The Buffalo Soldier Tragedy of 1877

College Station, Texas: Texas A & M University Press. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 2003. First Edition. Hardcover. 1585442534 . Book comes with a typed letter SIGNED by the author in blue ink at the bottom of the letter. The letter was from the author and addressed to Stanley Marsh 3 and makes clear this book was a personal gift from the author to Marsh. Book itself is not signed. Letter is tipped into book on the rear free endpaper. Stanley Marsh 3 was a wealthy and very eccentric oilman in Amarillo, Texas and patron of the arts. He is probably most famous for his Cadillac Ranch art installation. Marsh was credibly accused of sexual misconduct with minors and died before his trial. In the heat of the drought summer of 1877 some 40 buffalo soldiers accompanied by 22 buffalo hunters rode into the Llano Estecado pursuing a band of Kwahada Comanches. The pursuit was a disaster and the soldiers soon ran out of water and were abandoned by the hunters. Most of the soldiers eventually survived by drinking their own urine and the blood of their horses. Four died and others were court-martialed for desertion. This is the history of the disaster based on primary and secondary sources. Covers clean and bright. Both ends of spine very gently bumped. Corners sharp. Minimal soiling to top page edges. No highlighting or underlining. Text, photographs, illustrations and maps all clean and bright. Dust Jacket bright. Minimal soiling to DJ front cover. DJ now protected in mylar. Ships same or next business day well protected in a box. ; Large 8vo 9" - 10" tall; 177 pages; Signed by Author .