The Buffalo Soldier

This heartwarming story of a buffalo soldier’s service to his country during the Indian Wars and Spanish-American War reveals the many hardships these regiments faced.

The African-American buffalo soldiers, nicknamed by the Cheyenne Indians because of their curly hair and bravery, joined the six black regiments commissioned by an act of Congress in 1866. These men, many of whom were former slaves, enlisted in the army to earn a steady income, acquire an education, and gain respect. They protected settlers from hostile Indians, rustlers, outlaws, and bandits and were known for their courage and dedication. Told through the soldier-narrator’s voice, the details of one buffalo soldier’s life, including what he ate, where he slept, the education he gained on and off the battlefield, and how he spent his hard-earned money, help create a personal and understandable slice of history