Buffalo Soldiers | The Last to Leave | 3

Summary

American History Tellers: Buffalo Soldiers | The Last to Leave | Episode 3 Summary

Hosted by Lindsay Graham, American History Tellers delves deep into pivotal moments and figures that shaped America's history. In this episode, the focus is on the Buffalo Soldiers, their unwavering service, and the institutional racism they endured.

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1. Introduction

In the third installment of the Buffalo Soldiers series, "The Last to Leave," American History Tellers explores the harrowing experiences of black soldiers in the post-Civil War United States. Through the stories of Johnson Chestnut Whitaker and Henry Ossian Flipper, alongside the broader narrative of the Buffalo Soldiers' campaigns against Native American tribes, the episode illuminates the profound struggles and sacrifices made by these African American soldiers.

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2. Johnson Chestnut Whitaker: A Black Cadet at West Point

Timestamp: [00:42] - [10:19]

Johnson Chestnut Whitaker, born enslaved in Camden, South Carolina, became one of the few black cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point after the Civil War. Despite his academic achievements, Whitaker faced relentless hostility from his white peers and superiors.

Key Events:

• 1880 Attack: On April 6, 1880, Whitaker was brutally attacked in his dormitory. Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lazell interrogated him, doubting his account despite Whitaker's detailed description of the assault.

  Whitaker: "Why would anyone want to hurt you? What did you do? I don't know. Nothing."
  [01:47]

• Court of Inquiry: Despite Whitaker's composure and detailed testimony, authorities dismissed his claims, suspecting him of staging the attack to gain sympathy. The court concluded he had fabricated his injuries, leading to his expulsion and dishonorable discharge.

  Narrator: "Whitaker chose the court of inquiry... despite his detailed account, authorities made up their minds that he had staged the incident."
  [08:47]

• Impact: Whitaker's dismissal highlighted the pervasive racism within military institutions, ensuring that he would not graduate and serve as an officer.

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3. Henry Ossian Flipper: The First Black West Point Graduate’s Downfall

Timestamp: [10:19] - [16:21]

Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African American to graduate from West Point, faced similar challenges to Whitaker. His journey underscores the systemic barriers that black officers encountered.

Key Events:

• Service with the 10th Cavalry: Flipper served honorably in the 10th Cavalry Regiment, earning commendations for his bravery during campaigns like Victorio's War.

• Embezzlement Charges: In 1881, Flipper was accused of embezzling $1,440 from the commissary funds. Despite evidence of his good character and support from high-ranking officers, he was found guilty of "conduct unbecoming an officer."

  Flipper's Defense Attorney: "The case was about something more than missing funds... whether it is possible for a colored man to secure and hold a position as an officer in the army."
  [15:50]

• Court Martial and Aftermath: Flipper was dishonorably discharged, a decision upheld by President Chester Arthur despite procedural flaws. His experience mirrored Whitaker's, emphasizing the limited opportunities for advancement and equality for black officers.

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4. The Role of Buffalo Soldiers in the Indian Wars

Timestamp: [05:30] - [17:19]

The Buffalo Soldiers, comprising the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, played a crucial role in the U.S. government's westward expansion, often clashing with Native American tribes resisting displacement.

Key Highlights:

• Combat Against Apache Warriors: The Buffalo Soldiers engaged in relentless warfare against Apache leaders like Victorio and later Geronimo, navigating harsh terrains and enduring constant threats.

  Narrator: "On unforgiving desert terrain, they fought against skilled Apache warriors determined to resist displacement."
  [05:30]

• Notable Figures: Soldiers like Moses Williams and Lieutenant George Burnett exemplified the bravery and tactical prowess of the Buffalo Soldiers, earning accolades such as the Medal of Honor for their valor.

  Narrator: "Moses Williams led repeated flanking attacks, rallying his fellow troopers to regroup and keep fighting."
  [21:38]

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5. Geronimo and the Final Apache Resistance

Timestamp: [16:21] - [25:35]

Geronimo, a renowned Apache leader, became the symbol of Native American resistance against U.S. expansion. His prolonged campaigns against the Buffalo Soldiers epitomized the fierce determination to preserve indigenous lands and lives.

Key Events:

• Leadership and Campaigns: After multiple relocations and resurrections from captivity, Geronimo led raids across the Southwest, showcasing extraordinary stamina and strategic acumen.

  Narrator: "Geronimo could march 70 miles during a night fight all day and appear no more weary than an ordinary man after an ordinary day's labor."
  [24:02]

• Surrender: In August 1886, after years of pursuit, Geronimo surrendered, marking the end of significant Apache resistance. However, this surrender led to the exilic relocation of many Apache families, furthering their suffering.

  Narrator: "The army put thousands of soldiers into the field to hunt them down... Geronimo finally surrendered in exchange for the promise that he and his people would be allowed to return to Arizona after a period of exile in Florida."
  [25:30]

---

6. The Wounded Knee Massacre

Timestamp: [28:14] - [34:05]

The Wounded Knee Massacre remains one of the darkest chapters in American military history. The 9th Cavalry, alongside the infamous 7th Cavalry, was instrumental in suppressing the Ghost Dance movement among the Lakota Sioux.

Key Events:

• Tensions Rising: The spiritual Ghost Dance movement promised a utopian future for the Lakota, alarming white settlers and military officials.

• Massacre Details: On December 29, 1890, soldiers surrounded a Lakota camp at Wounded Knee Creek and indiscriminately opened fire, killing up to 300 Lakota, including women and children.

