Description by a White Officer of Fighting by the First North Carolina Colored Volunteers (Thirty-fifth United States Colored Troops) in the Federal Defeat at Olustee, Florida, February 20, 1864
Our retreat was steady and cool. After retreating a few paces, we "about faced" and gave three cheers for the flag, which all the time had been waving, while the enemy's flag was twice shot down. When the right arm of our color sergeant was broken, he knelt down and held up the dear old flag with his left until relieved.
