Prior to the 1960s, the term “Buffalo Soldier” was a fairly
obscure one. Then, a trickle of titles became a torrent of books,
articles, novels, monuments, and expanding numbers of historic sites
along with museums all of which have changed the picture. Even an
occasional nod from television and movies helped transform these once
relatively little-known Black U.S. Army troops into familiar figures,
who have taken their place in a mythic past. Indeed, powerful
imagemakers from William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody and his Congress
of Rough Riders to Frederic Remington, the dean of frontier artists,
helped lionize the Black troops whose exploits brought them to the
American West, Cuba, the Philippines, Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii in
the years between 1866 and 1916. Despite a significant shift in
emphasis, numerous efforts treating this element of the vital, complex
story of the post-Civil War U.S. Army frequently repeated earlier
studies rather than added fresh perspectives. Also, the narrative
typically ended with the so-called Indian Wars or Spanish American
War. Many authors likewise dwelt on military operations rather than
numerous other relevant contributions and activities of these men who
played a role in the nation’s complex evolution during the half
century after the American Civil War. Profusely illustrated with
compelling images and detailed maps, along with an array of
appendices, this latest addition to the Buffalo Soldier saga
represents over five decades of research by military historian John P.
Langellier. Further, More Work an Glory: Buffalo Soldiers in the
United States Army, 1866–1916 combines the best features of prior
scholarship while enhancing the scope with new or underused primary
sources. The author views the subject through the broader perspectives
of race. He sets the text against the backdrop of the transition of
the U.S. Army from a frontier constabulary to an international power.
In the process, he highlights the staggering assortment of
non-military missions including assignments to national parks and
forests; road building; exploration; pioneer military bicycling; duty
along the explosive border between the United States and Mexico;
employment as agents of law and order, along with a litany of other
contributions that enhanced an impressive combat record against
formidable Native Americans and others. Langellier frames the
narrative within the context of continuity and change from
Reconstruction in the 1860s through the early twentieth century. Above
all, he focuses on the soldiers themselves to provide a human
perspective as well as challenges prevalent misconceptions that often
overshadow more fascinating facts.
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Buffalo Soldiers in the United States Army, 1866-1916
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781804516034
Publisert
2024
Utgiver
Casemate Publishers and Book Distributors, LLC
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter