A Walk In The Park

Location: Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park

BY JOHN O’MARA

Must See

A few minutes’ drive from the battlefield site is another park, Olustee Beach at Ocean Pond. The near-perfectly round lake features a neatly maintained sandy beach surrounded by a broad lawn dotted with picnic pavilions, charcoal grills, a playground and a bath house complete with showers. A boat ramp and dock are usually humming with fishermen coming and going. There’s also a bit of history here, as the lake and surrounding woods were the center of a huge logging enterprise in the 1890s. Old railroad tracks disappear into the pines and historical markers with photos provide insight into the operation.

About 50 miles west of Jax is the site of Florida’s largest Civil War battle, a bloody fight that took place in late February of 1864 and pitted more than 10,000 calvary and infantry troops fighting on opposing sides. In 1912, at a time when many Civil War veterans still attended reunions with their comrades in arms, the sandy pinewood forest became the state’s first historic site. Today, Olustee’s past is remembered with a large annual reenactment of the battle held in February and a Civl War exposition that takes place in late summer.

When You Visit

V A tiny visitors center, open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, contains an assortment of artifacts and displays that detail military strategies leading up to, during and after the battle. There is a one-mile trail through the park that is dotted with interpretive signs that mark significant places, people and moments during the clash. Historic monuments and period cannons stand near the park’s entrance and add solemn weight to the property, recalling that the land witnessed tragic death and destruction.

V As historical sites go, Olustee is a bare bones operation. There are restrooms and a small picnic area, but not much else in the way of visitor amenities. Leashed pets are welcome. Alcohol is not. The property sits adjacent to the sprawling Osceola National Forest. Wildlife is about, though spying the animals is never easy. Keep an ear and eye out in the trees for red-cockaded woodpeckers. Admission is free.

V On your way out to Olustee or coming back to Jax along I-10, make a point to grab a bite at MotLee’s in Macclenny. The tiny eat- ery serves elevated drive-thru fare such as the queso jalapeño bacon burger ($8.50 for a double), a Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich ($6.50), and fried shrimp po’ boys ($9). Try the sweet potato waffle fries ($4) and the cheesy cauliflower bites ($3). The milkshakes are darn tasty, too. You’ll thank us later.

Moving Pictures

Three regiments of U.S. Colored Troops took part in the battle including the 54th Massachusetts, a unit that received well-deserved honor and fame with the release of the movie Glory starring Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and Matthew Broderick. Scenes from the movie and other Civil War productions have been filmed during the annual reenactments. After the four-hour battle and when the smoke cleared—now some 160 years ago—more than 2,800 dead, wounded and missing were counted between Union and Confederate forces. Yankee troops retreated to Jacksonville, where they occupied the city until the war’s end 14 months later. u