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horacedanielnash CommunityBuildingontheBorder theroleofthetwenty-fourthinfantry bandatcolumbus,newmexico,1916–22 The black military units created by Congress immediately after the Civil War played prominent roles in settling the West. In the last two decades a number of works have recognized the contributions of these regiments ; however, most have dealt primarily with the military experience of blacks on the frontier in the post–Civil War era.1 In the twentieth century these same black regiments continued their tradition of military service in the West when the Mexican Revolution brought black soldiers to duty along the Mexico-United States border. On March 9, 1916, Mexican Revolutionary Pancho Villa and a band of his followers launched an attack on Columbus, New Mexico, a small, isolated community in Luna County, three miles north of the Mexican border. Subsequently, the United States organized a punitive expedition under Gen. John J. Pershing to pursueVilla into Mexico. Two black regiments , the Tenth Cavalry and the Twenty-fourth Infantry, were part of the expedition.2 Following the withdrawal of the Punitive Expedition from Mexico on February 5, 1917, the white Twelfth Cavalry and the black Twenty-fourth Infantry were stationed at Columbus.3 By the end of March 1917, nearly 1,500 soldiers (1,170 black and 249 white) were stationed at Camp Furlong, just south of the railroad tracks in Columbus. Three years later in March 1920, there were 4,109 enlisted men at the base, including 3,599 black and 510 white soldiers, and seventyfive officers (one black officer) present for duty. During the military buildup the civilian population of Columbus exploded, from barely 700 in 1916 to over 2,500 by 1920.4 At its height Columbus represented one of the single largest black military communities ever to reside in the West. Although some social activities at Columbus were segregated, blacks and whites jointly attended most public affairs and a high degree of tolerance prevailed between the races.5 While military bands had a tradition of community service and involvement,6 at Columbus they took part in most local events, performing at movies and in theater productions, boxing matches and baseball games, YMCA concerts and dances, and parades and holiday celebrations.7 Either the overwhelming numbers of the Twenty-fourth Infantry or the quality of its band resulted in it participating to a greater extent than the Twelfth Cavalry band in local activities . By performing at integrated activities, the Twenty-fourth Infantry band helped foster harmonious race relations and the spirit of community , while providing blacks with a sense of pride and vibrant social life. A great deal of interaction between the civilian and military community centered on wartime community efforts. Two months after the Punitive Expedition left Mexico, the United States declared war on Germany. During the war the people of Columbus, like those across the state and nation, were active in raising funds for the Red Cross. Blacks played a role in many of these fundraising affairs, especially members of the Twentyfourth Infantry band. On June 19, 1917, the band provided music for a dance given by the Finance Committee of the Red Cross. Many of the townspeople as well as a number of officers and their wives from both the Twelfth Cavalry and theTwenty-fourth Infantry attended the dance. According to the newspaper, “This was the first time this band had been heard for a local affair and the music made by our colored boys was highly enjoyed by all.” The event raised about fifty dollars. The presence of the band was the only indication that blacks attended this activity.8 In May 1918 the Red Cross organized another drive to raise funds, and the black community of Columbus and Camp Furlong was involved in these efforts. The Red Cross regional office in Denver, Colorado, assigned Luna County a quota of $7,000, including a quota for Columbus of $1,400. The first meeting of the local fundraising committee was held at Meadow’s Drug Store, where they discussed strategy and different plans for the campaign. Chaplain Alexander W. Thomas, the black chaplain of the Twenty-fourth Infantry, was selected to manage the drive among blacks.9 As part of the campaign, a series of fundraising activities were scheduled for the week of May 20–27, including three fundraisers featuring the Twenty-fourth Infantry band. The black musicians gave their first performance in the form of a concert at the Columbus Theater on 268...

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