  Narrator: "The soldiers surrounded a Lakota camp and opened fire, killing as many as 300 Lakota."
  [32:49]

• Aftermath: The massacre effectively ended organized Native American resistance, but it also highlighted the brutal measures employed by the U.S. Army to enforce conformity and suppress indigenous cultures.

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7. Continued Service and Segregation of Buffalo Soldiers

Timestamp: [34:05] - [40:24]

Despite their exemplary service, Buffalo Soldiers continued to face systemic racism and limited opportunities within the military and society at large.

Key Highlights:

• Assignments to Prestigious Posts: In 1891, Major Henry secured an assignment for the 9th Cavalry’s K Troop to Fort Myer, Virginia, earning praise from the Army and Navy Journal for "the death of prejudice against Blacks in the army."

  Lt. Col. Henry Lazell: "Sir, Stop wasting time, soldier. Get them moving. Yes, sir."
  [27:23]

• Endurance of Segregation: Despite accolades, black and white soldiers remained segregated for decades, with Buffalo Soldiers often relegated to menial tasks despite their contributions.

• Legacy and Continued Struggles: The Buffalo Soldiers participated in subsequent conflicts, including the Spanish-American War and World Wars, yet their fight for recognition and equality persisted until the Army's desegregation in 1948 under President Harry Truman.

  Narrator: "Buffalo Soldiers were among the first National Parks Rangers... Despite the Journal's optimism, black and white soldiers would be kept segregated in the military for another 50 years."
  [34:55]

---

8. Conclusion

The episode of American History Tellers sheds light on the paradox faced by Buffalo Soldiers: unwavering dedication to their country juxtaposed against relentless racial discrimination. Figures like Whitaker and Flipper symbolize the broader struggles of African American soldiers striving for dignity and recognition amidst institutionalized racism. Their stories are a testament to resilience and highlight the enduring quest for equality within the military and American society.

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Join us in the next episode as Lindsay Graham interviews Lt. Col. Rory McGovern, an associate professor in the Department of History at West Virginia University, discussing the first Black cadets at Old West Point.

Transcript

[Lindsey Graham]

Hey, history buffs.

[Narrator]

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[Lindsey Graham]

Imagine it's April 6, 1880, and you're.

[Narrator]

A cadet at the US Military Academy.

[Lindsey Graham]

In West Point, New York. You're sitting up in a bed at.

[Narrator]

The infirmary Last night you were brutally attacked by three masked men in your dormitory. Your head is pounding and you can feel bruises forming on your neck where you were choked.

[Lindsey Graham]

Lt. Col. Henry Lazell approaches your bed.

[Narrator]

And you brace for an interrogation.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

Good morning, sir. I need you to explain what happened last night, Cadet. Don't leave anything out. It's just like I said before, sir. Three men beat me and slashed at my hands and face. They tied me to the bed. I passed out from the pain. That's all I can remember. And who were these attackers? I have no idea, sir. Well, what did they look like?

[Narrator]

You almost laugh at the absurdity of the question.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

I already told you, sir. They wore masks. I couldn't see their faces. Why would anyone want to hurt you? What did you do? I don't know. Nothing.

[Narrator]

You swallow hard.

[Lindsey Graham]

Lozelle looks at you with suspicion and disdain.

[Narrator]

You've seen that look a thousand times since you've arrived at West Point.

[Lindsey Graham]

It's clear he doesn't believe you.

[Narrator]

Lozelle pulls a piece of paper out.

[Lindsey Graham]

Of his pocket and holds it up.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

Your commanding officer passed this on to me. Why didn't you mention a threatening note when I visited your room this morning? I didn't find the note until after you left, sir. Or perhaps you wrote the note yourself after we examined your room this morning to cover your tracks. Wait a minute. You really think I did this to myself? Why would I do that? To win sympathy?

[Lindsey Graham]

You shake your head, fighting to control your rising frustration.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

Please, sir, I really think you should be out finding the attackers. I have nothing more to tell you. Go back to class, cadet. We'll talk again soon.

[Lindsey Graham]

You have no choice but to obey, so you push yourself out of bed, wincing as you straighten up to salute Lazelle.

[Narrator]

You begin to stagger out of the.

[Lindsey Graham]

Infirmary, a cold knot forming in your stomach. You've endured years of harassment and isolation, and you've never felt so alone. Still, you refuse to give up.

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[Lindsey Graham]

Spring of 1880, West Point authorities accused.

[Narrator]

A black cadet of staging a brutal attack on himself to win sympathy. Once again, a black cadet faced widespread hostility and distrust while battling to be accepted at the nation's leading officer training school. And meanwhile, in West Texas, West Point's first black graduate faced difficulties of his own when a careless mistake led to a court martial for embezzlement. While the rest of the Buffalo soldiers of the 9th and 10th cavalries grappled with systemic racism while enduring relentless warfare.

[Lindsey Graham]

On unforgiving desert terrain, they fought against.

[Narrator]

Skilled Apache warriors determined to resist displacement.

[Lindsey Graham]

From their ancestral lands, and they stood guard during the final campaign of the Indian Wars.

[Narrator]

But when their service was no longer needed, they found themselves cast aside by their country.

[Lindsey Graham]

This is episode three, the last to.

[Narrator]

Leave on the morning of April 6, 1880, a black West Point cadet named Johnson Chestnut Whitaker failed to appear at morning roll call. He was found unconscious in his room, his Arms and legs were tied to his bed, his ears had been slashed with a razor, and his hair had been shorn in several places. He was covered in blood that also splattered the floor and the door to the room. Whitaker was born enslaved in Camden, South Carolina.

