"CROSSING ON THE DIRTY DEVIL"
10th Cavalry Regiment "Buffalo" Soldiers on Escort Duty
by Artist Frank M. Thomas
Original Art Canvas, 8 sq. ft. (30" x 40") In the Artist's collection
Historical Background:
In the years following the Civil War, migration into the West, beginning in the 1840s, flowed on in ever larger waves. The American Indian Tribes attempted to block this invasion. Thus Congress found the need to add additional cavalry regiments to augment its forces in the West. The 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments were organized of African Americans, many of whom had formerly been slaves. They became the rank and file of the regiments up through the rank of Sergeant Major, commissioned officers being white. These very brave, hardy, reliable horse soldiers received the nickname "buffalo soldiers," a term of respect earned from the Indians they fought.
Click on photo above for larger image
This painting depicts the U.S. Army's 10th Cavalry Regiment "buffalo soldiers" serving escort duty in 1875 in the Southwestern region of the Old West. This assignment was often a mundane chore disliked by most soldiers, but highly essential in ensuring traveler safety through Indian country.
Artist Frank Thomas (U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, retired) used as models two of the soldiers and friends he served with in Vietnam, in 1967. Former Field Artillery Captain James Tate (Thomas's former field artillery commanding officer, now U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, retired) is painted on the lead horse as a Sergeant, and 1st Lieutenant Melvin Lodge (a fellow Army officer, now retired high school principal) is portrayed as the Corporal on the second horse.
Canvas Art Print Offerings:
18" x 24" (signed by artist/rolled - ready to stretch)..........................$181.50
tube shipped........................+$12.25
18" x 24" (signed by artist/stretched - ready to frame)......................$207.50
flat package shipped.............+$18.50
24" x 32" (signed by artist/rolled only - ready to stretch)...................$272.25
tube shipped.........................+$13.50
(NOTE: The rolled print may be stretched in most frame shops before framing.
The 18"x 24" sized print may use a standard sized frame after it is stretched.)
*Please note*: Artist Frank Thomas' studio lithographic art print and giclee' canvas art print sales have now been resumed as of November 1st, 2008. He and his wife, Patreecia, have completed an eighteen month mission in the Ohio-Cleveland Mission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at the Kirtland Historic Village Sites, Kirtland, Ohio. He was asked by LDS Church General Authorities to paint early Church history scenes of 1830's Kirtland.
He has now returned home to his art studio at 206 North 100 East, Holden, Utah 84636 and is producing LDS historical paintings and Old West paintings at that site. His art prints may be purchased online by credit card or by personal check.
Call Frank at his Studio" (435) 795-2206 or (435) 406-9526, or contact directly by email wildgoose@crystalpeaks.com.