Buffalo Soldiers

Black Sabre Chronicles #1

by Tom Willard

From the Civil War to Desert Storm, there stretches an unbroken line of dedicated, distinguished service by African-Americans in the United States military. Buffalo Soldiers is a tribute to the bravery, honor, and sacrifice of these black American fighting men.

Sergeant Major Augustus Sharps of the 10th Cavalry and other former slaves had proven that they could fight valiantly for their freedom, but in the West they were to fight for the freedom and security of white settlers who often despised them. The Cheyenne thought the hair of this new kind of soldier resembled buffalo hides, and the men on the 9th and 10th Cavalry became known as "buffalo soldiers."

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Military Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1996

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the movie.

[Duane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of two novels (the other is Sable Doughboy) that chronicles the struggles of a Black Army family in the West following the Civil War. In this case, the novel is an excellent form to tell the history of the Buffalo soldiers, particularly the 10th Cavalry, from its inception in 1866 to WWI in an engaging way. Embedded in the vivid storyline are the battles & accomplishments, mostly unheralded, that make up their legacy. They made up 20% of the US Army in the West & performed much of the dirtiest, most thankless soldiering in the West that made the land safe for settlers to survive & prosper. Also, as the characters wrestle with the underlying question, The dialog between our main character, a duty-bound career soldier & his enterprising wife you ponder the core question, "Should Black men put their lives on the line to protect the lives and property of an America that largely hates them." It also puts you into this multi-generational Black military family & their struggles. As a military brat & a career military officer, I can relate to the travel, family separation, role shifting & some of the stress of the lifestyle. For anyone who wants to know about the role Black soldiers played in opening up the territories of Texas, New Mexico & Arizona to White settler development without reading through textbookish manuscripts, this is a book for you.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm kind of a book theif. I will take books from my siblings and mom because our taste in books are so different. It's always fun to read something you wouldn't usually read. I "borrowed" it from my brother without permission. I was aching to read something different and this caught my eye. I was really into this and couldn't put it down unless I was going to sleep. I was so gripped by the story and characters.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The year is 1866, and the setting is a frontier train station in Kansas. The Civil War has finally ground to a halt, the South is in the midst of reconstruction, and the newly freed slaves are adrift: no longer bound to their masters, but unsure how to make a life for themselves. Many African-American men decided to earn pride, money, identity, and a measure of respect by enlisting in the United States Army. Those who were placed in the cavalry became known as Buffalo Soldiers.

So back to 1866 and that train station. The newly appointed Sergeant Major sent to lead the troops arrives to find his soldiers herded to the side in inhumane conditions. Segregation, discrimination, and hatred combined to make life impossibly hard. The men were cold, hungry, and filthy. They needed a strong leader to give them both personal and regimental pride. Enter Brassard(an African-American sergeant) and Lieutenant O'Kelly(a white officer). O'Kelly backs Brassard up as he orders the train conductor to find his men food and clean blankets. O'Kelly notes later in his journal "The day had taught him a lesson in leadership from the sergeant major that transcended race, and followed the strictest teachings of West Point: A good officer looks after his troops."

Fast forward to 1869, and the Buffalo Soldiers are firmly entrenched at Fort Wallace, deep in Indian country. We are introduced to Augustus, a former slave to both white men and the Indians. He's been forced to shoot buffalo for his master, and is a wicket sharp shooter. He's rescued by Moss Liberty (a soldier), and we also meet Liberty's daughter Selina. Throughout the book Willard does a good job of showing the struggles that "colored" soldiers dealt with while protecting white settlers (who hated them) from Indians and Mexican bandits. Many of the Buffalo soldiers sympathized with the Indians, as both races were at the mercy of white men.

Bottom line? Willard definitely has an important story to tell. If our country is going to overcome barriers, misconceptions, and bipolar division we must understand the history, hardships, and triumphs of *All* the cultures/ethnicities around us. We as a country celebrate Lincoln, and his proclamation which freed the slaves, but we must understand that the story didn't stop there. In fact, for many, life was just as hard (if not harder) in the 25-75 years (depending on the area of the country) after Lincoln's proclamation. That being said, having a story to tell does not mean that it will be told well. Unfortunately for Willard, his story came out stilted, matter of fact, and awkward. I almost felt like I was listening to a 5th grader read a report (no offense to 5th graders intended). Even the most dramatic parts of the story were told without emotion. I believe the delivery affected the content enough to leave this book at 2 stars or "average" rating, but the content is important enough to elevate the book above 1 star.

