The Yankees are Coming
"At 8 a'clock in the morning on the 20th instant
we were informed that the Yankees were
advancing. A part of the brigade was immediately
ordered to some rifle pits hastily constructed near
at hand, the remainder forming line of battle in
open field. In this position we patiently awaited
the coming of the foe for an hour, when our
General, who is a fair man, concluded to meet
halfway."
- Letter from H.W.B. Athens
Southern Banner, March 9, 1864
Marching west, the Union forces left Barber's
Plantation at 6:00 a.m., expecting to defeat the
Confederates 32 miles away in Lake City. If successful,
the Union then planned to cut off railroad
communications between east and west Florida by
destroying the railroad bridge over the Suwannee River.
Little did they know they would never make it that far.
By early afternoon the Union Cavalry had driven the
Confederate cavalry westward for several miles. As the
Union neared the railroad station at Olustee,
Confederate resistance grew stronger.
Here is where the bloody, four hour battle began.
Marker can be reached from Battlefield Trail (17 Mile Camp Road) 0.3 miles north of U.S. 90, on the left when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