[Lindsey Graham]

After the Civil War, his mother sent.

[Narrator]

Him to a school set up by.

[Lindsey Graham]

Northern missionaries, and after attending the University.

[Narrator]

Of South Carolina, he won a congressional appointment to West Point and passed his entrance exams in 1876. During his first year at the military academy, he roomed with Henry Ossian Flipper, who became the first black cadet to graduate from West Point the following year.

[Lindsey Graham]

In 1877, West Point was home to.

[Narrator]

The U.S. military Academy, the training ground for America's future military leaders.

[Lindsey Graham]

Nestled along the banks of the Hudson.

[Narrator]

River in West Point, New York, it served as the gateway to becoming a commissioned officer in the US Army.

[Lindsey Graham]

It was founded in 1802, but it.

[Narrator]

Did not accept black cadets until 1870, and the handful of black men who first attended West Point faced the same high standards and rigorous training as their white classmates. Upon graduation, they would lead troops as commissioned officers, putting their lives on the line to serve their country. But the environment they encountered at West Point was charged with hatred. Like the two black cadets who had preceded him, white Whitaker faced hostility and abuse from his white classmates, culminating in the violent attack whitaker experienced in April 1880, just weeks before he was set to graduate.

[Lindsey Graham]

The cadet who found Whitaker unconscious in.

[Narrator]

His dorm room ran for help and summoned a doctor to examine him. After noticing a flicker in Whitaker's eyelids, the doctor decided Whitaker was exaggerating or faking his injuries. Lt. Col. Henry M. Lozell, the commandant of cadets at the academy, arrived on the scene and commanded Whitaker to get up and be a man. Whitaker rose and limped to the washbasin and then began to recount what happened. He said that in the middle of the night, three men wearing cadet gray seized him by the throat and choked him until he almost suffocated. Then he reported that he was struck on the left temple and on the nose with something hard. The attackers overpowered him and threw him to the floor, and there one of them slashed his earlobes, declaring that they wanted to mark him like they do hogs down south. Finally, the attackers tied him to the bed and warned him to stay silent.

[Lindsey Graham]

About what had happened.

[Narrator]

After interrogating Whitaker about the attack, Lozell sent him back to class. And despite Whitaker's detailed account of the attack and his serious injuries, West Point authorities quickly made up their minds that he had staged the incident. Lozell led the investigation and accused Whitaker of inflicting his own wounds, cutting his hair and binding himself.

[Lindsey Graham]

He even had Whittaker's soiled room and.

[Narrator]

Blood stained clothes cleaned, destroying what could.

[Lindsey Graham]

Have been illuminating evidence.

[Narrator]

Then he offered Whitaker a choice. Withdraw from the academy outright or face a court inquiry into the matter.

[Lindsey Graham]

Whitaker chose the court of inquiry, similar.

[Narrator]

To a grand jury investigation which convened on April 9. The case dragged on for weeks and Whitaker's ordeal became a national news story. West Point superintendent gave a series of interviews with major newspapers casting doubt on Whitaker's account, and the press debated his guilt and offered competing theories on what had actually happened. In the meantime, the court of inquiry decided to bar Whitaker from attending the.

[Lindsey Graham]

Sessions, so his knowledge of the proceedings.

[Narrator]

That would determine his fate was limited to what he read in newspapers or overheard in the halls. Yet despite the stress and isolation, Whitaker remained composed. Even the army and Navy Journal, the military's main media organ, praised his nerve coolness, self possession and defensive power that excited astonishment amongst all. Then finally, at the end of May.

[Lindsey Graham]

1880, the Court of inquiry issued a report concluding that Whitaker had staged the attack and US President Rutherford B. Hayes.

[Narrator]

Ordered that Whitaker be tried by court martial. In June 1881, Whitaker was once again found guilty and he was sentenced to expulsion from West Point and dishonorable discharge from the military. The case would later be overturned by President Chester Arthur, who cited procedural issues, but it made no difference. Citing an exam he had failed in.

[Lindsey Graham]

The weeks after his attack, West Point finalized Whitaker's dismissal and he would not graduate. Commenting on the case, newspapers like the.

[Narrator]

Washington Post compared Whitaker's character to that of another black cadet, former roommate Henry Ossian Flipper. The Post wrote that many consider Whitaker ignorant and low in all his instincts.

[Lindsey Graham]

By contrast, the newspaper described Flipper as.

[Narrator]

Gentlemanly, intelligent and brave. But within weeks, Flipper would find himself pending his own court martial. Confined in a six by four foot cell in Fort Davis, Texas, Flipper was a second lieutenant in the 10th Cavalry and America's first black commissioned officer, a promising start in the army. After fighting in Victorio's war, he won praise from both his commanding officer, Nicholas Nolan, and 10th Cavalry commander, Colonel Benjamin Grierson.

[Lindsey Graham]

In the fall of 1880, Flipper was.

[Narrator]

Transferred to Fort Davis in West Texas where he served as quartermaster and commissary.

[Lindsey Graham]

Office, responsible for managing the store's cash.

[Narrator]

During that time, he developed a close friendship with a white woman named Molly Dwyer, the sister in law of Nolan. The pair often went horseback riding together.

[Lindsey Graham]

But things took a turn in the.

