Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-07

From the BdSleY (Gdl. Banner.
While in Florida few weeks ago we
visited the Olustee battlefield. which is
about two miles east OF Olustee station,
on the old Florida Central railroad.
This was one of the hardest fights in
Florida, and all things considered, it was
q most terrible battle. The federals
started from Jacksonville TO so through
Florida, something like Sherman went
through Georgia. About 5000 federals
under Gen. Seymour, left Jacksonville
for Tallahassee. They had gone but
forty-tve or fifty miles on their Journey
when they were met by Gen. Finegan
and Gen. Colquitt. The former was at
the station two miles away, while the
latter was on the field with his men.
The battle ground is an open pine fiat,
covered in part by low palmettoes. This
afforded no shelter for either party, and
they fell thick aud fast on both sides. In
the heat Of battle, ammunition gave out
and messenger was sent two miles to
headquarters, but our men waited brave
ly. Finegan ordered them to fall back
to the breastworks, but still they faced
the enemy. Ammunition arrived and n
shOu6 went up along the line OF battle
which made every heart throb with JOY
and burn with true patriotism. Again
word came from Finegan "Fall back to
NAN
MY men do not know what you mean,
sir" and still the fury Of battle increased.
Men fell dead on every side. The cavalry
were ordered on the right. They maze a
move, but in trying TO cross the Ocean
pond many of their horses begged up and
the riders were compelled to leave them
and wade out through mud and water.
But the last came, and 1000 boys from
Georgia and Florida whipped out 5000
ia IL Toe.
was severe; about 1900 were killed. The
Federals had pushed company Of col
ored men in front, nearly all Of whom
were killed.
But the worst il to come. The south
ern boys were so enraged at having a
drove OF negroes to fight, that many of
them went on the battle field and killed
the wounded with knots ana chunks of
wood. A very large, man was stood up
like brute, near the raj road where all
who passed could see him. Hundreds lay
on the battle field and were devoured by
hogs and buzzards. A stencil rose up
from the field which spread for miles
away. The p cture is too bad to paint just
as it was and we leave it for the imagina-
ton TO complete.
How desOlate the place looks, even now
to one who is acquainted with the facts
above. The same old pine trees with their
shattered limbs and SCARED bodies that
stood in the midst of the battle, still stand
like silent sentines amid the scene OF
carnage. Thousands pass this historic
place without any knowledge OF being on
such blOOk-stained ground.
Most OF our people have heard OF the
''Hero OF Olustee," Gov. COlquitt. 1t was
here that he made his name. Gen. Fine
gan has recently died. He was brave
and good man.
Several gentlemen from this county
were in the fight. A gentleman from
Coffee county told us few days ago
that he lost his horse in the Ocean
pond.
The gentleman who was arrested for
killing dead negroes, then a little boy
now lives in SandersOn Fla.
A Mr.. Brown lives on the little farm In
the middle OF the battle ground.
We counted as many as twelvs bullet
holes in single tree, and were snc-
cessiul enough to get one bullet as war
relic,