THE NEGRO IN THE AMERICAN REBELLION, “Battle of Olustee, Florida,” by William Wells Brown (BiblioLife, LLC: 1867, 1923) pp. 217-218, 220--224.
“The battle of Olustee was fought in a swamp situated thirty-five miles west of Jacksonville, and four miles from Sanderson, in the State of Florida. The expedition was under the immediate command of Gen. C. Seymour, and consisted of the Seventh New Hampshire, Seventh Connecticut… Eighth United-States (colored) Battery, Third United States Artillery, Fifty-fourth Massachusetts (colored), and the First North-Carolina (colored). The command having rested on the night of the 19th of February…took up its line of march on the 20th and proceeded to Sanderson…
“The Eighth (colored), which had never been in battle, and which had been recruited but a few weeks…met with a most shower of musketry and shell. Gen. Seymour now came up, and pointing in front toward the railroad, said to Col. Fribley, commander of the Eighth, ‘Take your regiment in there,’—a place that was sufficiently hot to make the oldest and most field-worn veterans tremble, and yet these men, who had never heard the sound of cannon before, rushed in where they commenced dropping like grass before the sickle; still on they went without faltering, until they came within two hundred yards of the enemy’s strongest works…
“They were compelled to leave the battery, and failed to bring the flag away. The battery fell into the enemy’s hands…
“Up to this time, neither the First North Carolina nor the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts had taken part in the fight, as they were in the rear some distance…
“The First North Carolina was in light marching order; the Fifty-fourth was in heavy marching order, with knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, and every other appurtenance of the soldier. But off went everything as they double-quicked on to the field. At the most critical juncture, just as the rebels were preparing for a simultaneous charge along the whole line, and they captured our artillery and turned it upon us, Col. James Montgomery, Col. Hallowell, and Lieut-Col. Hooper formed our line of battle on right by file into line.
“The Fifty-fourth went in first, with a cheer. They were followed by the First North Carolina (Colored). Lieut-Col. Reed, in command, headed the regiment, sword in hand and charged upon the rebels… But the two colored regiments had stood in the gap, and saved the army! The Fifty-fourth Massachusetts, which, with the First North Carolina, may truly be said to have saved the forces from utter route, lost eighty men…
“It is well known that the general in command came to the colonel and said, ‘The day is lost, you must do what you can to save the army from destruction.’ And nobly did they obey him. They fired their guns till their ammunition was exhausted, and then stood with fixed bayonets till the broken columns had time to retreat, and though once entirely outflanked, the enemy getting sixty yards in the rear, then undaunted front and loud cheering caused the enemy to pause, and allowed them time to change front. They occupied the position as rear guard all the way to Jacksonville, and, wherever was the post of danger, there was the Fifty-fourth to be found.
“When the forces arrived at Jacksonville, they there learned that the train containing the wounded was at Ten Mile Station, where it had been left, owing to the breaking down of the engine. The Fifty-fourth Massachusetts, fatigued and worn out as it was, was dispatched at once, late at night, to the assistance of the disabled train. Arriving at Ten-Mile Station, they found that the only way to bring the wounded with them was to attach ropes to the cars, and let the men act as motive power. Thus the whole train of cars containing the wounded from the battle of Olustee was dragged a distance of ten miles by that brave colored regiment…
“A letter from Beaufort, dated February 26, from a gentleman who accompanied Gen. Seymour’s expedition, has the following passage relative to the conduct of the Fifty-fourth in the repulse in Florida—
“A word about the terrible defeat in Florida. We have been driven from Lake City to within seven miles of Jacksonville,--fifty-three miles. The rebels here allowed us to penetrate, and then, with our ten to one, cut us off, meaning to ‘bag’ us; and, had it not been for the glorious Fifty-fourth, the whole brigade would have been captured or annihilated. This was the only regiment that rallied, broke the rebel ranks, and saved us. The Eighth United States (Colored) lost their flag twice, and the Fifty-fourth recaptured it each time. They had lost in killed and missing, about three hundred and fifty. They would not retreat when ordered, but charged with the most fearful desperation, driving the enemy before them, and turning their left flank. If this regiment has not won glory enough to have shoulder straps, where is there one that ever did?”
