~~~ Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park in Florida ~~~

This was our last night in Olustee & Lake City... We decided to go into town to the Mexican Restaurant and meet up with my cousin to say our farewells... She is so sad to see us go, however I think it is Alyssah she'll really miss the most... She spoiled her as much as her Memaw would... Here is Aunt Mary & Alyssah at the restaurant and Alyssah sporting the Beach backpack with a towel, goggles, frisbee, skim board and other beach goodies in it... Uncle Tuck brought her over a pair of swim fins so she'll be able to swim in the gulf & ponds we visit... And of course I had to show you my yummy dinner... Oh and the Margarita (2nd one) that I sucked down...

I wanted to share with you the pictures and a brief history from our day at the Olustee Battlefield. It is a very haunting place to visit as are many of the Civil War Battlefields

Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park

This park commemorates the site of Florida's largest Civil War battle, which took place February 20, 1864. More than 10,000 cavalry, infantry, and artillery troops fought a five-hour battle in a pine forest near Olustee. Three U.S. Colored Troops took part in the battle, including the now famous 54th Massachusetts. The battle ended with 2,807 casualties and the retreat of Union troops to Jacksonville until the wars end just 14 months later. In 1912, when many living Civil War veterans still attended reunions, the battlefield became the state's first historic site. Olustee Battlefield has a visitor center with historical information and artifacts. A reenactment is held every February and a Civil War Expo takes place in late summer. Scenes for Civil War movies, including the 1989 movie Glory, have been filmed during the reenactments. You can take a walk along a mile-long trail that has interpretive signs describing the events of the battle. Located two miles east of Olustee on U.S. 90.

Entrance to the park and the memorial monument

Entrance to cemetery and the cross where they buried many Union

Soldiers whose bodies where never claimed

Fence around battlefield and the burial place of the Union Soldiers again

Field in the park with a cannon and Gates into the park

The reenactment is held in February the weekend before Presidents Day every year. There is a parade in town (Lake City) on Saturday, entertainment and booths with crafts & food... Then out at the battlefield (Olustee) there is 3 days of battles, an encampment set up for both the grey & blue sides... It is all so very interesting to see how the camps were set up and how they lived during those times. You can purchase many items including clothes from that era. If you have never been there for this historic re-enactment you need to go... Also in September they have a Civil War Expo where you can visit with the reinactors and see the ways of the life back during the civil war... Very entertaining and historic.

Here are some pictures we took when we were here a couple of years ago during the weekend of the re-enactment...

Hope you enjoyed this post... Our next stop will be at the

Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna, Florida.

There we will be spelunking into some caves .

Until Later