WHEN THE 25th INFANTRY BICYCLE CORPS WAS TAKING PRACTICE RIDES, WHEN THEY WENT OUT IN THE BITTEROOT VALLEY, THERE WAS A FAMILY, A LITTLE GIRL THAT SAW THE 25th INFANTRY RIDING BY, AND SHE WAS REALLY AFRAID, PROBABLY BECAUSE SHE HADN'T SEEN BLACKS BEFORE.

AND SHE WENT RUNNING TO HER PARENTS -- "MOMMY, MOMMY, THE COLOREDS ARE COMING BY."

AND THE FAMILY JUST SAID, "YES, THEY'RE THE SOLDIERS, THEY'RE THE 25th INFANTRY, EVERYTHING IS OKAY."

Man: AFTER BREAKFAST, THE MARCH BEGINS.

THE BICYCLE CORPS PULLS OUT AHEAD.

IT IS HEAVY WHEELING AND PRETTY BUMPY ON THE GRASS, WHERE THEY ARE COMPELLED TO RIDE.

BUT THEY MANAGE FAR BETTER THAN ONE WOULD ANTICIPATE.

FREDERIC REMINGTON.

Man: IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP ANY KIND OF FORMATION WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH THE COUNTRY.

EVERY CYCLIST VERY NATURALLY PICKED HIS OWN WAY.

IT WAS A CASE OF EVERY FELLOW FOR HIMSELF AND THE DEVIL FOR US ALL.

LIEUTENANT JAMES A. MOSS, COMMANDER, 25th INFANTRY BICYCLE CORPS.

Man: THE BICYCLE REQUIRES NEITHER WATER, FOOD, NOR REST.

SO THE RIDER MAY PUSH TO THE TOP NOTCH OF HIS OWN ENDURANCE WITHOUT THOUGHT OF HIS STEED.

MAJOR GENERAL NELSON A. MILES.

Man: WHERE DO WE EXPECT TO GO TODAY?

THE LORD ONLY KNOWS.

WE'RE JUST FOLLOWING THE LIEUTENANT.

"THE BICYCLE CORPS -- AMERICA'S BLACK ARMY ON WHEELS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY... AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

Narrator: EVEN BY 6:00 IN THE MORNING, LOCALS COULD TELL THE DAY WOULD BE WARM ENOUGH FOR SHIRT SLEEVES.

AND SINCE THERE WAS NO WIND, IT WAS EASY FOR THEM TO HEAR THE MORNING GUN LOCATED AT THE FORT FOUR MILES WEST OF MISSOULA.

LOOKING UP FROM THEIR EARLY MORNING LABORS, RESIDENTS WERE TREATED TO A FAMILIAR, YET STILL CURIOUS SIGHT.

COMING DOWN THE ROAD WERE TWO WHITE OFFICERS AND 20 ENLISTED BLACK SOLDIERS.

EACH WAS PEDALLING A NEW, SPECIALLY EQUIPPED SPALDING BICYCLE.

IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A 2,000-MILE BICYCLE TRIP FROM MISSOULA, MONTANA TO ST.

LOUIS, MISSOURI, A TRIP THAT WOULD TEST BOTH MEN AND BICYCLES, BUT MOSTLY A THEORY.

COULD SOLDIERS ON BICYCLES BE AS EFFECTIVE AS TROOPS MOUNTED ON HORSES?

THEY PEDALLED THROUGH MISSOULA IN DOUBLE FILE, A FORMATION THEY REPEATED EVERY TIME THEY APPROACHED A POPULATED AREA.

EACH COLUMN OF SOLDIERS WAS HEADED BY A LANCE CORPORAL.

THEY, IN TURN, ANSWERED TO THE FIRST SERGEANT.

IN COMMAND AND UPON WHOSE SHOULDERS RESTED THE SUCCESS OF THE EXPERIMENT WAS AN ENTHUSIASTIC WHITE OFFICER -- LIEUTENANT JAMES A. MOSS.

