RBM
Senior Member
Olustee was the big battle in FL. Most of the others were minor engagements. Jacksonville was held by the Federals for most of the war after a FL artillery unit was overrun by large Federal units. South FL was also held by the Federals for most of the war coming up from Key West. They established Ft. Myers late in the war. A Federal fort put there with a garrison to burn and pillage local ranches that supplied the Army of Tennessee with beef cattle. Efforts to remove the Federals and its sympathizers from the fort late in the war was thwarted and not what I would call an organized and concerted effort. Olustee was about keeping open that supply line of beef cattle from the Ft. Myers area. The Federals sent a large force from Jacksonville with the intent to cut the rail line and march on Tallahassee. Their efforts failed as Beauregard and Milton sent in more than enough troops and artillery to deal with the Jacksonville Federals. After defeating the Federals, not many prisoners were taken. There was bayoneting of wounded Federals in the field including black troops. Bad blood was the reason and the Fort Pillow Tennessee incident where Forrest's Southern POWs were executed by the Federal officers and black troops of the fort. Some of the infantry claimed to have some kin that were executed at Fort Pillow. Olustee after action reports of officers that tried to stop but could not control the infantry troops. It was a black eye on an otherwise clear cut strategic victory.
