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A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 106/340

A History of Columbia County, Florida

gia Infantry regiments, the Sixth Florida Infantry, and the Chat­
ham Artillery (four pieces). The Second Brigade under Colonel
George P. Harrison consisted of the Thirty-second and Sixty­
fourth Georgia Infantry, the First Georgia Regulars, the First
Florida Battalion, and the Georgia Light Battery (artillery). The
Fourth Georgia and the Second Florida Cavalry were placed
under Colonel Caraway Smith while the Florida (Leon) Light
Artillery under Captain Robert H. Gamble was held in reserve. By
February 20, Finegan’s force numbered some 5,200 men and 12
artillery pieces.43
General Truman Seymour’s Federal force numbered some
5,500 men and 16 artillery pieces. The main units were: Colonel
William B. Barton’s Brigade consisting of the Forty-seventh,
Forty-eighth, and One Hundred and Fifteenth New York Infantry
regiments. Colonel Joseph R. Hawley’s Brigade was composed of
the Seventh Connecticut, Seventh New Hampshire, and the Eighth
United States Colored Infantry. Colonel James Montgomery’s
Brigade included the First North Carolina Colored, and the Fifty­
fourth Massachusetts Colored. Colonel Guy V. Henry’s Mounted
Brigade was composed of the Fortieth Massachusetts Mounted
Infantry, and the Independent Massachusetts Cavalry. Artillery
units included Battery B, First U.S. Artillery (Elder’s Horse
Battery), Battery E, Third U.S. Artillery, Battery M, First U.S.
Artillery, and Section James, Rhode Island Battery.44
On Saturday morning, February 20, 1864, Seymour’s forces
started toward Lake City following the road which would take
them into the heart of Finegan’s defenses. Rumors abounded
among the troops that Lake City was the objective.45 About noon
Seymour received a report that Confederate forces were concen­
trated in an area east of Lake City, but he discounted it as

"Official Records, Ser. 1, Vol. XXXV, pt. 1, p. 331.
"Ibid., p. 288.
45Bornet, “A Connecticut Yankee Fights at Olustee,” p. 245.
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