T P age B3 T he P ortland O bserver • S eptember 15, 1993 Buffalo Soldiers Bide Again In a similar spirit o f Oregon Trail renaissance, a Portland cultural group rounded up resources to sponsor a unit o f African-American horseback riders dressed in the m id -18(X)s uniforms o f black cavalry troopers, known as “ buf falo soldiers.” "The buffalo soldicrsplaycdpromi- nent and important roles in the history o f this country and the Oregon Trail,” says M ark Little o f Hyalite In c , a local nonprofit group that promotes cultural nteniiomngs o f them in books and film s ” The Portland Buffalo Soldiers troop participated in the Oregon Trail pro gram in remembrance o f the old-9th and 10th cavalry regiments, and the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments, black units that patrolled the U S. Western frontier after the C ivil War, and in remembrance o f the non-m ili- tary black pioneers who participated in the Western expansion along the O r egon Trail. diverstiy. Osker Spicer (Oregonian staff) During and after the C ivil Wars, black cavalry and infantry units were says, “ also note that the black cavalry assigned to posts at the gate o f the troops, that we commemorated spent Oregon T rail in Independence, Mo., almost as much time protecting Ameri- and at various locations along the route Buffalo soldiers also served at Fort Vancouver. Little said: a number o f them are buried there, including Moses Williams, who received the Congres sional Medal o f Honor. The buffalo soldiers-a moniker o f honor given by Americans Indians al luding to the black troopers’curly hair and enduri ng strength-served with dis- tinction. They successfully handled some o f the frontier A rm y’s toughest assignments. Little emphasized, "de spite being discriminated against by the m ilitary establishment. They were given some o f the poorest food, poorest equipment and poorest treatment by the poorest officers.” Still they gained an impeccable record o f successfully aiding wagon and pack trains, miners, settlers and maintaining law and order. Far more than the noted Texas Rangers, the buf falo soldiers were a major police force on the Western frontier. However, Little lamented, “ there arc only scattered can Indian territory from white land grabbers as they did fight in tribal battles. The black troops helped patrol wagon trains leaving on both Oregon and Santa Fe Trails from such posts as Ft. Dodge and Ft. Riley Kansas, and later various forts along the Oregon Trail after these units were transferred to the Nortliem Plains and N.W. Regions during the 1880’s.” The black troops served as frontier police o f sorts battling white cattle rustlers, highway men, gangs, etc. It’s a misnomer that all they did was fight their Red brothers and sisters. In fact, Blacks and Reds were extensively intermixed-many o f the tribal groups that fought the cavalry included black Indian members. Also many o f the cavalry troops were o f mixed black- Indian ancestry History can paint a very complex picture. Despite the sacrifices made by black pioneers o f black troopers on the fro n tie r, mainstream U.S. liistory books have denied them a rightful place. Our participa tion in the celebra tion was to some degree a way o f rectifying the de nials. Thousands cheered (in O r egon C ity: 1993) and started to real ize that all races and cu ltures helped build this countiy. It was a very emotional ex perience for all o f us--we could feel the spirits o f our ancestors w ith us as we sat tall in those saddles rep- r e s e n tin g th e m ...fin a lly , recapping some acknowledgement for their great con tributions and sacrifices. A t a reception at the Texas One Restaurant in N.E. Portland on that Sunday evening, September, 1993, we all agreed that there have been no more prouder moments in our lives! ! And some o f our group represented our country on battlefields going back to World War II and Korea. It was quite an honor to stand up for our great ancestors, men, women, and children who came west in search o f peace, security and freedom. (The Portland Observer staff thanks John M. Craig and Oskar Spicer fo r the special effort and contributions o f materials and pho tos that made it possible fo r us to share with you, our readers, this special event— th e celebration o f the Oregon Trail.) L o w E v e r y d a y P r ic e s ! 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