BY KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post
The Barton County Historical Society got a visit last Saturday from an 1867 Buffalo soldier. Jay Clark, the founder of the Wichita Buffalo Soldiers, re-enacted the role of an African-American soldier who helped patrol the Santa Fe Trail in what is now Barton County. Clark's character told the visitors to the Historical Society what a buffalo soldier did in the late 1860s.
"For the Santa Fe Trail, our job was to escort settlers that were wanting to go westward," Clark's character said. "We were supposed to protect them from Indians, outlaws and Mexican bandits. That was our duty."
The first buffalo soldier unit was formed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1866, a year after the end of the Civil War. All Buffalo soldier units were made up of African-American enlisted men.
Clark said a cavalry unit of 98 Buffalo soldiers was sent to Fort Larned in 1867. They were eventually transferred to Fort Zarah after a confrontation with white soldiers. In addition to protecting travelers on the Santa Fe Trail, they also helped construct railroads, lay telegraph lines, build forts and protect the mail. Clark said the buffalo soldiers were often given second-hand uniforms and faced racial discrimination from other soldiers and western settlers.
Clark said buffalo soldiers fought in every American war from 1867 until after World War II. He said they won the most Congressional medals of honor of any cavalry unit in American history.
Clark grew up in Nicodemus, Kansas. Two of his ancestors were buffalo soldiers. Clark is married with six children. One of his sons participates in re-enactments with him.
Clark's presentation was part of this year's commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail. Information about other events can be found at santafetrail200.com or 2021santafetrailkansas.com.