“The battle of Olustee was fought in a swamp situated thirty-five miles west of Jacksonville, and four miles from Sanderson, in the State of Florida. The expedition was under the immediate command of Gen. C. Seymour, and consisted of the Seventh New Hampshire, Seventh Connecticut… Eighth United-States (colored) Battery, Third United States Artillery, Fifty-fourth Massachusetts (colored), and the First North-Carolina (colored). The command having rested on the night of the 19th of February…took up its line of march on the 20th and proceeded to Sanderson…
“The Eighth (colored), which had never been in battle, and which had been recruited but a few weeks…met with a most shower of musketry and shell. Gen. Seymour now came up, and pointing in front toward the railroad, said to Col. Fribley, commander of the Eighth, ‘Take your regiment in there,’—a place that was sufficiently hot to make the oldest and most field-worn veterans tremble, and yet these men, who had never heard the sound of cannon before, rushed in where they commenced dropping like grass before the sickle; still on they went without faltering, until they came within two hundred yards of the enemy’s strongest works…
“They were compelled to leave the battery, and failed to bring the flag away. The battery fell into the enemy’s hands…
“Up to this time, neither the First North Carolina nor the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts had taken part in the fight, as they were in the rear some distance…
“The First North Carolina was in light marching order; the Fifty-fourth was in heavy marching order, with knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, and every other appurtenance of the soldier. But off went everything as they double-quicked on to the field. At the most critical juncture, just as the rebels were preparing for a simultaneous charge along the whole line, and they captured our artillery and turned it upon us, Col. James Montgomery, Col. Hallowell, and Lieut-Col. Hooper formed our line of battle on right by file into line.
“The Fifty-fourth went in first, with a cheer. They were followed by the First North Carolina (Colored). Lieut-Col. Reed, in command, headed the regiment, sword in hand and charged upon the rebels… But the two colored regiments had stood in the gap, and saved the army! The Fifty-fourth Massachusetts, which, with the First North Carolina, may truly be said to have saved the forces from utter route, lost eighty men…
“It is well known that the general in command came to the colonel and said, ‘The day is lost, you must do what you can to save the army from destruction.’ And nobly did they obey him. They fired their guns till their ammunition was exhausted, and then stood with fixed bayonets till the broken columns had time to retreat, and though once entirely outflanked, the enemy getting sixty yards in the rear, then undaunted front and loud cheering caused the enemy to pause, and allowed them time to change front. They occupied the position as rear guard all the way to Jacksonville, and, wherever was the post of danger, there was the Fifty-fourth to be found.
“When the forces arrived at Jacksonville, they there learned that the train containing the wounded was at Ten Mile Station, where it had been left, owing to the breaking down of the engine. The Fifty-fourth Massachusetts, fatigued and worn out as it was, was dispatched at once, late at night, to the assistance of the disabled train. Arriving at Ten-Mile Station, they found that the only way to bring the wounded with them was to attach ropes to the cars, and let the men act as motive power. Thus the whole train of cars containing the wounded from the battle of Olustee was dragged a distance of ten miles by that brave colored regiment…
“A letter from Beaufort, dated February 26, from a gentleman who accompanied Gen. Seymour’s expedition, has the following passage relative to the conduct of the Fifty-fourth in the repulse in Florida—
“A word about the terrible defeat in Florida. We have been driven from Lake City to within seven miles of Jacksonville,--fifty-three miles. The rebels here allowed us to penetrate, and then, with our ten to one, cut us off, meaning to ‘bag’ us; and, had it not been for the glorious Fifty-fourth, the whole brigade would have been captured or annihilated. This was the only regiment that rallied, broke the rebel ranks, and saved us. The Eighth United States (Colored) lost their flag twice, and the Fifty-fourth recaptured it each time. They had lost in killed and missing, about three hundred and fifty. They would not retreat when ordered, but charged with the most fearful desperation, driving the enemy before them, and turning their left flank. If this regiment has not won glory enough to have shoulder straps, where is there one that ever did?”