[Narrator]

Spring of 1881 when Colonel William Shafter took command of Fort Davis. Shafter had a reputation as a harsh commander, and his former company, the All Black 24th infantry, had leveled several harassment and misconduct charges against him. So that July, when Flipper discovered a large shortage in the commissary funds caused by his sloppy bookkeeping and willingness to.

[Lindsey Graham]

Extend credit, he feared Shafter's severe judgment and tried to cover up the mistakes.

[Narrator]

By writing a personal check for $1,440 to replace the missing money. Flipper had recently published an autobiography about his time at West Point called the.

[Lindsey Graham]

Colored Cadet, and he believed that royalties from the sales of this book had.

[Narrator]

Been deposited in a bank account in.

[Lindsey Graham]

San Antonio and that there would be.

[Narrator]

More than enough to cover the shortfall.

[Lindsey Graham]

Unbeknownst to Flipper, there were no funds in his name at the San Antonio bank. So without realizing it, Flipper had submitted a fraudulent check. His desperate attempt to cover up his mistake threatened to put his hard won career in peril. Imagine, it's August 13, 1881, a sweltering.

[Narrator]

Day in Fort Davis, Texas.

[Lindsey Graham]

You take a seat across the desk.

[Narrator]

From Colonel William Shafter. The commander of the fort, First Lieutenant Frank Edmonds, stands in the corner, observing. You believe you know why Shafter summoned.

[Lindsey Graham]

You to his office. So you try to keep your expression as neutral as possible as Shafter puts.

[Narrator]

Down his pen, levels you with a stern gaze.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

You presented me with a very large check for commissary funds Yesterday. Yes, sir. $1,440. Why? Was it not in the list of checks you gave me two days ago? I forgot it, sir. $1,440 is a very large check for a man to forget, Lieutenant. It was an honest mistake, sir. I admit that bookkeeping is not my strong suit. But I promise you that everything has been accounted for. Now, I've mailed all the commissary checks. They're on their way to the bank as we speak.

[Lindsey Graham]

Shafter scratches his mustache and leans back in his chair.

[Narrator]

It creaks under the weight of his stout figure.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

I fear I may be doing you an injustice, Lieutenant. If that proves to be true, I will sincerely regret it. But I must say I find your explanation lacking. I believe you have stolen the missing money.

[Narrator]

Your heart hammers in your chest so.

[Lindsey Graham]

Hard you're certain Shafter can hear it.

[Narrator]

You try to keep your voice steady, Colonel.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

With all due respect, you are indeed doing me an injustice. I've served faithfully and with honor. I mailed the checks. I don't know how else to prove it. I don't enjoy this, Lieutenant, but your story just doesn't add up.

[Lindsey Graham]

Shafter sighs and locks eyes with the.

[Narrator]

Lieutenant standing by the door.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

Searches quarters.

[Lindsey Graham]

The lieutenant nods and exits the office. As you turn back to Shafter, feels.

[Narrator]

Like the room is spinning.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

Sir, is this really necessary? I hope I'm wrong. I really do.

[Lindsey Graham]

You nod, but inside you're screaming. It seems unlikely that your superiors will.

[Narrator]

Believe that you didn't steal the money.

[Lindsey Graham]

But you have to fight the charges. You've worked too hard to get where you are to lose everything now.

[Narrator]

Flipper planned to replace the missing money with his own funds. But before he had the chance, Shafter discovered the discrepancy. He accused Flipper of stealing the money and had him arrested for embezzlement. Flipper's friends pooled money to replace the.

[Lindsey Graham]

Missing funds, but it changed nothing.

[Narrator]

Shafter convened a court martial in Fort Davis Chapel in September 1881. During the proceedings, fellow soldiers and local white civilians testified to Flipper's good character.

[Lindsey Graham]

Colonel Grierson wrote a long letter praising.

[Narrator]

Flipper and asking the court for leniency.

[Lindsey Graham]

He declared, lieutenant Flipper's character and standing.

[Narrator]

As an officer and gentleman have certainly been beyond reproach. Although he may have been careless and indiscreet and may have committed irregularities from want of experience, my confidence in his honesty of purpose has not been shaken. Then, when Flipper himself came before the judges, he acknowledged the shortfall but insisted that he had no intention of defrauding the government.

[Lindsey Graham]

His defense attorney argued that the case.

[Narrator]

Was about something more than missing funds.

[Lindsey Graham]

Telling the court, the question before you.

[Narrator]

Is whether it is possible for a.

[Lindsey Graham]

Colored man to secure and hold a position as an officer in the army.

[Narrator]

That question was answered in December 1881 when the court finally issued its verdict. Following months of testimony, Flipper was found.

[Lindsey Graham]

Innocent of embezzlement, but guilty of conduct.

[Narrator]

Unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. He was promptly dismissed from the Army. Despite appeals, President Arthur upheld the sentence.

[Lindsey Graham]

And Flipper would spend the rest of.

[Narrator]

His life contesting the charges. He believed that he was a man marked for retribution.

[Lindsey Graham]

When Colonel Shafter and other white officers.

[Narrator]

Noticed his developing friendship with Molly Dwyer.

[Lindsey Graham]

Captain Nolan's white sister in law. So with the court martials of Flipper and Whitaker, the US army was without a single black commissioned officer and West Point was once again without a single black cadet. These two men's experience revealed how even.

[Narrator]

The most determined struggled to escape the.

[Lindsey Graham]

Burdens of institutional racism within the Army. And those burdens persisted into the 1880s as Buffalo soldiers continued supporting the government's agenda of westward expansion. It was a policy that would enact a devastating toll on Native American lives. And in the years to come, these.

