Truman Seymour commanded the Union troops at the Battle of Olustee

One of the most interesting facts about the Battle of Olustee we want to introduce to you is that Truman Seymour commanded the Union troops at the Battle of Olustee. Truman Seymour (September 24, 1824 – October 30, 1891) was an exceptional painter as well as a career soldier. During the American Civil War, he served in the Union Army, rising to the rank of major general. He took part in the Battle of Fort Sumter. He led the Union troops in the Battle of Olustee, Florida's sole major Civil War battle.

The newly constituted District of Florida was assigned to Seymour by Maj. Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore, commanding commander of the Department of the South. In February 1864, the division led an expedition to Florida, landing and capturing control of Jacksonville. Gillmore then proceeded to South Carolina, leaving Seymour in tactical command.

The battle took place roughly 40 miles west of Jacksonville, in the hamlet of Olustee. The ensuing battle resulted in some of the war's highest percentage losses of any major combat. Despite inflicting about 1,000 casualties, Seymour's division received nearly 2,000 in return. General Seymour's defeated force returned to Jacksonville, where Union troops maintained control until the war's end.