Thanks Tom, I'd like to see that reference myself. I'm pretty sure it predates the courtmartial reference I have, (which wasn't quite buffalo soldiers anyway-but as I said before, referred to a noncom as a "buffalo son of a bitch.") but will double check my records. I do know that it was in common usage around the turn of the century, if not a little before-in the "yellow" journals. What was interesting to me, was in all of the W.O.W items you sent me, from the first third of the 20th century, not a single veteran used that term.

As for the dying down-I agree-it's like the myths of "they got the worst equipment, horses, etc." T'ain't so, but people will believe what they want to. And when stuff is published by the Department of Defense that is clearly wrong-it makes it even harder.
(See the link that Bennie provided. )

Sharon