[Narrator]

Plains Indian who resisted the Army's advance.

[Lindsey Graham]

Were betrayed, expelled from their homes, and.

[Narrator]

Forced to suffer deadly violence.

[Lindsey Graham]

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[Lindsey Graham]

In the fall of 1880, the death.

[Narrator]

Of the Apache leader Victorio helped restore peace to west Texas and New Mexico.

[Lindsey Graham]

But a group of Victorio's followers had.

[Narrator]

Escaped capture, and they were determined to avenge their leader's death. Among them was an aging warrior known as nana. He was 75 years old and walked with a limp, but he had a reputation as a fearsome fighter. And after Victorio's death, Nana took refuge in Mexico's Sierra madre Mountains with 15 men. They spent months collecting guns and ammunition to plot their campaign of revenge. And in July 1881, they crossed the border into the United States and began raiding farms, ranches, and army supply trains.

[Lindsey Graham]

In the New Mexico territory.

[Narrator]

Nana recruited more men along the way until his force numbered 40 warriors.

[Lindsey Graham]

Their campaign quickly became a problem for.

[Narrator]

The army and the buffalo soldiers stationed in the region. General John Pope later complained. They rushed through the country from one mountain range to another like a pack.

[Lindsey Graham]

Of hungry wolves, Killing everybody they met.

[Narrator]

And stealing all the horses they could get their hands on. That summer, company I of the 9th Cavalry was stationed in Fort Craig, a lonely outpost on a main road between Mexico and New Mexico. Among the men there was a seasoned first sergeant named Moses Williams. When Williams first enlisted in the army in 1866, he could only sign his papers with an axe. But after learning to read and write.

[Lindsey Graham]

In the army, he was able to.

[Narrator]

Sign his name when he re enlisted five years later. By 1881, he had spent 11 years with the 9th Cavalry and had far more experience than his white commanding officer, Lieutenant George Burnett, who was just one year out of West Point. And it was on August 16, 1881, while Company I was on patrol near Cuchillo, New Mexico, when a panicked Mexican man ran into their camp. He announced that Nana had murdered his family.

[Lindsey Graham]

At a nearby ranch, Burnett, Williams and.

[Narrator]

14 other soldiers hurried out and when they arrived, discovered the mutilated bodies of a woman. And the soldiers set off in pursuit and caught up with Nana and his band in the foothills of New Mexico's Cuchillo negro mountains. Bullets started flying from the rocks and.

[Lindsey Graham]

Crevices where the warriors had taken cover.

[Narrator]

Moses Williams led repeated flanking attacks, rallying his fellow troopers to regroup and keep fighting, and in so doing, forced the Apache to retreat deeper into the foothills. But still the US army soldiers struggled to dislodge Nana's men completely.

[Lindsey Graham]

Then, hours into the battle, 9th Cavalry.

[Narrator]

Reinforcements arrived at the scene. Their commander ordered the soldiers to fall back to a stronger position.

[Lindsey Graham]

Burnett, Williams, and another buffalo soldier, Private.

[Narrator]

Augustus Walley, held the Apache at bay while the remainder withdrew to a ridgeline behind them. But then A voice cried out for help, and Burnett realized that three of his soldiers had been left behind at the front. They'd been pinned down behind prairie dog.

[Lindsey Graham]

Mounds 200 yards away and couldn't flee without exposing themselves to enemy fire.

[Narrator]

Burnett, Williams and Wally jumped to the rescue, braving a storm of bullets to.

[Lindsey Graham]

Reach the stranded men and carry them to safety.

[Narrator]

Meanwhile, as night fell, Nana and his men disappeared into the hills. Burnett, Williams and Wally would eventually receive the Medal of Honor for risking their lives to rescue their comrades. Burnett praised Williams for his coolness, bravery and unflinching devotion to duty that day. But their work wasn't done, and the 9th Cavalry kept at pursuit. By that fall, they drove Nana and his followers back across the Mexican border, and the task of subduing the final remnants of Apache resistance fell to other regiments, including Colonel Benjamin Grierson's 10th Cavalry. The soldiers of the 10th Cavalry took.

[Lindsey Graham]

Up the pursuit of Geronimo, a medicine.

[Narrator]

Man and the last major Apache war leader. When Geronimo was a young man, Mexican soldiers massacred his wife, mother and three young children. This experience instilled in him a deep seated hatred for anyone who threatened his people's freedom. And he found a new enemy. As the United States extended its reach into the Southwest. In 1874, the US government forcibly removed 4,000 members of Geronimo's tribe to the.

[Lindsey Graham]

San Carlos reservations in eastern Arizona. Soldiers dubbed the barren landscape hell's 40 acres because summer temperatures hovered between 100 and 120 degrees.

[Narrator]

With no shade and little water or game. These conditions made it impossible for the Apache to hunt or grow their own food, and US government rations fell short.

[Lindsey Graham]

In 1877, the US army captured Geronimo.

[Narrator]

And relocated him to San Carlos. But he refused to give up on his dream of securing his people's freedom.

[Lindsey Graham]

In the fall of 1881, he broke.

[Narrator]

Out of San Carlos with 75 followers. They spent the next several years raiding the Southwest and sometimes killing civilians, all while evading Mexican and American forces, including the 10th Cavalry. His stamina became legendary. One white veteran remembered. Geronimo could march 70 miles during a night fight all day and appear no more weary than an ordinary man after an ordinary day's labor. In 1884, Geronimo agreed to return to the reservation. But he didn't stay long. Only a year later, in May 1885, he fled San Carlos again, this time with 130 followers. The army put thousands of soldiers into the field to hunt them down, and the men of the 10th Cavalry spent months in the saddle guarding watering holes and mountain passes with no success and.

