The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-20
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
Feb TO- S64-Th Battle of 0se Ocean Pond which $500 Fed
erals Were Defeated by Slightly Inferior Force of Conede Was
Fought on a Swamp-git Field in Northern Florida
owritten expressly for The IIeraldJ

sixteen pieces of artillery Passing
| through Baldwin, TO BARRIERS planta-
ton on the south fork OF the st.
Msrys River, the command moved
thence on the morning of February 20.
toward Olustee. After a march of ff-
| teen miles Col Henry's cavalry Came
in contact with Confederate pickets a
few miles east of olustee about p.
m. Supported by the Seventh Com
| necticut, the Federal advance drove
! in the Confederate outposts and soon
were engaged with a strong force.
The Troops Engaged.
The troops which the Federals en-
countered were under Brig. Gen. Jo-
seph Finegan. Confederate commander
of the district of East Florida. When
the Federals landed at Jacksonville
he had telegraphed for reinforcements
to Charleston, where Gen. G. 7. Beau
regard. the department commander,
made his headquarters. Several thou
sand men had been sent to Florida.
part Of whom had already Joined Gen
Finegan.
His force now consisted of the brig
ade of Brig. Gen. Alfred II. Colquitt.
the brigade OF Col George p. Harrison.
jr.. and the cavalry brigade of Col. Car
away Smith. This command numbered
1900 infantry. 452 cavalry and three
batteries twelSe guns).
The Federal force consisted of Col. Will
lam B. Barton's brigade, the ll5th, Forty
seventh and Forty-eighth New York Regi-
ments; Col. Joseph r. Hawley's brigade.
the Seventh Connecticut, and Seventh
New Hampshire Volunteers. and Eighth
United States Colored Regiment: Col
James Montgomery's command. the
First North Carolina Ccolored) and
Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Ccolored)
Volunteers; Col Guy v. Henry's COM
mand. tho Fortieth Massachusetts,
Mounted Infantry. Battery 3, First
United States Horse Artillery. and the
Independent Battalion. Massachusetts,
Cavalry. and Capt. John Hamilton's
command. Battery Z. Third United
States Artillery, with a detachment of
York Infantry attached. Battery NJ.
First United States Artillery, and Bat
terry c. Second Rhode Island Artillery.
Regiments Move to Rear.
After the first brush between the
Federals and the Confederates on the
plains near Olustee. Gen. Seymour
threw the bulk of his command into
the fray. Gen. Finegan likewise
brought up his full force and the bat
tie became general
In the first fighting both sides held
their ground without suffering any
great loss. Then Gen. Seymour de-
termined TO drive the Confederates
back by a flank movement He sent
the Seventh New Hampshire to the
right and the Eighth United States
colored troops to the left. under or
ders to attack as soon as they reached
a favorable position.
As the New Hampshire Regiment moved
forward IL came under the heavy fire of
the enemy. broke in confusion, and in 1
spite of the efforts Of its officers, made
its way to the rear. The colored troops,
under Col Charles W. Fribley. also
yielded ground under fire of the Con-
federate batteries after the fall OF their
gallant leader
Col. Barton's Brigade now was thrown
in to stem the tide OF advancing Con-
federates. who followed closely upon the
heels of retreating regiments and
brought their batteries to play with tell !
ing effect upon the broken Federal ranks |
The entire Union line was falling back, |
the cavalry guarding its tanks and the |
unbroken regiments maintaining a front |
against the enemy.
Died to Hold Colors.
Six guns of HamiIton's battery were
abandoned on the field in spite Of the |
gallant efforts of the Eighth Colored |
Regiment to save them. The color |
OF the regiment. which was |
most prominent in the fight around the |
guns, lost thirty of its forty-three men, |
Five of the color guards and three ser
Geants, who at different times seized the |
rolors. while attempting to save the bat
terry, lost their lives. Finally when the /
position became too hot to hold, the negro |
troops fell back. but in the excitement
Of the moment. failed to carry the regi- !
mental flag from the field. The national |
coiors were saved.
Fighting continued until dusk At night |
tail the Federals began a rapid retreat,