Recommended for history buffs, but even more strongly recommended as a library book :)

[Harold Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so engrossed because I couldn't put it down... at all. It explains the life of the men and families of the 10th Cavalry. The beginning of the African American influence in the US Army with the influence of Sgt. Maj. Augustus Sharp and his spouse Selona. Sgt Maj Sharps and his men performed in the west with distinction even though they were despised and hated by the white settlers. The term "Buffalo Soldiers" were given that title by the Cheyenne warriors who fought them. The term was used because they resembled buffalo hides. I truly enjoyed this book because they showed the courage, bravery, and distinction that African American men and women presented in the west and to the world. True bravery and courage.

[Gord · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this history lesson. Willard brings the setting to life, and doesn't scrimp on the characterization - good guys and really, really bad guys. The events are true, but the story doesn't feel like it compromises any narrative texture to the facts.

It moves fast, a lot of ground is covered in a very short time, which has its pluses and minuses. Sometimes I felt like I wanted to nestle in a little more to a specific place or situation, but Willard has a lot to cover, so he sometimes jarred me out too soon to move on with the story.

Some unforgettable imagery though, and a real mind opener for me.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, this is the newest book I'm recommending! I don't know much about the Indian wars, but now I know a bit more. Reading Willard feels a bit like reading Michener or Clavell, maybe shorter, but similar in being well-researched and epic. A great read that pulls you in and gets harder and harder to put down. Goodness, I love historical fiction!

[Harold Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was the beginning of a black military family. It starts with SgtMaj. Sharps and his wife Selona. One of my personal favorites. The book explains the hardships and tough life of the 10th Cavalry and their families. It proved that these former slaves and freedmen showed true bravery, honor, and how they distinguished themselves in combat in the old west. The book was awesome.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with this book. Being that it was written by a white person, it didn't deal very well with what the soldiers of color had to deal with. It was very cliched and I couldn't wait to finish it.

[Renee Kayser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible read! I am shelving to read again

[Aleta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put it down, found myself reading well into the night. A must-read for history buffs. I enjoyed the historical figures sprinkled throughout the story.

[gaudeo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel tells the little-known story of life as an African American soldier in the 10th Cavalry, a "colored" regiment in the post-Civil War West. It portrays well the strength, dignity, and pride of performing a job well done even in the face of virulent prejudice on the part of the settlers whom the soldiers were striving to protect. The prose isn't especially polished, and the author has trouble deciding whether he wants to tell the story from a third-person limited or an omniscient perspective, but he is skilled at plot and it's clear he did his research to get the myriad details right. I wouldn't recommend this book to a wide readership, but it's worth a read for those interested in the topic.

[Theophilus (Theo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willard writes very similar in the tales of W.E.B. Griffin in "Brotherhood of War." However, Willard follows the family line of a black soldier on the American frontier from the days of the Apache wars through the Gulf War. Not all blood and guts, but the touching story of an American family surviving and contributing to our martial history. This volume chronicles the story of one particular soldier and the woman he loves. The brutality acted out upon her by Texas rangers is repugnant, but illustrates the hardships faced by the new black citizens after the Civil War and their struggle to make new lives for themselves.

[Aurora Dimitre · Rating 3 out of 5]

~3.5 Stars~

This was fine, but in the way that it was very soap-opera with a lot of twists and turns that seemed very out-of-the-blue. I do realize that, yes, bad things were happening, but there was just about no build-up - it's like fanfiction where the author has sort of gone power-mad and decide that they can kill anyone they want this is how writing is ahahaha

But it was fun. I enjoyed it more than I really want to admit. It was fun, just not, objectively speaking, good.

[Doraine Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent mix of fact and fiction for a historical fiction account of the Ninth Cavalry and the Buffalo Soldiers. A bit hard to follow at times as the writer switches POV character, often in the middle of a scene.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book and a pretty quick read. Not sure how much is true or based on true stories or completely fabricated, but it was very entertaining and a different take on a lot of classical western stories.

[Marget Weatherby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard set of books to find in print, but they are truly worth the search to find and read...

[Jo Beth]

Another book club book. The story was wonderful but I wanted to know more about the characters. Lots of facts, little character development