HE WAS 25 YEARS OLD AND STOOD 5'6".

THE ARMY WAS CONVINCED THAT SMALL ATHLETIC MEN MADE BETTER BICYCLE SOLDIERS.

ALTHOUGH RAISED IN THE MODEST SURROUNDINGS OF A LOUISIANA FAMILY, MOSS RECEIVED AN APPOINTMENT TO PRESTIGIOUS WEST POINT, BUT GRADUATED NEAR THE BOTTOM OF HIS CLASS.

HIS ASSIGNMENT TO AN ALL-BLACK INFANTRY UNIT IN REMOTE MONTANA WAS TYPICAL FOR LOW-RANKING GRADUATES.

Woman: I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS CHOICE, BUT AS IT WORKED OUT, HE FOUND THAT THEY WERE VERY, VERY GOOD SOLDIERS.

AND IN ONE OF THE ARTICLES THAT HE WROTE HE MENTIONS...HE REALLY PRAISED HIS BLACK ARMY, AND SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER HAD BETTER MEN IN ANY OF HIS COMPANIES.

Narrator: JAMES MOSS WAS A REMARKABLY DRIVEN YOUNG MAN.

AN AVID CYCLIST AND AN OUTSPOKEN PROPONENT FOR MILITARY CYCLING, MOSS WAS CONVINCED THERE WAS A PLACE FOR THE BICYCLE ALONGSIDE THE HORSE IN THE MODERN ARMY.

HE TOOK HIS IDEAS TO NELSON A. MILES, THE CELEBRATED VETERAN OF THE INDIAN WARS, AND THE ARMY'S COMMANDING GENERAL.

MILES, WHO HAD BEEN ADVOCATING MILITARY USE OF THE BICYCLE SINCE 1891, WROTE THE SECRETARY OF WAR AND RECOMMENDED THAT LIEUTENANT MOSS HAVE A CHANCE TO TEST HIS BICYCLE THEORY.

Man: THE BICYCLE WILL IN THE FUTURE PROVE TO BE A MOST VALUABLE AUXILIARY IN MILITARY OPERATIONS.

I RECOMMEND THAT A FORCE EQUAL TO ONE FULL REGIMENT OF 12 COMPANIES BE EQUIPPED WITH BICYCLES, AND THEIR UTILITY THOROUGHLY DEMONSTRATED BY ACTUAL SERVICE.

I GUESS FROM ONE PERSPECTIVE SOME MIGHT SAY, WELL, YOU HAVE BLACK SOLDIERS DOING THIS UNUSUAL THING.

THIS MUST HAVE BEEN SOME KIND OF SPECIAL EXPERIMENT THAT WAS DEVISED -- THAT WHITE SOLDIERS WOULD NOT HAVE UNDERTAKEN.

THIS HAS TO BE PUT IN A MUCH BROADER CONTEXT.

THE COINCIDENCE HERE IS A SERENDIPITOUS COMING TOGETHER, AS IT WERE, OF AN INTEREST FROM THE COMMANDING GENERAL.

THEN YOU HAD THE INTEREST OF A SECOND LIEUTENANT.

AND THEN HIS COMMANDING OFFICER COLONEL BURKE.

IF THERE HAD BEEN A WHITE CONTINGENT, A WHITE MILITARY GROUP IN MISSOULA, MONTANA, AND HAD THE SAME MIND SET, LET'S SAY, OF A LIEUTENANT MOSS, THEN I'M SURE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY WHITE SOLDIERS.

Narrator: MOSS FELT THAT ANY EFFECTIVE TEST OF MILITARY CYCLING WOULD NEED TO CROSS THE MOST RUGGED TERRAIN IN AMERICA -- OVER THE STONY ALPINE ROADS OF MONTANA, DOWN THE WINDSWEPT SLOPES OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND WYOMING.

ACROSS THE SAND HILLS OF NEBRASKA TO THE CLAY OF MISSOURI.

THEY WOULD FOLLOW THE LINES OF THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD TO BILLINGS, MONTANA.

