Reconstruction Florida: Quick Links and References

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Surveying the Archaeology of Olustee

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Greetings, this week we are examining the history of the landscape prior to the battle and the 1994 archaeological survey of the Olustee Battlefield as it relates to the missing Union dead.  The origin of the survey is credited to the Olustee Battlefield Citizens Support Organization (CSO), with financing provided by the Bureau of Historica Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, along with early CSO support (Penton and Leigh III, 4). Daniel T. Penton, the Principal Investigator, stressed in the report that the survey was primarily focused on properly denominating the battlefield and assisting in the long-range interpretation of the site (Ibid). Initially, the report summarizes the location and physical setting of the battlefield. The principal survey area was south of Ocean Pond and east of the actual Town of Olustee (Ibid, 6). The geological range varies between "Central Highlands" elevations greater than 100 feet, mean sea level (msl), ...
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Concluding the 1994 Survey of Olustee

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Greetings, this week we analyze more of Daniel T. Penton's original comments about the Olustee battlefield in 1994 and add new first-hand accounts to the Olustee narrative. Pictured: the site of the battle at Olustee. Photo courtesy of the Author, 2021. The full reconnaissance level survey was a cumulative endeavor by Penton and the  Olustee Battlefield Citizens Support Organization (CSO). Many historical documents from private collections, artifacts, funding, and relevant secondary sources stemmed from the members of the CSO. In fact, the CSO prides itself as the "watchdog" organization of Olustee; to both protect and improve for future generations. As such, both Penton and Leigh sought to include whatever they could from the CSO when undertaking their massive field survey. One aspect of the project saw the archaeologists canvassing more than the "site" of the final battle (where the Park is today). Instead, they also included substantial subsurface testing of ...
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The USCT of Olustee and the Aftermath of the Battle

Greetings, today we explore some witness testimonies at the Battle of Olustee and its aftermath. As was described in previous posts, the combatants that met at Olustee consisted of roughly the same number of Confederate and Union men. Just over 5,000 soldiers made up the Union forces and consisted of segregated regiments. The Confederates had roughly the same without segregated units. The US Colored Troops (USCT), a now historical term that is indicative of the social dilemmas plaguing freedmen and black veterans at the time, were largely represented by the 54th Massacheussats, 35th USCT, and the 8th USCT at Olustee.  Unlike its more famous partner, the 54th Mass., the 35th USCT had not seen combat before battling at Olustee. Most of the unit's men were ex-slaves from Virginia and the Carolinas while its officers came primarily from the North (35th USCT letter from Col. Beecher).  "I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of communications 9th inst directing me to assume comman...
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