Buffalo Soldiers | The Last to Leave | 3

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the wider U.S. Army have both been places where Black cadets and soldiers have encountered significant racism and discrimination. Throughout history, individuals such as Johnson Chestnut Whittaker and Henry Ossian Flipper have faced hostility that reflects the systemic prejudice within the military institutions.

Black Cadets at West Point Faced Hostility and Distrust From White Peers and Superiors

Black Cadet Whittaker at West Point in 1880 Accused of Staging Attack by Masked Assailants to Gain Sympathy

Johnson Chestnut Whittaker, one of the first Black cadets at West Point, faced severe hostility and abuse from his white counterparts. In a shocking incident, Whittaker was found in his room unconscious, with injuries and tied to his bed. Despite his account of being attacked by masked assailants, authorities quickly suspected him of staging the incident for sympathy. On April 6th, 1880, after a violent incident that left him slashed and bound, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lazell interrogated Whittaker, showing suspicion and disdain toward the cadet's story. Whittaker was consistent in his account, detailing a brutal attack by men dressed in cadet gray. However, Lazell accused him of self-infliction, going so far as to have potential evidence destroyed by cleaning Whittaker's room.

Whittaker was barred from the inquiry into the attack and was ultimately found guilty and dishonorably discharged, though the case was later overturned due to procedural issues. Despite the overturning of his court-martial, he was dismissed from West Point without graduating after failing an exam subsequent to the ordeal he faced.

Henry Ossian Flipper: First Black West Point Graduate Court-Martialed and Dismissed on Dubious Grounds

Henry Ossian Flipper, who roomed with Whittaker during his first year at the Military Academy, became the first Black cadet to graduate from West Point. However, Flipper's success did not shield him from racism's harsh realities.

Despite making a promising start in the Army and receiving commendations from superiors, Flipper’s career derailed when a minor financial error put him under scrutiny. As the quartermaster and ...

The story of the Buffalo Soldiers during the Indian Wars is one marked by bravery in battle against formidable opponents as well as difficult conditions, compounded by participation in morally complex scenarios involving the forced relocation of Native Americans.

Buffalo Soldiers Like Moses Williams of the 9th Cavalry Showed Courage In Apache Battles but Faced Hardship

First Sergeant Moses Williams of the 9th Cavalry exhibited exceptional leadership and valor in clashes with Apache groups led by the likes of Nana. Williams' military prowess came to the forefront during a patrol near Cuchillo, New Mexico, where he led flanking maneuvers in response to Nana's attack on a nearby ranch. Despite his more extensive service, Williams served dutifully under the less experienced White West Point graduate Lieutenant George Burnett. As they pursued Apache leaders such as Nana and Geronimo, Buffalo Soldiers like Williams encountered grueling challenges likely including harsh winters, scarcity of food, and thirst, although these specific details are not elaborated in the content provided.

Government's Treatment of Native Americans and Forced Apache Relocations Involved Buffalo Soldiers In Injustices

As tensions escalated following the U.S. government’s seizure of lands from the Lakota Sioux and their confinement to inadequate reservations, Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th Cavalry and other units were dispatched to Pine Ridge Reservation to contain the unrest spurred by the Ghost Dance movement and the subsequent killing of Sitting Bull. Their mission culminated in the unfortunate involvement in the Wounded Knee Massacre, an event that saw the deaths of up to 300 Lakota Sioux, predominantly unarmed women and children. The end of the Indian Wars found the 9th Cavalry performing guard duty in a frigid winter at Pine Ridge, a time they pondered over the injustices witnessed and suffered, even as some expressed their sentiment through poetry.

Another regiment, the 10th Cavalry, which included Buffalo Soldiers, t ...

The stories of valued Buffalo Soldiers, like George Jordan and Reuben Walder, reveal a pattern of neglect and discrimination even after their distinguished service.

Distinguished Buffalo Soldiers Like George Jordan Were Denied Proper Care In Later Years

George Jordan, a Medal of Honor recipient and veteran of the 9th Cavalry, experienced dire neglect by the very nation he served. He visited the Fort Robinson Army Hospital for a kidney condition, but despite alarming symptoms such as blood in his urine, swollen feet, and constant fatigue, the doctors denied him treatment and advised him to seek help in Washington, D.C. Jordan expressed his inability to travel, especially without the funds for a train ticket. At the Fort Robinson hospital, a doctor favoring a white veteran underscored the racial discrimination Jordan faced, leaving him forgotten and marginalized as he was forced to sit untreated in the waiting area.

Jordan Was Denied Kidney Treatment at Fort Robinson Army Hospital, Dying Soon After With $11

In a stark illustration of disregard for a decorated hero, George Jordan was not only denied essential medical treatment for his kidney condition but died shortly thereafter in abandonment and poverty with just eleven dollars to his name.

Black Veterans Faced Limited Opportunities, Racial Violence, Little Government Assistance

Buffalo Soldier Veterans Struggled to Find Stability Post-Army

The broader Black veteran community, exemplified by Buffalo Soldiers like the 10th Cavalry's Reuben Walder, endured racial violence, overt Jim Crow segregation, and scant economic opportunities ...