(Please note that this is a fan page for the Olustee Battlefield State Park and not the representative/voice of the Florida State Park Service.) On February 20, 1864, Federal and Confederate forces clashed in the pine forests of North Florida between Jacksonville and Lake City. However, Confederate armies withstood the advance and defeated the Federal forces in one of the bloodiest battles of the
American Civil War. OLUSTEE REENACTMENT 2012
Dear Battle of Olustee Participants:
The 36th annual reenactment of the Battle of Olustee is just around the corner and will take place from Friday February 17 through Sunday February 19th 2012! We look forward to your visit to Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. We would like to share some helpful information to make your visit and experience more enjoyable and ensure you are up to date on the most current information. Please take a moment to read the following information. Olustee Battlefield is one of the very few locations where an annual reenactment is held on and around the original site where a Civil War battle took place. It is our mission to ensure the continuation of this event and to promote public awareness of the Battle of Olustee through living history while protecting the natural and cultural resources of the park. The Florida Park Service has been working with the Osceola National Forest to ensure the protection of this site for the future while maintaining an enjoyable event for our participants. Listed below are some recent improvements to help further these goals.
· Last year, major roadways were improved including the repair of the Modern Camping Road (Forest Road 208) and Union Camping Road (Forest Road 207). Stabilization was done to help ensure these two roadways remain open as long as possible in the event of significant rain. Stabilization was also completed on the entrances to the Union Parking and Modern Camping Areas. These two entrances were stabilized with rock to help ensure there is a safe exit. This year additional roads into modern camping have been stabilized as well as additional stabilization to the entrance to the Confederate Camp.
· The Union Officers Camp has been relocated. Alternate driving routes have been created to keep drivable pathways out of wet areas.
· The Town of Olustee camp (previously known as refugee camp) must now be accessed through the north Union road leading to the battlefield by driving along the battlefield side of the bleachers and entering the camp next to the stage and exiting just beyond the last set of bleachers. (signage will be present to help direct traffic flow.)
· This year a prescribed burn was conducted throughout the reenactment area, which has provided for very open views throughout the park. The battlefield was also burned and has grown back so natural that we feel that it did not need to be mowed. The field looks very unique and will provide some additional light vegetation to make the skirmish and reenactments look very authentic.
· Mowing of the back side of the battlefield (opposite side of the bleachers) has been completed to allow the public to view more of the Cavalry tactics during the skirmish and reenactment.
· As a reminder, in the event of significant rain, park staff may close entrances to the camps for foot traffic only. We will provide light utility vehicles to load items and bring them to the main roads or where vehicles are parked.
· The creation of a day use reenactor parking area has been established for reenactors who are staying in motels and are just parking at the site and leaving each day. This area is located directly across from the Cavalry Camping Area. This will reduce the amount of daily driving traffic and impacts into the modern camping area.
· Similar to last year we will have staffing at major intersections throughout the primary roads at specific control points to ensure that driving lanes are one way at a time to eliminate other vehicles from passing and damaging road edges and shoulders or getting stuck. Please take a moment to review the following traffic plan so you are familiar with the intended travel routes before arriving. Wednesday- All Traffic will enter and exit through the front gate on highway 90. Forest Road gates will be closed. Only Camp Coordinators and Sutlers arrive on Wednesday. Thursday- All Traffic will enter through the Front gate except Cavalry (who will enter through the Modern Camping Gate on County Road 250-A and Forest Road 208). Traffic will be one way out on the Forest Roads. Union shall exit the park using The Union Road (Forest Road 207 to County Road 250-A), Confederate, and Modern Camping shall exit using Forest Road 208 to County Road 250-A. Control points will be setup to only allow one way traffic at a time. Friday-The Front Gates will be closed between 8am-2pm. We strongly suggest arriving on Thursday. Friday- Union Camp, Town of Olustee Camp, Artillery Camp (except vehicles pulling cannons) will enter and exit through the Union Road (Forest Road 207) which is accessible from County Road 250-A. Friday-Confederate Camp, Cavalry Camp, Modern Camping will enter and exit through the Modern Camping Road (Forest Road 208) which is