THEN TURN SOUTH ALONG THE BURLINGTON RAILROAD FROM WYOMING TO NEBRASKA.

AND FINALLY, FOLLOW THE MISSOURI RIVER INTO ST.

LOUIS.

THEY EXPECTED TO AVERAGE 50 MILES A DAY.

WITH FRESH SUPPLIES DELIVERED EVERY 100 MILES ALONG THE RAILROAD LINES THEY SO CLOSELY FOLLOWED.

Man: IF I DON'T RIDE INTO ST.

LOUIS ON A BICYCLE AT THE HEAD OF MY COMMAND, IT WILL BE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TAKEN BACK TO FORT MISSOULA ON A STRETCHER.

IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE A TRIP WHERE YOU HOOFED IT, OKAY, WHERE YOU HAD TO MARCH.

IT WAS GOING TO BE A TRIP IN WHICH YOU'RE ABLE TO USE THE POPULAR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION OF EVERYBODY OF THAT GENERATION -- A BICYCLE.

Narrator: IT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT.

20 BLACK SOLDIERS WITH RIFLES SLUNG ACROSS THEIR BACKS, THEIR WHITE PACKS NEATLY STRAPPED TO THE HANDLE BARS.

EVEN THEIR UNIFORMS WERE NEW -- BOOTS AND LEGGINGS, BROWN CANVAS TROUSERS, A BLUE GINGHAM SHIRT, AND A CAMPAIGN HAT.

MOSS DESCRIBED THE UNIFORM AS "ONE OF PRACTICALITY RATHER THAN GOOD LOOKS."

THE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE MEN WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POST SURGEON JAMES KENNEDY.

KENNEDY, A WHITE OFFICER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, WAS SECOND IN COMMAND.

ONLY FIVE OF THE 20 ENLISTED MEN WERE EXPERIENCED CYCLISTS.

ONE SOLDIER JUST LEARNED TO RIDE A WEEK BEFORE.

MISSOULIANS, PROUD OF THE SOLDIERS' GARRISON NEAR THEIR TOWN, CHEERED THEM ON.

NEWS OF THE TRIP HAD BEEN A POPULAR FEATURE IN THE LOCAL PAPER FOR WEEKS.

LIEUTENANT MOSS UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD PUBLICITY.

HE WOULD NOT ONLY HAVE TO CONVINCE A SKEPTICAL ARMY, BUT ALSO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ON THE PRACTICALITY OF MILITARY CYCLING.

TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE BICYCLE CORPS TOOK ALONG A REPORTER -- EDWARD BOOS.

A CORRESPONDENT FOR THE DAILY MISSOULIAN AND, COINCIDENTALLY, THE PUBLISHER'S SON.

BOOS, AN ACCOMPLISHED CYCLIST, ENJOYED SPEED AND NEVER MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER THE ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY BICYCLE RACE.

IN TYPICAL COMPETITIVE FASHION, BOOS WAS IN THE LEAD... [ THUNDER ] WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN.

THEY HAD A LOT OF RAIN TO THE POINT THAT THEY DID A LOT OF WALKING THROUGH THE CLAY AND THE MUCK SOMETIMES UP TO THE PEDALS.

THE ROADS WERE VERY, VERY BAD IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES.

THEY WERE FREQUENTLY NOTHING MORE THAN MUDDY TRAILS.

[ THUNDER ] Narrator: 30 MILES FROM HOME, THE DRY ROAD QUICKLY MELTED INTO WHEEL-CHOKING MUD.

THE BICYCLE CORPS DISMOUNTED AND PUSHED THEIR WHEELS THROUGH WEEDS AND UNDERBRUSH ALONG THE ROADSIDE, OCCASIONALLY STOPPING TO SCRAPE THE GUMBO EARTH FROM THEIR TIRES WITH KNIVES OR STICKS.

THEY STRUGGLED WITH MUD AND RAIN UNTIL 8:00 THAT NIGHT.