[Lindsey Graham]

Having to endure extreme hardship. One trooper recalled, in the fall of.

[Narrator]

1885, we encountered a very severe snowstorm. We got lost in the mountains for four days and we could not get out. This same soldier claimed later to have.

[Lindsey Graham]

Developed symptoms of scurvy, including the loss of teeth and a bladder disorder that affected him for the rest of his life. A blacksmith that served with the regiment would also later recall, that is where.

[Narrator]

I lost my health in the line.

[Lindsey Graham]

Of duty trying to protect my country. Eventually, one quarter of the entire standing US army was deployed to track Geronimo and his tiny band. At last, in August 1886, Geronimo finally surrendered in exchange for the promise that.

[Narrator]

He and his people would be allowed.

[Lindsey Graham]

To return to Arizona after a period of exile in Florida.

[Narrator]

The vast majority of Apache had remained.

[Lindsey Graham]

Remained on the San Carlos Reservation during Geronimo's resistance. But army officials decided to punish the peaceful Indians along with Geronimo's followers. They too would suffer the pain of exile to a strange and distant land.

[Narrator]

Imagine it's August 1886 and the afternoon sun is beating down on the dry.

[Lindsey Graham]

Cracked earth of the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona.

[Narrator]

You're a soldier in the 10th Cavalry and you and your fellow troopers are rounding up dozens of Apache families for relocation.

[Lindsey Graham]

You approach an older Apache man who.

[Narrator]

Sits in the shadow of the commissary.

[Lindsey Graham]

Watching his grandson play nearby.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

It's time to go, old man. We have to take everyone north to the train station.

[Lindsey Graham]

The man looks up, his gaze defiant.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

We are not going. I never did anything wrong. I followed the rules. I never left the reservation.

[Lindsey Graham]

You shift your stance, feeling uncomfortable.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

It ain't up to me. I'm just following orders. Where are you sending us? You're going to a new reservation in Florida. Florida? It's hundreds of miles east. Just think, you and your grandson will get to live near the ocean. No more dust, no more scorpions. You'll eat all the oranges you want. I reckon it'll be much better than this godforsaken place. I want to stay here. Even if it means staying on this reservation. At least it's closer to my home, to the land where my mother was buried. And my wife, too. I'm sorry, sir. I've been ordered to take everyone whether they follow Geronimo or not. I don't have a choice. You always have a choice.

[Narrator]

His stare is too much to endure.

[Lindsey Graham]

So you glance away. Just as your commander rides up on his horse. You snap to attention and salute.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

Sir, Stop wasting time, soldier. Get them moving. Yes, sir.

[Narrator]

The commander turns his horse around and.

[Lindsey Graham]

Rides off in the direction of another family.

[Narrator]

You return your gaze to the old man.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

If you don't come along, I'll be forced to make you. Don't make this any harder than it needs to be.

[Lindsey Graham]

His drawn, hollow eyed expression makes you want wonder if he even heard you. But at last he rises. The boy clings to his grandfather's pant.

[Narrator]

Leg as they walk toward the line of Apache families being ushered into wagons.

[Lindsey Graham]

You tell yourself it's just another order.

[Narrator]

That you're doing your duty. But the weight of your uniform suddenly feels unbearable. After Geronimo's surrender, half of the Companies of the 10th Cavalry were tasked with arresting and transporting 400 Apache men, women.

[Lindsey Graham]

And children to Hallbrook, Arizona, where they.

[Narrator]

Would board a train bound for Fort.

[Lindsey Graham]

In St. Augustine, Florida. It was a place they considered even.

[Narrator]

Worse than San Carlos, far from their cherished homeland. Later that fall, the 10th Cavalry captured the last hostile Apache chief on the Arizona frontier. This surrender marked the end of Apache.

[Lindsey Graham]

Resistance in the West.

[Narrator]

Several black soldiers received official commendations for the performance against the Apache.

[Lindsey Graham]

By then, more than a dozen Buffalo.

[Narrator]

Soldiers had carried out acts of bravery.

[Lindsey Graham]

That would earn them medals of honor.

[Narrator]

It was a record of service that made Grierson proud.

[Lindsey Graham]

When he finally gave up his command.

[Narrator]

Of the 10th Cavalry in 1888. He recalled the regiment's splendid record of nearly 22 years service to the government in the field and at the most.

[Lindsey Graham]

Isolated posts on the frontier, always in the vanguard of civilization and in contact.

[Narrator]

With the most warlike and savage Indians of the plains.

[Lindsey Graham]

Despite the outstanding service of Buffalo Soldiers on the frontier, black cadets at West.

[Narrator]

Point still faced severe opposition.

[Lindsey Graham]

In 1889, Charles Young, the son of a Civil War veteran, became the third.

[Narrator]

Black man to graduate from West Point.

[Lindsey Graham]

Following Henry Ossian Flipper and another cadet.

[Narrator]

Named John Hanks Alexander.

[Lindsey Graham]

Twelve black men had been admitted to the military academy since 1870. But violent harassment and discrimination had caused nine of those 12 to leave before they graduated. And the advent of Jim Crow segregation.

[Narrator]

Ensured that Young would be West Point's.

