Buffalo Soldier Tragedy of 1877 in Lynn County

KNOWN AS BUFFALO SOLDIERS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN TROOPS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR. ON JULY 26, 1877, BUFFALO SOLDIERS OF COMPANY A, 10TH CAVALRY LEFT DOUBLE LAKES IN LYNN COUNTY IN PURSUIT OF A COMANCHE PARTY. THE COMANCHE LED THE SOLDIERS AWAY FROM WATERING HOLES AND THEY SUFFERED FROM EXTREME DEHYDRATION AND SICKNESS, ENDURING HEAT, DRYNESS, AND 86 HOURS WITHOUT WATER. A NUMBER OF SOLDIERS BECAME LOST WHILE SEARCHING FOR WATER AND MANY OF THEIR HORSES AND MULES DIED. ON JULY 30, THE REMAINING TROOPS RETURNED TO LYNN COUNTY FOR RECUPERATION. FOUR DIED ON THE EXPEDITION, INCLUDING PVT. JOHN T. GORDON, WHO IS BURIED AT DOUBLE LAKES.