THEIR ONCE CRISP UNIFORMS NOW SOAKED AND HEAVY, THEIR NEW PACKS ALL BUT RUINED, THEY HAD A LITTLE LESS THAN 1,900 MILES AHEAD OF THEM.

FOR BLACK SOLDIERS OF THAT GENERATION, THE ARMY GAVE THEM THE ONLY PART OF THE AMERICAN DREAM THAT AMERICA THE NATION WOULD ALLOW THEM TO SHARE IN.

IT GAVE HIM AN 8:00 TO 5:00, WHICH WAS MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GAVE HIM A CAREER.

THE ARMY GAVE HIM ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE THE NATION SHOULD HAVE GIVEN TO ALL OF ITS CITIZENS, BUT DID NOT.

SO THE ARMY OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE NOT THERE BEFORE.

♪ MY LORD, WHAT A MORNING ♪ ♪ MY LORD, WHAT A MORNING ♪ ♪ MY LORD, WHAT A MORNING ♪ ♪ WHEN THE STARS BEGIN TO FALL ♪ Narrator: THEY WERE KNOWN AS COLORED REGULARS, ONE OF FOUR ALL-BLACK INFANTRY REGIMENTS FORMED BY CONGRESS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.

AT FIRST, THEY WERE STATIONED IN LOUISIANA, BUT THE POST-WAR SOUTH WAS NOT RECEPTIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF ARMED NEGROES.

SO THEY CAME WEST TO HELP TAME THE LAWLESS FRONTIER.

THE CHEYENNE CALLED THEM BUFFALO SOLDIERS BECAUSE OF THEIR TENACITY IN BATTLE, AND BECAUSE THEIR DARK, CURLY HAIR RESEMBLED THAT OF A BUFFALO.

OFF THE FORT, THEY FOUGHT CATTLE RUSTLERS, THE KIOWA, AND THE COMANCHES.

WITHIN THE FORT THEY FOUGHT PREJUDICE.

MANY WHITE OFFICERS, GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER AMONG THEM, REFUSED TO SERVE IN THE BLACK REGIMENTS.

OFF-DUTY SOLDIERS COULD EXPECT TROUBLE FROM TOWNSPEOPLE, SALOON KEEPERS, AND COWBOYS -- THE VERY PEOPLE WHO BENEFITTED MOST FROM THE SOLDIERS' PRESENCE.

THEY WERE CONSIDERED SECOND CLASS SOLDIERS, AND WERE ROUTINELY EQUIPPED WITH SHODDY GEAR, BAD FOOD, AND THE WORST HORSES IN THE ARMY.

STILL, THEY EMERGED AS TOUGH DISCIPLINED UNITS WITH THE LOWEST DESERTION RATES AND THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF REENLISTMENT AND COMPANY MORALE.

BLACK SOLDIERS WERE ALWAYS ON THEIR BEST BEHAVIOR.

BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT IF THEY DID ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE DISRESPECT UPON THEM, IT WOULD HAVE AN ULTIMATE EFFECT UPON THE LARGER BLACK COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

A LOT OF THE AFRICAN AMERICANS NOT ONLY JOINED BECAUSE OF... TO SERVICE THEIR COUNTRY, BUT HOPEFULLY WITH THE END OF THOSE CAMPAIGNS, TO GAIN THEIR RESPECT AND BE CONSIDERED "A HUMAN."

♪ WHEN THE STARS BEGIN TO FALL ♪ [ HEAVY RAIN ] Narrator: FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS, MUD MADE THE NARROW WAGON ROADS IMPASSIBLE.

MOSS ORDERED THE MEN TO ROLL THEIR WHEELS ALONG THE TRACKS OF THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.

BUT RATIONS WERE LOW AND THEIR PROGRESS STALLED OVER THE MUSCLE-JARRING CROSSTIES.

IN AN EFFORT TO REACH THEIR FIRST SUPPLY STATION AT FORT HARRISON, MOSS DECIDED TO TURN OFF ONTO THE OLD MULLAN STAGE ROAD -- A LUMPY TRAIL OF RUTS AND DILAPIDATED BRIDGES THAT CROSSED THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.

