During the month of February, Black History Month historically centers around names like Fredrick Douglas, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr, Malcom X, Rosa Parks, Huey Newton, Angela Davis, Muhammad Ali, Langston Hughes, Gordon Parks and so many others — and from now on, history will also celebrate President Barack Obama.
Today, however, I want to honor the nameless African American faces of Missoula, Montana’s 25th Infantry, who changed history in their own special way — by riding a bicycle.
The fictional memorandum below is written in the voice of the commanding officer (as told to the St. Louis Dispatch in 1897) which details a historic undertaking during a time of war — where black soldiers, led by a white officer, rode 1900-miles on iron bicycles; a field test of the possible evolution of mounted cavalry.
M E M O R A N D U M
DISPATCH: Fort Missoula, Montana
DISTANCE: 1900mi (Missoula, Montana / St. Louis, Missourri)
DURATION: 40 days
ACTIVE UNIT: U.S. ARMY, 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps.
“The bicycle has a number of advantages over the horse, it does not require as much care, it needs no forage, it moves much faster over fair roads… it is noiseless and raises but little dust, and it is impossible to determine its direction from its tracks… There was no condition of weather we did not endure, no topographical obstacle that we did not overcome… The trip has proved beyond peradventure my contention that the bicycle has a place in modern warfare. In every kind of weather, over all sorts of roads, we averaged fifty miles a day. At the end of the journey we are all in good physical condition… We endured every possible condition of warfare, but being shot at… Seventeen tires and half a dozen broken frames is the sum of our damage. The practical result of the trip shows that an army bicycle corps can travel twice as fast as cavalry or infantry under any conditions, and at one-third the cost and effort.”
Lieutenant James A. Moss
U.S. Army, 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps.
Fort Missoula, Montana. 1897
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:29 am
While some relegate our history to “one” month of the year with the more well known trials and/or accomplishments of African Americans, it is refreshing to have you broaden that scope. I’ve been given one more reason to be proud of who we are and will pass this on to many others that aren’t aware of the U.S. Army, 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps of Fort Missoula, Montana (1897). Continually proud of you, BBP&J.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:55 am
“the bicycle has a place in modern warfare”,,,,,,,,The CITY!
mtb hall of fame also has information on these riders:
mountain biking:
“Did it begin with the Buffalo Soldiers, a turn-of-the-century infantry who customized bicycles to carry gear over rough terrain? It was August 1896, the riders, black enlisted men and a white lieutenant, rode from Missoula, Montana, to Yellowstone and back, an arduous trip. Their mission: to test the bicycle for military use in mountainous terrain.”
more mtb history here:
http://www.mtnbikehalloffame.com/page.cfm?pageid=4
nice post mr smith.
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Nice, Ma Dukes is commenting on my contributions to the Freeman site. Man I love her!
Brian ‘preciate the compliment, brother — and I agree The CITY is definitely a real in the battlefield scenario whenever we lay rubber to pavement. I appreciate link, too — especially since I failed to mention these cats were the original Buffalo Soldiers!
February 19th, 2010 at 2:16 am
Thank you for posting this very interesting piece of historical information!!
During the allied invasion of Normandy in June, 1944 both British and Canadian Infantry carried folding bicycles onto the beaches of France; and judging by the photos at least, the Canadians managed to get inland a fair ways on the first day – thanks to their bikes.
Does anyone have any information about how bicycles figure in modern combat?? I have heard/read that the modern Swiss Army uses bikes a lot!!
Best
David Gudlaugson
March 16th, 2010 at 12:11 am
David,
‘preciate you stopping through and commenting — I haven’t looked into how bicycles figure into modern combat (there may be something to that)! If you find out anything, be sure to let us know. Be easy and stay blessed.