accessible from County Road 250-A. Traffic patterns will return to the Thursdays Traffic Plan described above. Saturday- The front gates will be closed at 7am through Sunday at 5pm. Saturday- Union Camp, Town of Olustee Camp, Artillery Camp (except vehicles pulling cannons) will enter and exit through the Union Road (Forest Road 207) which is accessible from County Road 250-A. Saturday-Confederate Camp, Cavalry Camp, Modern Camping will enter and exit through the Modern Camping Road (Forest Road 208) which is accessible from County Road 250-A. Saturday from 9am-9:30am Modern Camping Road (Forest Road 208) will be one way out to allow reenactors to participate in the Olustee Battle Festival Parade in Downtown Lake City. Sunday-The Front gate will open at 5pm. All roads will be considered exits. If you are parked in the front entrance area and plan to enter through the front, please be patient as we allow others to leave. Please also be aware that the “Slow Order” issued by CSX for the railroad track at Olustee will be lifted at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening. Trains will return to traveling at a high rate of speed. Please obey the warning lights and be careful to ensure you can clear the crossing completely before crossing the tracks. As a reminder, please do not park in the parking lots at the front entrance of the park. If you wish to park outside of the park, you can utilize parking along highway 90. Vehicles parked in front entrance parking lots without appropriate passes will be towed away at the owner’s expense. If we receive a significant rain event during the reenactment period, we may have to implement a temporary road closure to ensure the stability of the roads and pathways before they become damaged. Two temporary staging sites are being developed within 5 miles of the park to provide a place for vehicles to stay if this occurs to allow proper time for water to shed from the park roads. No Digging of Fire Pits
As a reminder, Digging of Fire Pits is strictly prohibited (and illegal) at the reenactment due to the potential disturbance of archaeological resources. Fires above ground are permissible, unless a burn ban is in place. Please help us communicate this information to all unit members! Help us to protect you- Reporting Injuries
Important Update- Reenactors at the Battle of Olustee are considered volunteers of the Florida Park Service and you are entitled to workmen’s compensation insurance coverage during the time that you are volunteering. Beginning this year, during the registration process, you will be given a personal information identification card that must be filled out completely and maintained in your possession at all times during the event. In the unlikely event of an injury during the reenactment, it is imperative that you report this injury immediately to a Florida Park Service Employee and provide them with this personal identification card. This will ensure that your injury is properly reported to our workers compensation claims office and will begin the process of coordinating medical treatment for your injury. Of course, in any life threatening emergency, contact 911 immediately and then either have a family member or someone contact us as soon as it is feasible to do so. Detailed instructions are provided on these cards, but please be sure to maintain this card in your possession at all times. If you do not properly register with the event at the registration tent, you will not be considered a volunteer and will be responsible for all aspects of your injury. Be Prepared- Warm Weather Expected
According to the extended forecast, weather is expected to be warmer than usual during the reenactment. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 80’s during the weekend with chances of showers and relatively high humidity levels. Please be sure to drink plenty of water and other helpful fluids before and after the battle and adjust uniform layers as necessary to ensure that you do not over heat during the battle reenactment. Last year we had multiple heat related injuries during the reenactment so prepare yourself ahead of time! Heat related illnesses can quickly become life threatening. DRINK LOTS OF WATER! Don’t forget to participate in the Battle of Olustee Parade in Downtown Lake City! The Blue Grey Army is committed to supporting the reenactors by proving food, hay and firewood for you. Show them your support by taking part in the Parade on Saturday! There is also a desperate need for Union soldiers in the parade so if you have a Union uniform and can dress out for this parade, it would be greatly appreciated. A very convenient Bus Shuttle service is provided at the front entrance of the park and quickly takes you to and from the parade so you do not have to take your vehicle. More information is available at registration. Don’t forget to review the Battle of Olustee website for detailed information and registration forms for the reenactment. Visit BattleofOlustee.org
Again we, look forward to seeing you at the Battle. Sincerely,
Ben Faure, Park Manager
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park
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