Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-02
BATTLE OF OLUSTREE, FLORIDA.
IProm Ire Lake CITY Colllmbian.
CAMP BEAUREGARD, Fla, I
February 9Oth, 1884. I

CAMP BEAURKGARD, Fla,
February 2Oth, 1884.
The great bat lie Of East Florida has been fought and
another glorious victory has been won by cur gallant
soldieiy.
Atan carly hour tsS forenoon &C uriers arrived At
Dstr.c Headquar win the intelligence that the
euemy seven thousand strong, uCder command Of hsj
General Gilmore had passed the village of Sander5On
en- route for toe interior Of this ate. No sooner VS.
the intslEg euee~eomnuniclted than cavalry force
composed y detachuen.s OF ;he Georgia, Colonel
0hnot; % florida cavalry, Lieutenant Colonel H.
Mccormick, and SCOTS battalion, Major g. W. Scott,
all uader the command of Colonel CarraWay Smith, I'd
Florida cavalry preceded forward with the VleE Of
ascertAininE the SrergLh and position Of the enemy
The command OF Colonel Smi proceeded to point
near the Florida COotTs Railroad about ghteen miles
cas-. Of Lake City, where they encountered the advances
guard Of the enemy. With view OF drawing him
Learer 10 this point where sdVAn Ggeou3 position
for our troops bad been selected Col Sml Ekrmished
slightly with the enemy aud retiring towards this point
In exec leot Crd.r.
stroy tie railroad upon his line Of march, and to forth
y himself at point about Ave miles east Of this place.
General Fuegan ordered to tie front the o4h Georgia
regiment Colonel Evans; B2i Georgia Major Holland;
STA Geo ga, Colonel Lotion; 9th Georgia, Colonel
Ziehary 1t Georgia Regulars Captain GreAv es Bonius
6al,AlOn, Major BonAU; lst Florida Special BAttHl on
Lieut. Col III pkins; oh Florida Battalion, hBj
Bird; 2ssh Georgia, Maj Crawford l0.h Georgia, Col
ONeal; 211 Georgia Lieut. Col higgins; Florida Light
ARTILLERY, Captain Gamble; Chatham Artillery, Captain
Wheaton; aud GuerAros BIttery. These brave and gal
LIANT men, under tNe command Of Brig Gen Oolqui T.
and Acting Brig Gems George Harrison, S2i Ga, aad
CarASsy Smith, 81 Cavalry, uR commanded by Brig
Gen JOseph Flnegan, advanced promptly and W5h firm
AID steady step rest the advance oil the enemy Who
bad determined celebrate WashingtOns birth cay in
Lake City AID 10 avenge that pace for the resistance
offered 0W days previously.
The ont of the commanded by
Asjor General 81 more tba. the field undsr the
immediate command Of Major General Seymour, who,
as your readers will remember was Captain under
ksJOr Anderson, az the time Re surrendered Fort Sum-
ter 10 General BssGregard.
Your correspondent participated in the battles round
Redmond, and upon the Peninsula, as no did in this
and is prepared 70 that be never witnessed
stubbOrny contested field and in this opinion be is
6rmed BY the testimony Of veteran soldiers, whose
poi her, toiore have been she sdniraton OF their
eoOntrymen, and have given name aod iamo TO South
ern proves aud VAlor
when within proper distances Of tie enemy, our ar
tillery, under the command Ct Col Thomas opened
heavy and determined FIRE upon them. Toe artillery
Of the enemy responded brsky, but with little eff ct
oOmI ared that Of ours. Very soon after the COM
cement Of the artillery duel heavy vOeys of
kerry poured in the enemys lines by our troops
VOley after voey reverb rated through t1e air. with
nausht bat the yes and hreks Of ouFVetOi.us heroes
10 relieve rs mCnotony.
The engagement lasted upwards OF four hours dur.
ing about three OF which the enemy contested inch by
inch very maufully the advance of our troops. At
length lag y increased numbers engaged in an unhoy
and uurghteoCs crusade, compelled 10 succumb aAd
TO hse before the superior proves and chivary Of
Southern and Southern hearts The enc was driven
10 confusion and disorder long disaJ oe beyond the
field Of csrnsgs lowing 10 their hasty gut all their
killed, and neRsly all their wounded.
The result Of this glorious achievement Of our troors
may be summed up thus: The enemys loss, in killed,
wounded and prisoners, is tWenty-eight tnad ed one
stand Of eOloI two excellent Nap ,leOn aad three fine
S--eh life guns, fifteen hundred stand of arms and
vast quantity OF ordnance, qusrtermastsls and conms
says stores Our entire loss is about seventy We Led
and four hurdrtd and fifty wounded.