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History,
Black People
The Buffalo Soldiers on the Western Frontier
(Museum of the Horse)
Lesser known, but equally important, the Buffalo Soldiers explored and mapped vast areas of the southwest and strung hundreds of miles of telegraph lines. They built and repaired frontier outposts around which future towns and cities sprang to life. Without the protection provided by the 9th and 10th Cavalries, crews building the ever expanding railroads were at the mercy of outlaws and hostile Indians. The Buffalo Soldiers consistently received some of the worst assignments the Army had to offer. They also faced fierce prejudice to both the colors of their Union uniforms and their skin by many of the citizens of the post-war frontier towns. Despite this, the troopers of the 9th and 10th Cavalries developed into two of the most distinguished fighting units in the Army.
(Museum of the Horse)
Lesser known, but equally important, the Buffalo Soldiers explored and mapped vast areas of the southwest and strung hundreds of miles of telegraph lines. They built and repaired frontier outposts around which future towns and cities sprang to life. Without the protection provided by the 9th and 10th Cavalries, crews building the ever expanding railroads were at the mercy of outlaws and hostile Indians. The Buffalo Soldiers consistently received some of the worst assignments the Army had to offer. They also faced fierce prejudice to both the colors of their Union uniforms and their skin by many of the citizens of the post-war frontier towns. Despite this, the troopers of the 9th and 10th Cavalries developed into two of the most distinguished fighting units in the Army.
(The sad thing about this story is that the Buffalo Soldiers, in serving their country, a land that scorned and despised them, did someone else's dirty work and aided in the destruction of the indigenous Native American population. A cautionary tale, that glints of a fundamental hypocrisy and treachery in the greater American spirit; for example, how can a country call itself "the land of the free, and home of the brave ..." but still enable slavery and genocide? )
« 9:06:31 PM » 
4/3/2005; 3:41:36 AM - Lawrence Green
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