BUT THE SLIPPERY GRADE WAS TOO STEEP FOR THE SINGLE-GEARED BICYCLES.

AND ONCE AGAIN THE MEN WERE PUSHING THEIR WHEELS TOWARD THE MAIN DIVIDE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

WHEN THEY FINALLY REACHED THE SUMMIT, THEY WERE GREETED WITH TWO INCHES OF FRESH SNOW.

DESPITE THE TOUGH CLIMB AND THE FALLING SNOW, THE MEN DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS, AND LIGHTHEARTEDLY SHOOK HANDS ACROSS EACH HALF OF THE CONTINENT.

THEY WERE ON EITHER SIDE AND THEY WERE SHAKING HANDS.

THEY WERE LINED UP ACROSS, AS I RECALL, SHAKING HANDS.

AND PERHAPS THERE WAS A PHOTOGRAPH.

AND SO THIS WAS SORT OF LIKE EAST MEETS WEST.

AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT WHEN THEY WERE COMING DOWN, YOU WOULD THINK IT'S ALL DOWN HILL, BUT NOT SO.

BECAUSE THEY HAD MANY, MANY, MANY HARD MILES AHEAD OF THEM.

Man: THE DESCENT ON THE ATLANTIC SLOPE WAS AS DIFFICULT AS THE UPHILL WORK ON THE PACIFIC SIDE, AS THE SLOPE IS VERY STEEP, AND GREAT EXERTION WAS NECESSARY TO PREVENT OUR BICYCLES FROM RUNNING AWAY WITH US.

Narrator: MOSS JOKINGLY REFERRED TO THE MULLAN ROAD AS "A DRY CREEK WHICH NOW WITH RAIN AND MELTING SNOW WAS FLOWING QUITE FREELY."

SEVEN HOURS LATER THE BICYCLE CORPS FLOWED INTO FORT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON FOR REST AND FRESH SUPPLIES.

EACH SOLDIER CARRIED ROUGHLY 55 POUNDS OF SUPPLIES ON HIS BICYCLE.

THEY STRAPPED ONE HALF OF A TENT TO THE HANDLE BARS.

INSIDE THAT THEY ROLLED ONE BLANKET, ONE UNDERSHIRT, A CHANGE OF DRAWERS, SOCKS, AND A TOOTHBRUSH.

ALL 23 MEN SHARED TWO COMBS.

MOSS DESIGNED LEATHER CASES WHICH FIT INTO THE DIAMONDS OF THE BICYCLES.

INSIDE THESE, THE MEN PACKED TWO DAYS' RATIONS, EATING UTENSILS, TOOLS, AND A LIBERAL SUPPLY OF SPARE BICYCLE PARTS.

THREE OF THE DIAMOND SHAPED CASES WERE MADE OF METAL.

WHEN DISASSEMBLED AND THEIR CONTENTS REMOVED, THE METAL CASES FORMED SIX COOKING PANS.

EXCEPT FOR ONE SOLDIER WITH A SHOTGUN, EACH MAN CARRIED A 10-POUND KRAG JORGENSEN RIFLE AND 50 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION.

LIEUTENANT MOSS WORE A COLT REVOLVER.

THE OVERALL EFFECT OF ONE-HALF TON OF SUPPLIES CARRIED OVER RUTTED ROADS WAS AS NOISY AS IT WAS PHYSICALLY DEMANDING.

AFTER A FULL DAY'S REST, AND WITH ENOUGH FRESH SUPPLIES TO LAST ANOTHER 100 MILES, MOSS AND HIS TROOPS SAID GOODBYE TO THEIR COMRADES AT FORT HARRISON.

ONCE AGAIN THEY FOLLOWED THE TRACKS OF THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD, THIS TIME SQUEEZED BETWEEN A HIGH BLUFF AND THE MISSOURI RIVER.

