Shannon Stirnweis (B. 1931) "Buffalo Soldiers" Signed lower right. Oil on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the 29c Buffalo Soldiers stamp issued April 22, 1994. An act of Congress, passed in 1866, opened the way for the recruitment of blacks into the U.S. Army. They joined for the same reasons other young men joined, to better themselves economically, since jobs were hard to come by in the post war slump. Some wanted to see the West, while others were running away from trouble. And some were simply looking for a change from the drudgery of everyday life. The Indians called them Buffalo Soldiers, because they saw a resemblance between the black soldiers' hair and the buffalo's thick, shaggy coat. Since the buffalo was a sacred animal to the Indians, the name was considered a badge of honor. Four black regiments were spread across the West, stationed at such remote sites as Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and Fort Concho, Texas. Wherever they served, they were considered some of the most dependable, steadfast and courageous soldiers to fight on the Plains. They fought frequently and hard, and military records show that their desertion rate was far less than that for white soldiers. They were extremely well disciplined and noted for their ability to maintain high morale during long winter marches. Still, they were kept cordoned off in their own units, segregated from the rest of the Army. No black man ever served as an officer in the Indian wars and white officers avoided duty with black regiments, considering it a form of exile. But to the Indians who fought against them, the Buffalo Soldiers were highly respected, honored adversaries. Image Size: 17.5 x 15 in. Overall Size: 20.75 x 18 in. Unframed. (B14718)