Emilio, Luis F., History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry , 1863-1865

[172] the day, and the march of thirty-two miles since the preceding morning, went to rest on the ground previously occupied. Soon, however, Companies A and E were detailed for picket across the St. Mary's,—the former on the line, and the latter occupying a block house. Pickets from the Fifty-fifth were also put out. An attack was of course expected; but notwithstanding the probable danger, it was difficult for the officers to keep their exhausted men awake. But the night passed without alarm of any kind. Throughout those hours the wounded and stragglers kept coming in. Barber's house and outbuildings were used to shelter the wounded, while others were taken to or gathered about the large fires Colonel Hartwell caused to be made. Assistant-Surgeon Bridgham sheltered the wounded of the Fifty-fourth in an old house, and never ceased to care for them till morning.

Olustee was the most sanguinary engagement in which the troops of the Department met the enemy. Our loss was greater than in many better-known actions elsewhere. Fought without the shelter of earthworks, with nearly equal numbers on each side, it was a fair field fight. Our force was beaten in detail, as they came up, Seymour repeating his error committed at the assault of Wagner. It is natural to speculate as to the result, had he amused the enemy with skirmishers until all his troops arrived on the field, and then attacked, or attempted to draw the enemy on to a selected position; but had Seymour prevailed at Ocean Pond, there still was the strong intrenched position at Olustee Station to encounter.

Phisterer's Statistical Record gives the Union loss as 193 killed, 1,175 wounded, and 460 missing, a total of 1,828. Many of the wounds were slight, however. Our losses in