The Forgotten Heroes: The Story Of The Buffalo Soldiers [Paperback]

Clinton Cox (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1996 | Age Level: 9 and up

The story of the Buffalo Soldiers, the African-American cavalry regiments used to fight Native Americans in the 1800s, recounts their heroic and ultimately tragic role in history and is accompanied by archival photographs. Reprint. SLJ. K.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this well-researched, revealing book, journalist Cox ( Undying Glory ) tells the story of the all-black units of the 9th and 10th Cavalry, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers. The book focuses on the years between 1866 and 1891, when the Buffalo Soldiers rode hundreds of thousands of miles on the western frontier, mapping uncharted territory and laying the groundwork for the creation of eight states. They achieved these goals despite consistently being treated as inferiors, receiving the poorest horses and equipment, and being assigned tasks considered too dangerous for white soldiers. Of equal interest is the role the Buffalo Soldiers played in removing Native Americans from their homelands; the author effectively argues that the American government--George Armstrong Custer and Theodore Roosevelt in particular--used one oppressed group to systematically destroy another in order to win land for white settlers under the guise of patriotism. Cox eloquently articulates the dilemma many soldiers faced as they were forced to choose between their jobs and their consciences. Although the narrative sometimes falls into a cataloguing of expeditions and battles, it provides new insights into a fascinating piece of American history and challenges traditional visions of westward expansion. Ages 8-14.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-12. After the Civil War, two U.S. Cavalry regiments of African American soldiers were assigned to the frontier to uphold law and order, protect settlers, carry the mail, and solve "the Indian problem." The irony of black soldiers in search of new lives helping to destroy Native Americans who wanted to keep their way of life intact is not lost on Cox. It colors his narration of the tragic and heroic events that occurred and is even apparent in his chapter titles. To keep his perspective intimate, Cox makes it a point to talk about specific men (white, African American, and Native American) by name, give their personal stories, and place them in our national history. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and enlivened by quotes from primary sources, this is history as epic tragedy--the story of a people released from slavery but not free, and of a free people destroyed in the name of Manifest Destiny. Janice Del Negro --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590451227
• ISBN-13: 978-0590451222
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #524,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Concise and Highly Informative, December 30, 2010

By 

K.A.Goldberg (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Forgotten Heroes: The Story Of The Buffalo Soldiers (Paperback)

Author Clinton Cox describes the black soldiers of the U.S. Calvary in the Old West (1867-1890's). Readers learn about the pride and courage of these Buffalo Soldiers, who made their mark after the Civil War protecting settlers, mail wagons, and stage coaches from hostile Indians and even marauding outlaws. How ironic that the Buffalo Soldiers, themselves often victims of harsh discrimination, should assist in robbing Native American Indians of their ancestral lands. At times the Buffalo Soldiers battled the Souix, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Apaches, and other proud tribes, leaving the Great Plains and Southwest stained with blood. As many know, the tribes fought to protect their lands from encroachment, while the Buffalo Soldiers fought for pride (several received the Congressional Medal of Honor) and battled discrimination both in and out of the military. As the author shows, both the Buffalo Soldiers and Native American Indians were proud, capable, and often victimized by those that despised both groups. The title Buffalo Soldiers was given them by opposing Indian warriors who respected their prowess in battle. This concise book tells the story in readable style.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Easy To Read Story, January 26, 2010

By 

Big Sistah Patty (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Forgotten Heroes: The Story Of The Buffalo Soldiers (Paperback)

This is a good basic read. I would recommend it.

Again as I have stated with similar books on the Buffalo Soldiers, these are the men who opened the West for white settlers by assisting the US government in annihilating (killing) the natives or forcing them on reservations. These men suffered much and never got the recognition they deserved during their life times. They were hated by the very folks who benefited from the nearly wholesale slaughter of men, women and children. It is bittersweet.

The injustice of it all simply saddens me. Lawd I need something fun and lite to read. This serious stuff is sure enough bringing me down. There is joy in being ignorant. Oh if only I was among the masses of the ignorant and oblivious, life would more joyous. Awww it's too late for me my fellow reader. I am hooked!

The following are the words of General T. William Sherman regarding the native populations, i.e. Kiowas, Comanches, and Cheyennes:

"The more we can kill this year, the less will have to be killed the next war," he said shortly after coming to the West, "for the more I see of these Indians the more convinced I am that they all have to be killed or maintained as a species of paupers."

Please keep in mind that the same time the Buffalo Soldiers were primary ones being used to killed and subdue the native populations, while their own people were being hunted and killed and terrorized by the white folks all across the south.

This caught my attention and I though I'd share it with y'all:

"The Buffalo Soldiers had scouted almost ten thousands miles over incredibly rough terrain and had endured some of the harshest weather conditions in the United States.

They had found and marked almost every source of water on the Staked Plains.

Most of the scouting was through country had never been seen before by soldiers of the United States Army.

The Buffalo Soldiers, for better or worse, had helped make it possible. But official reports never even mentioned them."

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Forgotten Heroes: The Story of the Buffalo Soldiers, February 13, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Forgotten Heroes: The Story Of The Buffalo Soldiers (Paperback)

The Forgotten Heroes: The Story of the Buffalo Soldiers is about black calvarymen who went to fight the Native Americans out West in the late 1800's, and to make it safe for settlers. They fought battles against Native Americans led by Geronimo and other famous Native Americans. By joining the army, the soldiers hoped to find freedom, but to make the land safe for settlers, they had to take the Native American's freedom away.