In March 1865 with the Civil War nearly over, a 30-man team of mostly Black Union soldiers traveled from Jacksonville, Florida 100 miles behind enemy lines to conduct a ridiculously daring raid in remote Marion County. Then the raiders had to return on foot to St. Augustine 80 miles from the raid site, knowing a crack Confederate cavalry unit would be hot on their trail. The Black raiders planned the operation, employed their own strategy, were led by a Black Sergeant-Major-
no White officer
-and carried out the mission. Why? They sought to do what White commanders never had-"to succeed where others failed." "White-washed" by Confederacy apologists, this book reveals a key event in the Black soldier's journey to gain acceptance, parity, and respect in the White man's army.