The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-11-23

tected by trenches and field works hastily
constructed. General Finegan had &c
lected this position as the best available
place at which to meet and check the
advance of the largely superior force of
Union army. While yet uncertain wheth-
er the main body of the Union army was
advancing for the purpose of forcing his
position, and while they were still several
miles from his front, General Finepan or
dered the Second Florida Cavalry. un-
der Colonel c. Smith, supported by the
Sixty-fourth Georgia, Colonel Evans, and
two companies of the Thirty second Geor-
gia, to advance until he came in contact
with the advance of the Union forces, and,
if possible, hold them in check and ascer-
tain their strength, but to avoid being
drawn into an engagement from which
he could not extricate his force; and
to fall back, if pressed, until he came
to the main body of the Confederate
forces, In position at Olustee
General Finaoan. anprehenG1inO the
probability of these troops becoming en-
gagged in renarxl action, from which
they could not be safely Withdrawn within
the intrenched lines at Olustee, rapidly
and in quick succession ordered the en-
tire command to the front to the support
of General Colquitt, and himself pro-
ceeded to the field, which was not more
than two and half or three miles from
Olustee, and was there in person direct
ing the disposition of the troops, and in
full view and observation of their con-
duct in the battle and of it's progress
He directed the position of the cavalry
on the fianks; ordered the supporting
forces to their positions directed, in per-
son, the disposition of the mounted gun
on the railroad under the command of
Captain Buckman; gave strict attention
by orders through his staff to all the de-
tails for the supply of ordinance stores !;
ordered Colonel Duncan L. Clinch's regi-
ment of cavalry to the left of the Con-
federate line; he made the same disposi-
tion of the cavalry under Colonel Cara
way Smith on the right for the same pur-
pose, and by those timely dispositions Of
his forces in all probability secured his
troops against an attack IN rear.
As soon as General Finegsn ascertained
that the result had occurred, which he had
foreseen from the first was probable, and
for which, with admirable sagscity, he
had prepared with all the means at his
command-viz: That the whole force was
drawn into a general engagement with
the entire Union army-he directed Cen
eral Colquitt to press the Union forces
and drive them if possible; while he (Gen
eral Finegan) strengthened his fanks
with the cavalry, and ordered them to ad-
vance on both wings, and at the same
time directed Captain Buckman, Chief of
Ordnance, to advance his platform gun
on the railroad as far as possible toward
the Union forces, and open upon their
lines.
1t is true that General Colquitt sent to
General Finegan for reinforcements, but
it is also true that, before his message
was received, General Finegan had or
dered the entire command to the front
and when the message was received the
renforcements had already marched, and
were about ready to report and join the
troops in front, who were then hotly en-
gagged.
1t is also true that General Finegan
sent orders, through Captains Tucker and
Bailey, of his staff, to General COlquitt
to press the Union forces with all his
power, and this order was not qualified in
any respect; but when ordering General
Colquitt to the front, and before the &C
ton had fairly commenced, he was di-
rected, in case he found the Union army
so strong as to force his troops, he should
fall back to the entrenched lines. If it is
meant by this order that General Fine
gan gave an unqualified order for the
withdrawal of the troops at any time,
either before or after the commencement
of the fight, or that he did not contem-
plate it as a probable result that our
troops would be successful in the battle,
which was then commencing, the state
ment is untrue in all respects.
General Finegan was fully advised of
the situation; and the fact that he wisely
made provision for possible reverse GER
tainly cannot furnish any reasonable
ground for even an inference that he did
not contemplate and provide for sue
cessful result.
the line with the most distinguished abil
ity, and with the high order Of courage
which had already gained for him dis
tinction in SO many hard fought fields of
the war. Nothing was wanting that lay
in the line of bis duty, or of any possible
effort on his part. He and the brave
troops he led in that hard fought battle
left nothing nndone which the highest
order of courage, discipline and soldierly
character could accomplish and, so far
as the credit Of this hard fought field is
due to these qualities, it belonged to him
and the brave men he led on that day.
But so far as it is due to the preparation
of the battIe-to the ordering ofthe troops
to the advance-to the quick understand
ing of the necessities and probable results
of the ordering of Captain Evans and
General Colqnitt's commands to the front
SO far a. it was due to the timely advance
of reinforcements, and to the strengthen
ing of the TANKS of the Confederate
forces, and their advance ON the right and
left Of the Union forces 50 far rs it was
due to the skillful, wise and vigilsnt per-
formance of all the duties of . command
ing officer of all the Confederate forces
engaged 10 the battle--shere 10 no doubt
that the credit OF the successful result Of
the battle of Ocean Pond, or Olustee, for
the Confederate arms, belongs to Briga-
der General Joseph Einegan.
Heit was who gathered the troops, se-
lected the position n Oinatee, ordered
the advance Of the troops under Colonel
Evans and General Colquitt. rapidly and
of his own motion ordered his entire COM
mand 20 the front TO be ready and pre-
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