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Lake City, Florida: A Sesquicentennial Tribute (2009) H. Morris Williams, Dr. Kevin M. McCarthy
Battle of Olustee Monument
In 1928, local officials dedicated a monument in down-
town Lake City to those who fought in the Battle of Olustee in nearby
Baker County in 1864 during the Civil War (see Chapter Six). Gov-
ernor John Martin gave the dedicatory address about the battle,
which represented the largest Civil War battle in Florida and a Con-
federate victory. The placement of the memorial in the center of Lake
City was appropriate since the county has long been associated with
patriotism and with answering the call of the federal government to
join the Armed Forces. Many in the audience no doubt thought back
to the role the county had played in Florida’s history and looked for-
ward to what seemed like a bright future.
The text on the monument reads: “Officers Commanding: Brigadier
General Joseph Finegan, Lt.-Col Charles Hopkins (1st Battalion),
Lt.-Col Theo. Brevard (2nd Battalion), Lt.-Col. McClellan (4th
Battalion), Lt-Col. John M Martin (6th Battalion).”
Each year, the Blue - Grey Army Inc. stages the Olustee
Festival and Battle Re-Enactment on President’s Day weekend.
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