[Lindsey Graham]

Last black graduate for nearly half a century.

[Narrator]

Soon, Buffalo soldiers would take part in the final chapter of the Indian wars and the federal government's long and bloody.

[Lindsey Graham]

Quest to displace and subjugate native people. But despite their service and sacrifice, their own opportunities for advancement and equality began to disappear.

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[Narrator]

The United States had seized millions of acres from the Lakota Sioux, driven them from their homelands and confined them to half a dozen reservations in the Dakotas. The Lakota chafed under the restrictions of reservation life. White settlers and sport hunters had annihilated the buffalo they depended on. The once free roaming people were forced to farm plains stricken by drought, leaving them no choice but to rely on government issued rations for survival. But in 1889, Congress slashed the Lakota rations budget. Severe winter weather pushed families to the brink of starvation.

[Lindsey Graham]

In this harsh environment, many Lakota became.

[Narrator]

Drawn to a spiritual movement called the Ghost Dance.

[Lindsey Graham]

It promised a future utopia in which.

[Narrator]

Indians would be free from white oppression and a trance inducing ritual that would allow Indians to glimpse this new world. The Ghost Dance swept through sioux reservations in 1890. It was a peaceful movement, but the sight of large numbers of dancing Indians alarmed white settlers. In November 1890, the new agent at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota dashed off a panic letter to Washington demanding that the army restore order. In November 1890, five companies from the 9th Cavalry and eight white units arrived at Pine Ridge and the neighboring Rosebud Reservation. Their presence frightened the Lakota and prompted hundreds of families to withdraw to a remote corner of Pine Ridge. Tensions worsened after the Lakota learned that the influential leader Sitting Bull had been killed by US Agents during a botched arrest attempt. Some fled pine ridge. The 9th Cavalry was ordered to track down the Indians who had escaped.

[Lindsey Graham]

On December 29, the soldiers of the.

[Narrator]

9Th were still in pursuit when, 20 miles away from Pine Ridge at Wounded Knee Creek, the 7th Cavalry committed one of the most notorious massacres of Native Americans in U.S. history.

[Lindsey Graham]

The soldiers surrounded a Lakota camp and.

[Narrator]

Opened fire, killing as many as 300 Lakota. Most of the dead were unarmed and.

[Lindsey Graham]

Many were women and children. The day after this slaughter, furious Lakota.

[Narrator]

Warriors trapped the 7th Cavalry in a canyon and fired on them. Major Guy Henry and the soldiers at the 9th mounted their horses and hurried to the rescue. They charged and scattered the attackers, saving.

[Lindsey Graham]

The white soldiers lives. The clash that day was the final.

[Narrator]

Battle between Buffalo Soldiers and Native Americans. In the weeks that followed, the remaining Lakota returned to Pine Ridge and surrendered. Wounded Knee marked the end of Indian resistance to the US Army. After decades of bloodshed, the Indian wars were over. The white regiments quickly returned to their regular posts, but four companies of the 9th Cavalry spent a frigid winter at Pine Ridge on guard duty. One private composed a poem calling out the injustice of their extended service in.

[Lindsey Graham]

South Dakota, writing, we were the first.

[Narrator]

To come, we'll be the last to leave. Why are we compelled to stay?

[Lindsey Graham]

Why this reward receive in war barracks.

[Narrator]

Our recent comrades take their ease While we poor devils and the Sioux are left to freeze. Finally, in March 1891, the troopers filed out of the reservation for the last time. But there was good news awaiting them. Major Henry was so impressed with the courage and effectiveness of the 9th Cavalry that he fought for the regiment to be rewarded with an assignment to the prestigious Fort Myer, located just outside Washington, D.C. in Virginia. His efforts paid off. When the 9th Cavalry's K Troop was stationed at Fort Myer in May 1891, the soldiers took pride in performing ceremonial burials at Arlington Cemetery and serving in the presidential parade unit. The assignment of Buffalo Soldiers to Fort Myer prompted the army and Navy Journal.

[Lindsey Graham]

To declare the death of prejudice against.

[Narrator]

Blacks in the army.

[Lindsey Graham]

Despite the Journal's optimism, black and white.

[Narrator]

Soldiers would be kept segregated in the military for another 50 years. And in broader society, racial segregation would worsen in the late 19th century. In the 1890s, Southern states enacted ruthless Jim Crow laws to legalize discrimination and disenfranchise Black Americans.

[Lindsey Graham]

The 1896 Supreme Court decision Plessy v. Ferguson established the doctrine of separate but equal and gave Jim Crow the backing of the highest court in the land. Still, black men continued to serve in the army after the Indian wars.

[Narrator]

Buffalo Soldiers were among the first National Parks Rangers.

[Lindsey Graham]

When America intervened in Cuba's struggle for independence From Spain, the 9th and 10th cavalries joined Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough.

[Narrator]

Riders in the famous charge up San Juan Hill.

[Lindsey Graham]

When the United States invaded the Philippines. West Point graduate Charles Young was named captain of a 9th Cavalry troop. Despite their accomplishments, many veterans in the Indian wars discovered that their struggles were not yet over. After leaving the army, they would continue to fight for support. Support and recognition.

[Narrator]

Imagine it's September 1904 in Fort Robinson, Nebraska. You are a veteran of the 9th.

[Lindsey Graham]

Cavalry, and for hours you've been seated.

[Narrator]

In the waiting area of the fort.

[Lindsey Graham]

Hospital, avoiding the gaze of white soldiers.

