The Battle of Olustee

On a frosty morning, February 20, 1864, the federal forces gathered outside Lake City, Florida, with the purpose to procure agriculture products and food, to obtain recruits and to force the allegiance of Florida to the Union.
Local Confederate forces, along with forces from Georgia equally determined to preserve and protect their commodities, banded together at Olustee, considering it their most defensible position.
Under the command of Brigadier General Joseph Finegan the battle began with Confederate advance, Calvary forces luring Federals toward the primary defenses.
Straight and narrow pine trees stood at somber attention on this Olustee field, with heavy fighting around them, beginning early in the afternoon and ending at dusk.
The momentum shifted back and forth and back again. By the cover of nightfall, the Federals retreated. The victory was clearly the Confederates. The only victory the Confederate forces had in the state of Florida.
Each February, in the vast timberland that is Baker County, those who remember, join professional "War Between the States" reenactors in commemorating this historic moment and in celebrating the accomplishments seeded by those spirited pioneers.

Below are a couple of video clips that I had taken at last year's festival. The festival is taking place again this weekend and I will be posting pics on Sunday.

*remember to turn the autoplay off of my main page theme song. :-)