Just a little over an hour from Gainesville, Florida  is the battlefield and location of the Olustee Festival celebrated every February each year commemorating this local Civil War Battle .

The Battle of Olustee

February 20, 1864

One year after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, the largest Civil War battle in Florida occurred near Lake City Florida. The Battle of Olustee lasted for six hours in the woods close to Olustee station.

The Union army launched an expedition inward from the coastline in order to cut off supply lines to the Confederates. The Union Army was also  searching for African Americans to join their side. The Union Armies, Brigadier General Truman Seymour marched 5,000 men toward Lake City. Confederate General Joseph Finegan set up 5,200 men at Olustee to block their advance. Three regiments of African American troops fought in this battle on the Union’s side and many of these men were lost.

The Confederate troops defeated the Union Army and sent them back toward Jacksonville. The Battle of Olustee has been described as one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War. Almost 3,000 men out of the 11,000 who fought were killed.

Olustee Battlefield State Park
13 miles East on US90 - Near Olustee, Florida.
Famous site of Florida’s largest Civil War battle.  On site museum.Open Thursday - Monday 9AM to 6PM. 
Information: (386) 758-0400

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