Near Olustee in Baker County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Retreat

Photographed by Mark Hilton

1. Retreat Marker

Inscription. "After three hours of fighting, every regiment excepting the 115th New York had been compelled to leave the field. Our boys occupied precisely the same position which they did at the opening of the battle. They stood battling over the bodies of their fallen comrades...At last the shades of night covered the field of blood, and we were then ordered to the rear. After giving three ringing cheers of defiance to the rebels, the regiment slowly and sadly dragged themselves away. Over one half were killed and wounded, and the remainder were black with powder and the smoke of battle, and could hardly move."

– James H. Clark; “The Iron Hearted Regiment,"
115th New York, 1865

"I grew fainter and fainter... In this state two young Confederate soldiers came to me, and by holding a lighted match to my face they recognized me as one of the Forty-eighth Regiment...At last one of them said to the other, 'I would like to make the Yank a fire: look how he is shivering! He will not stand the frost to-night.' So they kindled me a blazing fire, which revived my benumbed limbs; then one of them unbuckled his blanket, covered me with it, brought me some water, then bidding me 'goodby', they left me-not, however, till the younger of them had given me a plug of good tobacco."

– Sergeant

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Lang, 48th New York

[Portrait}
Lorenzo E. Lyon
48th New York
Shot through the elbow at Olustee,
and walked 20 miles after being wounded.

Erected by Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 30° 13.009′ N, 82° 23.535′ W. Marker is near Olustee, Florida, in Baker County. It can be reached from Battlefield Trail 0.3 miles north of U.S. 90. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5815 Battlefield Trail, Olustee FL 32072, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Florida. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Confusion Under Fire (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Battle Intensifies (about 500 feet away); Cries and Cheers (about 600 feet away); The Battle Rages (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hold That Line (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Bloody Massacre (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fight or Die (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Yankees are Coming (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Olustee.

Also see . . . Battle of Olustee article by the Olustee Battlefield Citizens Support Organization. (Submitted on March 8, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 6, 2025

2. Retreat Marker

Retreat Marker along the battlefield trail. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 7, 2020

3. Retreat Marker along the battlefield trail.

Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park entrance. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 7, 2020

4. Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park entrance.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 321 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 8, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 2. submitted on April 16, 2025, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4. submitted on March 8, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.