Florida was the third state to secede from the Union and played a key role in supplying not only beef, but also other subsistence supplies, to the Confederate States Army. What turned out to be one of the bloodiest battles during the War Between The States occurred on February 20, 1864 in the pine flat woods near Ocean Pond east of Lake City. The Battle of Olustee was the largest battle fought in Florida and resulted in a Confederate victory when Union Forces under General Truman Seymour faced off against Confederate troops led by General Joseph Finegan. In this episode, we review a Florida Historical Society Quarterly article that considers what led General Seymour to proceed against orders with this ill-fated engagement.