Among the killed and wounded were many other officers and men who had
distinguished themselves on other fields, for a detailed statement of whom,
and for instances of individual merit, I refer to the reports of the brigade
commanders. Our loss in the engagement was 93 killed and 841 wounded, a large
proportion very slightly.
In the opening of the engagement the cavalry, under command of Colonel
Smith, skirmished with the enemy with spirit and retired to the flanks in
obedience to their orders.
On the 22d instant, having repaired the railroad so as to secure my
supplies, I advanced the command to Sanderson, pushing the cavalry rapidly in
the direction of the enemy, and from Sanderson to Barber's, and thence to
Baldwin and to this place, 12 miles from Jacksonville, where my further
progress was arrested by orders from Brigadier-General Gardner, who had been
directed to assume command, by whom I was here for the first time officially
notified that the command had been transferred. My efforts and those of my
officers for the organization and concentration of a force adequate to meet
the enemy's superior numbers, and to check them in their rapid advance, were
incessant and arduous. I have the gratification of reporting to the
commanding general that while I continued in command they were successful. I
transfer the army to my successor well supplied with forage and subsistence,
well organized and armed, and deficient only in ordnance stores, for which
timely requisitions were made, and which are now on their way.
Respectfully submitted.
Brig. Gen. THOMAS JORDAN,
Chief of Staff, Charleston, S.C.
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