In 1887, members of the 9th Cavalry Regiment—known as Buffalo Soldiers—intervened to protect a band of Ute Indians. These Native Americans had fled into Utah after tensions escalated with white settlers and the Colorado state militia. The Utes had left the White River Reservation in Colorado, fearing violent retribution and encroachment on their lands. In response, the Colorado militia pursued them, intent on forcing their return or provoking conflict. The U.S. Army, recognizing the potential for bloodshed and the questionable legality of the militia’s actions, dispatched Black American troops of the 9th Cavalry to intercept the militia and deescalate the situation, preventing a deadly confrontation. Their disciplined conduct and calm presence upheld federal authority and protected the Ute families. This little-known episode highlights the complex role Black soldiers played in both enforcing and sometimes tempering U.S. Indian policy during the western expansion.
The Joy Trip Project celebrates Black History Month.
The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series aims to elevate the untold stories of Black American history.
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