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Back to Art of the Old West   CROSSING ON THE DIRTY DEVIL


Original 30"x 40" Acrylic/Canvas Painting
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.

This painting depicts 10th Cavalry ˇ§buffalo soldiersˇ¨ 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.
CANVAS Art Prints
Signed by the Artist

(24" x 32")
Open Edition, Shipped Rolled Tube $175.00
Open Edition, Shipped Studio Stretched $230.00
(18" x 24")
Open Edition, Shipped Rolled Tube $105.00
Open Edition, Shipped Studio Stretched $135.00

*Please note*: Artist Frank Thomas' studio lithographic art print sales are discontinued from 10 March 2007 until 1 October of 2008. He and his wife are serving for eighteen months in the Ohio-Cleveland Mission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons), at the Kirtland Historic Sites, Kirtland, Ohio. He has set up his art studio and is producing additional LDS historical paintings at that location. Rolled canvas art prints (only) are available and may be purchased by calling Frank at (435) 406-9526 or contact by email wildgoose@crystalpeaks.com.
Artist Frank Thomas (Army Lieutenant Colonel, retired) used as models two of the soldiers and friends he served with in Vietnam, in 1967. Captain James Tate (Thomas's former field artillery commanding officer, now 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 the Corporal on the second horse.