The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-25

small works, six feet long covered with
earth. The left of the line as laid out
rested on Ocean Pond, a sheet of wa
! ter some four miles long and two and
a half miles wide, a secure protection
on the left. In frcat and to the left
of the railroad was an open pond
about $50 yards wide extending TO
about 300 yards of Ocean Pond
OIustee.
While we were working on this line
of breastworks and getting ready for
defense at OIustee the battle was most
unexpectedly brought on two and q
quarter miles in advance of the posi-
ton selected. Early in the morning
the enemy left their position on Saint
Mary's river and advanced in forceeone
column by the railroad and the other
by the Lake City and Jacksonville
road, about 10 miles. Their cavalry
had previously been as far as Lake
City when a skirmish took place. they
reporting no body Of troops found.
In the meantime Gen. Beauregard
had collected at Olustee 1000 veterans
On the morning of the goth Gen. Fine
gan. hearing of the advance of tie
enemy, ordered the 64th Georgia to the
front and they were soon engaged with
the enemy, two miles from Olustee.
who were advancing in three columns.
Gen ColQuitt seeing it was necessary
to reinforce the 64th Georgia, brought
up the 9Th, 28th and 18th Georgia, with
two guns from Gambles's battery. de-
ployed these regiments in line of battle
and opened the fight. Acting Briga-
der General Harrison arriving with
the 32nd Georgia, 1st Georgia and 6th
Florida and with four pieces of Whea-
tons battery. our line was reformed
and advanced, driving the enemy from
their position. Tie horses of Cam
bless battery became so FESTIVE and
unmanageable they had to retire.
Now the enemy tried to flank us on
our left but failed on their lack ~
knowledge of the ground. hney he
came entangled in the large bay gall,
swamp and were forced to retire, our
men cheering on the right, drove in
their left and captured five guns.
The men in line called for more ann
munition and the 9th Georgia, LIST
Florida and Ronands battalion having
come up, were placed in front to hold
the enemy in check while ammunition
was being distributed. Guerards bat
terry also came UP and formed on the
left of Wheaton's guns. The battle at
this stage had been going on about
three hours and every niche of ground
contested. The battlefield was open
piney woods except a pond where the
fighting was very severe. Our men
ran the enemy full two miles to the
branch, when it got too dark, but the
cavalary kept up pursuit for a few
miles. The negro regiment on the left
and in front suffered and the killed
and wounded We're abandoned by the
enemy the wounded lying about in
great numbers.
Captain Wheaton, of the Chatham
artillery, says he went into action,
with so men. He opened by firing %
rounds at the enemy. then ordered to
advance. taking position in rear of the
centre of our lines This battery was
engaged till close of action, expending
all their ammunition except some can
lister. one horse killed. three wounded
and three men wounded.
Capt. Gamble, of the Leon artillery.
says: Il went into action with n
men and officers. l had two horses
killed and seven wounded.
Colonel Harrison of the 32nd Geor-
gia infantry, says: Being placed in
charge of the brigade to support Gen,
Colquitt / ordered the men to move
fast crossing the railroad and formed
in line. The fight now became gen
eral and We continued to advance to
Within zoe wards of the enemy, who
stood their ground for about one hour,
when they gave way slowly. Soon an
other line of the enemy was formed
and our advance was checked. For 20
minutes the enemy was more stubborn
imam before ana our 3nlnuDlLl0n was
running short, in fact, many of my
command for fifteen minutes stood
their ground after running out of am
munition. l dismounted myself and
with some of my staff and couriers
proceeded to a car about half mile
ahead that held ammunition We made
several trips and succeeded in sup
plying my line, enabling them to open
an effective fire on the enemy. Under
instructions, l now threw forward the
9Th and 32nd Georgia, who were on
the extreme left of our line to flank
the enemy, exposing them to a cross
fire. This caused them to retreat
slowly at first, and driving them till
dark set in.
cavalary, says: Il received orders to
advance and feel the enemy and find
out his intentions and number. |
hastily collected $50 men of the 4tl
Georgia and 200 men of the End Flor
i'd a cavalry and found the enemy
about four miles and engaged his
pickets / then divided the command,
ordering the 4th Georgia cavalry to
the left and the End Florida under
Lieut.. Col Mccormick to the extreme
right. The fight ended at dark but We
continued to follow The enemy some
distance and picked up some $50 pris
oners."
zen. Il 1Oe5dn say On the nlSDL
of February Sth the enemy advanced
from Jacksonville in three heavy col
umns. Our cavalry at Camp FTn1gan
deemed it wise to retire before the
superior force, which they did, and
joining me at Camp Beauregard near
Ocean Pond on the 18th The enemy
proceeded on to Baldwin, capturing
five guns of companies a and B, Mil
ton artillery. on the 10th the enemy
reached Sanderson and on the 18th
were within three miles of Lake City.
"On the night of the 10th we had 4
smart skirmish. l had collected about
490 infantry, 10 cavalary and two
guns and placed them in fayora BILE po-
sition about two and one half miles
from Lake City. At 9: so on the morn
ing Of the 18th the enemy attacked me
with about 1,400 men, mounted infan-
try and FIVE guns. Discovering my
position to be stronger and presuming
my force to be stronger than his. he
retreated to Sanderson, then to Bar
bers on the east bank of ST Mary
river, constructing earthworks In the
meantime I had field works thrown up.
On the Goth the enemy advanced in
three columns, about twelve regiments.
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