Battle of Olustee

[kipt]

The Battle of Olustee, Florida:  2/20/1864, fought on 8/12/23.

In February, the Confederate commander (BG Finegan) in this area discovered that a Federal movement from Jacksonville was happening.  BG Seymour, the Federal commander, pushed west from Jacksonville and skirmished with the Confederates. Finegan retreated, waiting for reinforcements from Lee's army.

Upon the arrival of a brigade under BG Colquitt, Finegan prepared a position with entrenchments and sent his cavalry out to draw the Federals onto his entrenchments.  Impatient, Finegan advanced Colquitt's brigade.



Seymour had his cavalry in advance and supported them with the 7th Connecticut, armed with repeaters, and a horse battery.  He also had the 7th New Hampshire and the 8th USCT advance and deploy at the edge of the light woods.  The 7th advanced into the open.





And this is where our game begins. Three Confederate players (Didier as Finegan [CO] and COL Smith, commanding the small cavalry brigade [2 units]; Tom as Colquitt [6 reg & 2 btys] and Bruce as  COL Harrison [5 reg & 1 bty]) and three Union players (Allan as Seymour [CO and 1 bty} and COL Hawley [4 reg], George as COL Montgomery [2 reg] and Col Henry [1 cav reg and 1 mounted inf reg] and Jon as COL Barton [3 reg & 1 bty]).  Myself as referee/umpire/rules adjudicator.  The game starts at 2:30 with the Confederates moving first.  We are using Regimental Fire and Fury by Rich Hasenauer.

The terrain is flat, with an open area where the opposing forces meet, surrounded by open woods, swamps, and marshy ground.  Two roads and a railroad going east/west are in the middle of the area.  Forces are Union: 5,080 troops and 16 guns; Confederate 4,760 troops and 12 guns. 
Confederates coming from the west and Union from the east.

Finegan's initial orders to Colquitt and Smith were to attack and push the Yankees back.  He was not on the field at that point, but was moving on the road coming from the west.  Colquitt's brigade advanced and two of Col Harrison's regiments, the 28th Georgia Heavy Artillery (acting as infantry), and the 64th Georgia that was in Colquitt's brigade line, traded fire with the Union 7th Connecticut, who were armed with repeating rifles.  Both of the Rebel units took losses and were disordered, as was the 7th CT.





COL Smith was with his 4th Georgia cavalry on the left flank, skirting the swamp.  His other regiment, the 2nd Florida, was on the Rebel right flank and started moving to join the cavalry together.

The Union position at the tree line just east of the open area, has battery B/1st US (horse artillery) supported on the left flank by the dismounted Independent Massachusetts Cavalry Battalion and on the far right by the dismounted 40th Massachusetts Mounted Infantry.  Filing up and unlimbering on the horse battery's right flank was Hamilton's battery of 6 guns, E/3rd US.  Also on the road were 2 battalions of the 7th New Hampshire.

There was discussion by the Union staff on the advisability of falling back and forming on the upcoming 7th NH.  BG Seymour would not hear of it and said we will hold the line as is.
The Rebels charged ahead, into the 7th CT.  The 64th GA in front, supported by the 6th GA.  The fire from the repeating rifles of the 7th CT was withering, causing losses to the 64th GA and stopping their charge.





Two regiments of Colquitt's brigade were rapidly advancing to the right, attempting to flank the Union line in the woods.  Gamble's battery unlimbered behind the advancing Confederates.  The Rebel infantry and the dismounted Union cavalry traded fire, disordering the cavalry, who also went low on ammunition.  Return fire against the 28th GA Hvy Arty by Union guns and rifles was withering, causing losses, and disordering them.  The 8th USCT fired at the 19th GA, causing losses and disordering them also.

COL Harrison, with the 1st GA Regulars, the 32nd GA and one section of Guerard's battery was rapidly advancing behind Colquitt's units.

Firing in this period saw more casualties on both sides, with the Confederates suffering about twice as many as the Union, who had the protection of the tree line.  However, the 7th CT, taking more losses, finally broke and ran to safety behind the 8th USCT
Coming up the road on the Union side, Langdon's battery, M/1st US of 6 Napoleon's, was hurrying to the combat at the wood line. 

On the Rebel left, COL Smith, leading the 4th GA Cavalry, charged the dismounted 40th MA Mounted Infantry, who were armed with Springfield rifles.  As gallant as the charge was, it was repulsed with loss.



Both of the Union horse units mounted up, the MA Independent Battalion supporting the battery B/1st US in the middle of the line and the 40th MA holding the right of the line, preparing to support Langdon's battery and the 2nd battalion of the 7th NH who were rapidly moving to the right flank.  The 1st battalion of the 7th NH moved to the left flank to shore up that line. 
At his point the Union line in the trees consisted of, from right to left:2nd/7th NH, Langdon's battery, Hamilton's battery, Elders horse battery, the  1/7th NH and the 8th USCT.
Colquitt's units on the Confederate right flank fell back and unmasked their guns of Gamble's battery.



The musketry and artillery fire were rapidly diminishing the Rebel forces but not as many in the Union line.  Troops on both sides were being disordered and then just as rapidly were back to order; officers yelling, pushing men back into ranks, encouraging.

Additional Union troops were still rushing to support the fight.  Barton's brigade was moving to shore up the right flank.



COL Smith's other regiment, the 2nd Florida, joined the other half of the brigade on the left. The 40th MA charged and the charged the 2nd FL countercharged.



At first the fight was even, but ultimately the Rebel horse repulsed the mounted infantry, who retreated disordered back through the2/7th NH, disordering them as well.
At 3:30, the fight having lasted an hour so far (4 turns), BG Finegan arrives, with the remainder of Colquitt's and Harrison's regiments.  He actively orders his brigade commanders to attack, attack!  Rebel charges, Union gun and musketry fires, cavalry countercharges causes immense casualties to both sides.

 
 





To no avail, the Confederates gallantly assail the Union line, but it holds, leaving the Confederates no option to retreat and regroup at the fortifications they left earlier in the day.

So we ended the battle.  Very hard fought on both sides with lots of action.  We decided to refight it in the future. Aggressive Rebel attacks, stubborn Union holding the original line.

(Can anyone see alligators in the swamp?  There are a few in some pictures).

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Nice report

[DecemDave]

Lovely looking game. 

[fred.]

Great looking game - nice big units!

I did spot the alligators - but only after you mentioned them.

[Steve J]

Cracking game and lovely terrain too .

[paulr]

    

[pierre the shy]

Good stuff Kipt, your set up looks fantastic 

[Ithoriel]

Excellent and enjoyable AAR on the game and some great pictures of a lovely looking game. Thanks for posting this.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Superb report and game. Love it