I will say that it featured nearly 40% casualties on the Union side, one of the highest losses of the war. Also, nearly half the Union forces are colored troops including the "Glory"ous 54th Mass., which by the way did admirable service covering the unorganized retreat of the army after the battle. I will also mention the 8 US colored troop; without any previous training, most of the soldiers had never fired their rifles before, and the confederates quickly picked off the white leaders within the unit. Still, this unit stayed on the field and watched white units flee leaving it exposed. It suffered grevious losses.
Map for the Olustee Battle, I used 38" to the mile (45yds per inch) and set up this map in a 9' by 6' table, however if you are limited to a smaller size than modify the map or use map2.
Olustee Battle Map at 12:40 pm
Secondary map- position later in the day
I recommend the first map for those with the space since it allows for the feel of the "meeting engagement" and does not lock the commanders into following the historical path as much. I also recommend using 20 minutes per turn time scale. Then, use roads are roads, trails are normal 12" speed in column (artillery in X1.5" to keep up), normal ground is half speed, and swamp is cover and one-third speed.
The Union must capture the rail line across the table and continue on to Lake City (and Tallahassee), Seymour is undertaking this advance on his own responsibility and a non-decisive battle will cost him his job. (Gillmore will yank him in). Success means that Lincoln will try to form a loyal Government of Florida and bring it back into the Union.
The Confederates have received a loan of a full brigade of Beauregard's finest (formerly of the A of NV), Colquitt. Thus, Colquitt is looking to force a decisive engagement and kick the Yankees back so that he can return with his troops to help Charleston SC. They must force a Union retreat and drive the Yanks off the map (eventually at least)
A draw (which should be treated as a loss for each side since higher commanders are not going to be pleased) occurs if neither sides pushes the other back.
Note: Colquitt can command any Ga regiment within his radius, but no unit may receive a bonus from both him and Finegan on the same turn.
CSA Order of Battle for Olustee Florida (Ocean Pond) February 20, 1864
scale 100 men /4 guns per stand.
Finegan 1 Division Ldr 2pm
Colquitt (E) 1 Brigade Ldr
6 Ga 6/5/3 at start
19 Ga 6/4/2 at start
23 Ga 6/5/3 1 pm
27 Ga 6/5/3 1 pm
28 Ga 5/4/3 at start
6 FL Bttn too small
Chatham 1 art. gun 1pm
Harrison 1 Brigade Ldr 2 pm
32 Ga Vol. 8/7/5 2pm
1st Ga Reg 7/6/4 2pm
64th Ga 6/5/4 at start
1st FL Bttn 3/-/2 2pm
Guerard 1 art. gun 2pm
Smith Cav 5/4/3 at start skirmish and running from the 7 conn
1 Reserve Art. Gun - Gamble
Union Order of Battle
Truman Seymour- 1 Division Ldr
Henry Cav. 3/-/2 in front of the 7 conn
1 Horse Gun
Hamilton- 3 Art. Guns in column after Barton's brigade
Barton- 1 Brigade Ldr
47 NY 8/6/4
48 NY 8/6/4
115 NY 9/7/5
Hawley- 1 Brigade Ldr with the 7 Conn
7 Conn 4/3/2
7 NH 7/6/4
8 USCT 6/5/4
Montgomery - 1 Brigade Ldr 2:40 pm
1st NC colored 5/4/3 2:40
54th Mass-Glory 5/3/2 2:40