Buffalo Soldier

The Buffalo Soldier

• author:  Sherry Garland  http://www.sherrygarland.com/
• illustrator: Ronald Himler  http://www.ronhimler.com/home.html
• medium:  pencil & watercolor

• year of publication:  2006
• publication city:  Gretna, Louisiana
• publisher:  Pelican Publishing Company, Inc.
• ISBN: 9781589803916

Annotation:  A young man raised as a slave becomes a buffalo soldier – a member of an all-black cavalry regiment formed to protect white settlers from Indians, bandits and outlaws, and that later fought in the Spanish–American War. 

Personal Thoughts:  Who hasn’t heard Bob Marley’s famous classic “Buffalo Soldier” from his renowned Legend album?  I’ve known the song for over half my life and I never knew what the term meant.  Thanks to this picture book, I now know.

Buffalo Soldiers was the name the Cheyenne Indians gave to the all African-American Tenth Cavalry  sent to patrol the frontiers and Indian Territories of the 19^th century U.S.  After the abolishment of slavery, newly freed slaves found steady income, responsibility and the possibility for education in the Army.  The new all black regiments were sent to the Western frontier to occupy forts, protect settlers from hostile Indians, rustlers, outlaws and Mexican banditos.  The troops helped survey uncharted land and setup telegraph poles.  They later helped secure Cuba during the Spanish-American War. 

The book tells the tale of one recruit who believes he can make money in the Army and save up to purchase land.  Sometimes he defends stagecoaches from bandits wishing to steal the loot and other times he chases raiding parties of Indians who attack settlers.  He finds a wife and raises a family, all while traveling with the army. 

The story is valuable in teaching about an important and lesser known facet of history, African-American soldiers in the 1880s.  Racial tensions are touched upon as the black soldiers must work harder than others since everyone is counting on them to fail.  Historical woes are discussed, like the killing of 3 million buffalo in 2 years and its effect on the Indians who went hungry in the aftermath. 

The artwork is majestic, with watercolor and pencil illustrations that put the reader in the old west.  Times were hard on the Buffalo Soldiers and they can be scene freezing in painted blizzards on the Plains or sweating in dry deserts of Texas and New Mexico. 

I really liked how a soldiers entire career is told in the story; how in the end the narrator is an old man comparing his life in the army with his grandson’s experiences as a soldier in WWII.  He even explains when the horse mounted cavalries were taken out of commission.  The book is a great historical learning resource.

***curriculum connection - 5th grade U.S. History (Western Expansion, Whites/Native American relations, 19th century African Americans