The taming of the American West has stirred the imagination of people throughout the world. Hollywood movies, books, magazine articles, and radio and television serials have served to perpetuate the myths and realities of that great historical era. But only in the last few years has history begun to recognize that many settlers and cowboys were black. Now, with the publication of this book, one more truth is brought to light: the very important role of the black man in the military and paramilitary history of the West. Few people realize, for instance, that the famous 9th and 10th cavalries that rode to the rescue of so many wagon trains in so many movies during that frontier period were all black units--as were the 24th and 25th infantries. Their epic history is here recorded and documented--beginning with Estevanico, the black Conquistador, and York, the black man who accompanies Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition, up through the final cavalry charge in the Battle of the Yaqui Indians in the Arizona Territory in 1918 (generally considered to be the end of the historical "Western Era") This is a sensitive, human account filled with pathos, suffering, heroics, tragedy, camaraderie, and humor. It shows the privation and periodic boredom of fighting on desolate frontiers; the tension and excitement of the actual campaigns; the hostility and resentment of whites in the Southwest who often saw in the presence of these black soldiers further humiliation after Civil War defeat; the pride of progressing from ex-slave to soldier; and the irony of the newly fed black man fighting to suppress the freedom of another minority race--the American Indian. A special feature of this volume is the reproduction of an extraordinary collection of art dealing with the black military in Western America. Paintings by Frederick Remington and Charles Russell are included, as are many illustrations which have been especially commissioned for this book. Among these are drawings by Paul Rossi, José Cisneros, Nick Eggenhoffer, Joe Grandee, Stanley Long, and many other noted artists. There are more than sixty in all, and they provide a magnificent pictorial record of the black soldier in the history of the West.

Includes material on many battles of the Indian Wars, the Johnston County War, and the Brownsville incident. Copy 2 inscribed: "Mr. McGraw-Thank you and your excellent staff for making my research on this subject an easier TASK than what was expected. John M. Carroll 11/15/71"

Introduction --Part I. -- The new world. -- The legend of the black conquistador / William J. Buchanan -- Pohe-Yemo's representative and the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 / Fray Angelico Chavez -- DeVargas' negro drummer / Fray Angelico Chavez -- York / John M. Carroll -- Part II. -- The four black regiments. -- The Ninth Regiment of Cavalry / Grote Hutcheson -- The Tenth Regiment of Cavalry / John Bigelow, Jr. -- The Twenty-Fourth Regiment of Infantry / H.W. Hovey -- The Twenty-Fifth Regiment of Infantry / George Andrews -- Part III. -- The forts. -- Quitman: the worst post at which I ever served / George Ruhlen -- Fort Davis / Robert M. Utley -- Part IV. -- The Cavalry. -- Early field service / Edward Glass -- The buffalo soldiers in Arizona / Edward Glass -- A scout with the buffalo soldiers / Frederic Remington -- Vagabonding with the Tenth Horse / Frederic Remington -- The Tenth Cavalry in the early days / H.B. Wharfield -- Part V. -- Action on the frontier. -- With Custer in Texas / Elizabeth B. Custer -- History of a slave written by himself at the age of eighty-nine years / Reuben Waller -- Pursuit of chief Victoria / William A. DuPuy -- Colonel B.H. Grierson's Victorio campaign / Frank M. Temple -- The Battle at Rattlesnake Springs -- The Thornburge Battle with the Utes on Milk Creek / Elmer R. Burkey -- The Sioux at Pine Ridge / John H. Nankivell -- The Ninth United States Cavalry in the Sioux Campaign of 1890 -- Part VI. -- The officers and the enlisted men. -- The negro soldier and his officers / Erwin N. Thompson -- The Bentin-Goldin letter -- Captain Nolan's lost troop on the staked plains / M.L. Crimmins -- Oklahoma -- Our soldiers in the Southwest -- Practice maneuvers in Arizona -- Some duties of the Twenty-Fifth / John H. Nankivell -- Part VII. -- Some heroic individuals. -- The Seminole-negro Indian scouts, 1870-1881 / Kenneth Wiggins Porter -- A negro trooper of the Ninth Cavalry / John W. Hunter -- Sergeant Bivins' narrative -- Lieutenant Henry Ossian Flipper / John M. Carroll -- Braves of all colors: the story of Isaiah Dorman, killed at the Little Big Horn / Robert J. Ege -- Part VIII. -- The Medal of Honor winners. -- The Battle of Cuchillo Negra Mountains -- The Battle of Canyon Blanco -- The Battle at Tularosa -- The Battle of Milk River -- The Battle on Pecos River -- The Battle of Clay Creek Mission -- The Battle of Carrizo canyon -- The Battle of Gavilan Canyon -- The Battle of Kickapoo Springs -- The Battle of Florida Mountains -- The Battle of Las Animas Canyon -- The Wham Paymaster Robbery -- The winning of the Medal of Honor by Sergeant McBryar -- Part IX. -- Black-white relations on the frontier. -- Police duty on the frontier / John H. Nankivell -- Fire fighting / John H. Nankivell -- Private Bentley's buzzard / Erwin N. Thompson -- The United States in the aftermath of the Johnson County invasion / Robert A. Murray -- Racial troubles on the Conchos / J. Evetts Haley -- The Brownsville affray / Report of the Inspector-General of the Army -- Part X. -- A new breed of frontier soldier. -- The cavalry fight at Carrizal / Lewis S. Morey -- Border fight at Nogales / H.B. Wharfield -- The Yaqui Indian fight / H.B. Wharfield.