[Narrator]

And veterans who eye you suspiciously. You've come here today to see a doctor about your kidney condition. A nurse at the front desk tried to turn you away, but you refuse to leave until you receive care.

[Lindsey Graham]

The nurse walks back into the waiting.

[Narrator]

Area accompanied by a doctor wearing a crisp white coat.

[Lindsey Graham]

He looks like he's just out of medical school.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

What's the issue here?

[Lindsey Graham]

You stand and step toward him, trying.

[Narrator]

To ignore the pain in your stiff.

[Lindsey Graham]

Knees, but he holds out his hand to stop you.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

Not so fast. Just tell me what's the matter. Good afternoon, Doctor. I'm a veteran of the 9th Cavalry. I served right here in Fort Robinson. It's my kidneys. Been having trouble for months now. There's blood in my urine. My feet are swollen. I'm tired all the time. I'm hoping you could take a look.

[Narrator]

The doctor folds his arms and frowns.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

Sounds like kidney disease, all right. I'm afraid I can't help you. You best get yourself a train ticket to Washington, D.C. they'll treat you at the old soldier's home. Washington? That's more than 1,000 miles from here. I can't travel all the way to Washington, especially not like this. Even if I had the money for a ticket, the trip would kill me. I understand it's inconvenient for you. Inconvenient? I gave years of my life to the army, to this very fort, same as everyone else in this room. All I'm asking for is some medicine. And I'm telling you, if you want medicine, you can go get it in Washington, D.C. there's nothing I can do for you here. Can't or won't?

[Narrator]

The doctor's gaze flicks to the white veterans in the seats beside you.

[Lt. Col. Henry Lazell]

I have other patients to see.

[Lindsey Graham]

He turns to help an older white veteran, and you lower yourself back into the hard chair, feeling the stares of everyone in the room. Your four to reckon with the bitter truth that you've been forgotten by the very nation you served.

[Narrator]

In 1904, a veteran Buffalo soldier named George Jordan sought treatment for kidney disease.

[Lindsey Graham]

At the Army Hospital in Fort Robinson, Nebraska.

[Narrator]

Jordan had enlisted on Christmas Day 1866.

[Lindsey Graham]

In the years that followed, he won.

[Narrator]

Promotions to corporal and sergeant and received a Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Victorio campaign.

[Lindsey Graham]

Despite his service, the doctor at Fort Robinson turned him away. He died soon after at the age of 57. He had just $11 to his name. The fort's black chaplain wrote that Jordan.

[Narrator]

Had died for the want of proper attention. Even the most distinguished Buffalo soldiers found.

[Lindsey Graham]

They had little to show for their sacrifices.

[Narrator]

The army provided retired soldiers with transportation home, the possibility of a bed in the old soldier's home in Washington, and in some cases, a small pension. But it was far short of what most veterans needed in order to survive. Reuben Walder was a 10th Cavalry veteran who'd taken part in the famous rescue of George Forsyth's white scouts in 1860.

[Lindsey Graham]

8. Years later, he reflected, we were regular.

[Narrator]

Soldiers and we had to make the west safe for the soldiers of the Civil War to get homesteads in and $72 per month pensions while we poor regulars got nothing. Many of these veterans returned home to the south, where they faced racial violence, Jim Crow, segregation and limited economic opportunities. Even so, black men continued to enlist. Black soldiers served courageously in segregated regiments in World War I and World War II.

[Lindsey Graham]

It was not until 1948 that President.

[Narrator]

Harry Truman finally desegregated the Army. Some of the black regiments in World.

[Lindsey Graham]

War I, World War II and the.

[Narrator]

Korean War wore buffalo insignia on their.

[Lindsey Graham]

Shoulder patches, calling back to the generation.

[Narrator]

That paved the way for their service.

[Lindsey Graham]

For 25 years after the Civil War.

[Narrator]

Thousands of black men faithfully carried out.

[Lindsey Graham]

The nation's agenda of supporting westward expansion. In extreme conditions, they protected shelters, built roads and laid telegraph lines. Complicating their legacy, they helped subjugate native.

[Narrator]

People and remove them from their homelands.

[Lindsey Graham]

For many black soldiers, service in the segregated military was one of the only available avenues for honor, dignity and opportunity. But in the end, they found little.

[Narrator]

Reward for their dedicated service and sacrifice.

[Lindsey Graham]

On behalf of their country. From Wonder Eat this is episode three.

[Narrator]

Of our three part series, Buffalo Soldiers from American Historytellers.

[Lindsey Graham]

On the next episode, I speak with Lt. Col. Rory McGovern, an associate professor in the Department of History at West.

[Narrator]

Virginia and the co editor of Race.

[Lindsey Graham]

Politics and Reconstruction, the first Black cadets.

[Narrator]

At Old West Point. If you like American Historytellers, you can binge all episodes early and ad free right now by joining Wondery in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail].

[Lindsey Graham]

Survey American Historytellers is hosted, edited and.

[Narrator]

Produced by me, Lindsey Graham for Airship.

[Lindsey Graham]

Audio editing by Christian Peraga Sound design by Molly Bach music by Lindsey Graham voice acting by Ace Anderson this episode is written by Ellie Stanton edited by Dorian Marina Produced by Alita Ryazanski Managing Producer is Desi Blaylock Senior Managing Producer Callum Plews Senior Producer, Producer Andy Herman and Executive producers are Jenny Lauer, Beckman, Marshall Louie and Aaron O'Flaherty.

[Narrator]

For wondering.

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