This is the story of the Civil War battle you didn't know you cared about.

In early 1864, the Union decided that there were substantial benefits to be gained by invading Florida by an amphibious invasion into Jacksonville: They could cut the state's only railroads (making the already-desperate Confederate supply situation worse), they could recruit Black slaves into the army (or at least freedom), they could perhaps start the process of reintegrating Florida into the Union.

And, since Florida had been effectively stripped of troops (they all went to the front line armies), there would be very little opposition. The Federals could just walk in.

In fact, they did just walk in to Jacksonville and the surrounding area. But their real objective was Baldwin, where Florida's two railroads crossed (since capturing the crossing would effectively cripple both). It took them too long to get there. Still, they got there, and at that point, the campaign was effectively won. Had they stayed there.

But they didn't stay there. After more hesitation, Federal general Truman Seymour decided to advance deeper into the state. And all his hesitation had allowed the Confederates to scrape up two brigades from Georgia to engage the Federals. The two forces met at Olustee (Ocean Pond), and the Confederates got their troops up promptly, and the Federals showed up in dribs and drabs and were shot to pieces. After a few hours, the Federals retreated -- away from Olustee, back through Baldwin, all the way to Jacksonville. They probably could have held at Baldwin. Or somewhere. But Seymour didn't try. He just ran.

It was one of those typical examples of Federal ineptitude that kept on through the entire war, and probably prolonged the fight for at least a year. Olustee wasn't really a big deal -- the Federals lost about a thousand men (out of five thousand or so) and wasted some time. But it was a big opportunity blown.

This is, as far as I know, the best and most detailed book about the Olustee campaign, and one of very few to be new enough that it doesn't look down its nose at the Black troops that fought (with great bravery) at Olustee. As a discussion of the effects (or non-effects) of the campaign, and of the decisions that led up to it, I know of nothing better.

But when it came to Olustee itself, it was surprisingly confusing. This is one of those books that gets so deeply into the details that it loses the overview. It seemed as if, reading the description of the battle, a couple of leading Federal units ran into the defending Confederates, got a bloody nose -- and then, suddenly, the entire Federal army was collapsing. It makes no sense; the Federals should have been able to make a stand, but they didn't. Yes, Seymour was an incompetent, but what exactly did he do?

I don't know of any book that explains things any better. If you want to read about Olustee, by all means, get this book. But be prepared for a little confusion along the way. ( )