00:00Today, we're taking a closer look at the dramatic and crucial moments in Florida's past in the Civil War, the
00:07Battle of Olustee.
00:09Olustee is between Jacksonville and Tallahassee in North Florida.
00:15This wasn't just the largest Civil War battle in Florida.
00:18It was a turning point in the Florida Confederacy that brought national issues like state rights, slaveries, and the role
00:28of black soldiers in the military into sharp focus.
00:31And it all happened right here in your own backyard.
00:36Now, obviously, in 1861, Florida was very proud to be the third state that seceded from the Union, the Confederacy.
00:41Whether your family has deep roots in the South, or if you're just starting to call Florida home, this battle
00:48tells a story that touches all of us, not only then, but even now.
00:53It's a story of strategy and sacrifice of a divided nation and people from both sides who believed in what
01:00they were fighting for.
01:01They believed they were fighting for something greater than themselves.
01:04So let's explore the landscape, the leaders, and the legacy of the Battle of Olustee, and why this one moment
01:11in Florida history still echoes today.
01:15I'm Realtor Scott Garrison, real estate agent with REMAX Town & Country, Orlando's number one real estate company.
01:22I've been helping families find homes here, around here in Central Florida for over 35 years.
01:28But more than that, I live here.
01:30I grew up here.
01:31I went to Winter Park High School many, many years ago, and then later from the University of Central Florida
01:37with several degrees.
01:38This place, Central Florida, and Florida in general, is home to me.
01:42So when I share stories like this, it comes from a place of genuine connection with the history that connects
01:49us to the present.
01:50So let's talk about the actual Battle of Olustee, which took place on February 20th, 1864, the largest Civil War
01:58battle fought in Florida.
02:00Understanding this event helps us appreciate both the complexity and the legacy of Florida's role in the Civil War.
02:06The Civil War started in 1861.
02:08By 1864, the Civil War was, of course, in full swing, if not winding down.
02:14President Lincoln's Union forces were working to weaken the Confederacy by targeting its resources and transportation route.
02:23Florida, though smaller in population, was important to the South for supplying beef, salt, and all the other essentials that
02:31kept the war effort going a little farther north.
02:34Union troops, led by General Truman Seymour for the north, marched west from Jacksonville with around 5,500 soldiers, including
02:44three regiments of black troops.
02:47The 54th Massachusetts, the 7th and 8th U.S. Colored Infantry.
02:52These soldiers were not only fighting for the Union, but also for the hope of freedom and recognition.
02:58So on the South, the Confederacy side, there was approximately 5,000 Confederate troops that were deployed under Confederate General
03:08Joseph Finnegan,
03:09who was primarily composed of local Floridians and some Georgians.
03:14Remember, Olustee is real close to Georgia.
03:16Their mission was defend Florida's interior and prevent the Union from advancing towards the capital of Florida, Tallahassee.
03:25Outside of Tallahassee, well outside, the two forces clashed near Olustee Station, which is a railroad stop about 40 miles
03:32west of Jacksonville.
03:34The fighting lasted five intense hours.
03:37The Union forces started strong, but were eventually pushed back.
03:41Poor planning, tough terrain, and strong Confederate resistance, including effective artillery fire, pushed the tide in the favor of the
03:50South.
03:50The Union suffered about 1,861 casualties, instead of 5,500 total soldiers, while the Confederates lost around 946 soldiers
04:01out of 5,000.
04:03Both sides endured significant hardship.
04:06The battle ended with the Union forces retreating back to Jacksonville, but they still had succeeded in drawing the Southern
04:13troops and resources away from other parts of the war, which was really their goal.
04:18So, who won the Battle of Olustee?
04:21The Confederacy held the field, and they stopped the Union's inland push, saving Tallahassee.
04:27But the Union had strategic goals, like disrupting supplies and forcing the South to divert forces, which they accomplished mostly,
04:35or at least in part.
04:37It's also important to note the bravery of the Black Union soldiers, many of whom faced not only combat, but
04:44the threat of poor treatment or execution if they were captured by the Confederacy by the South.
04:50Their role in Olustee is a powerful reminder of how the Civil War is not just about politics and territory,
04:56but was also about the future of freedom in this country.
04:59Florida's decision to leave the Union in January of 1861 was influenced by a mix of beliefs.
05:04Some Floridians strongly supported states' rights, a principle rooted in the idea that the states and not the national government
05:14should make their own laws, that they should be ruled by the home state and not by some faraway government.
05:20But let's be honest, those rights were often centered more around maintaining slavery, which was also deeply tied to Florida's
05:27economy, especially among the wealthly landowners.
05:32It's also true that most Confederates, most people in the South, did not own slaves.
05:37Many were ordinary people fighting for their home, their neighbors, and a way of life that they were taught to
05:43protect, even if that way of life was deeply shaped by a system of slavery.
05:47But we also can't ignore that slavery was at the heart of the Southern economy, and much of the conflict
05:53was about that.
05:54Throughout the war, Florida continued to supply the Confederacy with cattle and salt.
06:00Union naval forces on the coast tried to block these efforts with coastal patrols and raids.
06:05The smaller battles and clashes occurred across the state, including in Tampa, Gainesville, and Tallahassee.
06:12One of the final battles, we'll call it the second large battle in Florida, the Civil War, the Battle of
06:19Natural Bridge, saw Confederate forces, including local soldiers and students from what would become Florida State University, successfully defend the
06:28capital.
06:29As a result, our capital, Tallahassee, was the only southern capital east of the Mississippi that was not captured by
06:37Union forces at the end of the war.
06:39After the war, things didn't get any easier for a lot of Floridians.
06:44Even though slavery had ended, the period of Reconstruction brought new challenges.
06:48Many black Floridians faced discrimination and violence.
06:51When federal troops left and Jim Crow laws came in several years after the Civil War, it got even harder,
06:58particularly on the black residents.
07:00But out of that hardship came resilience.
07:03Towns like Eatonville, founded in 1867, become havens for black Floridians to govern themselves and build strong communities.
07:11These towns are still a vital part of the Florida story.
07:14So that's the story of the Battle of Oleste, not just a battle, but a powerful portrait of a nation
07:20in conflict and transformation.
07:21It's a story of struggle, of bravery, of loss and resilience.
07:26And no matter where your roots lie, it's part of the shared history that shapes the land that we all
07:31call home today.
07:33Thanks for joining me on this journey through time.
07:35If you enjoyed this video, give it a like right now, share it, or drop your thoughts in the comments.
07:41I'd love to hear your own Florida stories.
07:44And of course, if you're ever looking for a top realtor here in Central Florida, someone who knows these communities
07:49inside and out, not just by the map, but by the memories and the moments that define them, you know
07:55who to call.
07:55I'm Scott Garrison, your local realtor with over 35 years of full-time experience helping people buy, sell, and discover
08:02the heart of their community.
08:03Call me.
08:05From historians to homebuyers, I'm here to help you locate your place in the Florida story.
08:10Until next time, stay curious, stay connected, and I'll see you on the next video.
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