DUANE
Duane's take
Here's what the official marker has to say, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Summer of 1877. West Texas.
And if you think the land out here is unforgiving now, well — just imagine riding into it with nothing but dry canteens and hope. The mission was straightforward enough on paper: stop the raiding of Chief Old Black Horses' Comanches. Army and civilian both signed on for it.
Sixty Negro troops of Company A, Tenth U.S. Cavalry, riding alongside twenty-two buffalo hunters who would come to be called The Forlorn Hope. That name alone ought to tell you something about how it went.
They departed Fort Concho in early July, led by Captain Nicholas Nolan. Sixty soldiers, twenty-two hunters, one captain, and an ocean of summer heat stretching out in every direction. The Indians eluded them.
And the water holes — every last one — came up dry. By July 7th, the men were thirst-crazed. That's the word the marker uses, and I'm not going to soften it, because it shouldn't be softened.
These soldiers, to stay alive, drank horse blood and urine. And they endured that for eighty-six hours. Eighty-six parched hours in the West Texas summer before they finally reached an old supply base.
The buffalo hunters had already broken from the group by then — went their own way and found water alone. All but four of the soldiers survived. Four men didn't make it back.
And the rest earned something the marker calls what it is without flinching: a heroic test of endurance. Out here on this road, it's worth sitting with that a moment — what those men went through, and what it cost.
What the marker says
Army and civilian effort in 1877 to halt raiding of Chief "Old Black Horses" Comanches. In group were 60 Negro troops of Co. A, 10th U.S. Cavalry, and 22 buffalo hunters known as "The Forlorn Hope". Troops departed Fort Concho in early July, led by Capt. Nicholas Nolan. Eluded by Indians and finding water holes dry, on July 7 men were thirst-crazed. By drinking horse blood and urine, soldiers lived 86 parched hours; finally reached old supply base. Hunters left group; found water alone. All but 4 soldiers survived this heroic test of endurance. (1972)