THE TRACKS WERE UNDER REPAIR.

OLD CROSSTIES AND ROCKS LITTERED THE SLOPES OF THE ROADBED, FORCING THE CORPS TO TRAVEL BETWEEN THE RAILS.

AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THERE WAS NO GRAVEL BALLAST BETWEEN THE NEW TIES.

Man: THE CONSTANT JAR OF ROLLING OUR BICYCLES OVER THIS TORN UP TRACK BENUMBED OUR HANDS AND GAVE US PAINS IN THE SHOULDERS.

THIS PART OF THE JOURNEY WAS EXTREMELY SLOW AND TIRESOME.

IN THE WORST PART, WE CARRIED OUR HEAVILY LOADED MACHINES ON OUR SHOULDER.

Narrator: THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE BICYCLES FULLY PACKED WAS ROUGHLY 60 POUNDS.

DESPITE THIS HARDSHIP, THE SOLDIERS COVERED 63 MILES, TOO EXHAUSTED TO CARE ABOUT THE PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS THAT BLANKETED THEIR CAMPSITE.

♪ I'M WALKING DOWN THE TRACK ♪ ♪ I GOT TEARS IN MY EYES ♪ ♪ TRYING TO READ A LETTER FROM MY HOME ♪ Narrator: SO FAR, THE CORPS HAD EXPERIENCED A FULL WEEK OF ROCKS, RUTS, ICE, AND MUD.

MOSS DECIDED TO CHECK THE MACHINES FOR LOOSE PARTS AND FRACTURES.

PRIVATE JOHN FINDLEY WAS THE CORPS' MECHANIC AND THE BEST RIDER.

BEFORE ENLISTMENT, HE SPENT FOUR YEARS WORKING AT THE IMPERIAL BICYCLE WORKS IN CHICAGO.

HE RODE A HEAVIER BICYCLE WHICH WAS FITTED WITH A LARGE METAL TOOLBOX.

WHEN A PUNCTURE OR BREAKDOWN OCCURRED, FINDLEY TRADED BICYCLES WITH THE DISABLED RIDER AND THE SQUAD PUSHED ON.

FINDLEY, WITH WHATEVER TOOLS HE NEEDED, STAYED BEHIND FIXING THE MACHINE AND CATCHING UP LATER.

EVEN AFTER A HARD DAY'S RIDE, IT WAS COMMON FOR PRIVATE FINDLEY TO WORK LATE INTO THE NIGHT.

A BICYCLE IS NEW TECHNOLOGY.

YOU DON'T FIND TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE 1890s WHO KNOW HOW TO TAKE BIKES APART AND PUT THEM BACK TOGETHER AGAIN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM, AND HE DID.

SO HE WAS A VERY IMPORTANT MEMBER OF THAT TEAM.

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING, FINDLEY GAVE THE BICYCLES A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, PROVING THAT THE SPALDING MACHINES WERE ABLE TO STAND THE ROUGHEST USE.

HEARTENED, THE CORPS WHEELED THROUGH THE GOLDEN GATE AND INTO MONTANA'S BROAD GALLATIN VALLEY, ONLY TO FIND THE ROADS HAD BEEN FLOODED WITH WASTE WATER FROM NEARBY IRRIGATED FIELDS.

SUBMERGED RUTS CAUSED MANY OF THE TROOPS TO TAKE HEADERS, TWISTING HANDLE BARS, AND BUCKING THE SOLDIERS TO THE GROUND.

JUST OUTSIDE BOZEMAN, MOSS HELD UP THE GROUP TO WAIT FOR STRAGGLERS.

THE CORPS THEN FORMED TWO NEAT COLUMNS, AND TOGETHER THEY PEDALLED DOWN MAIN STREET.

WHILE MOSS BOUGHT SUPPLIES AND CHECKED ON ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CORPS ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM CURIOUS BYSTANDERS WHO INSPECTED THE BLACK SOLDIERS AND THEIR MACHINES WITH INTEREST.

Man: THE CORPS ATTRACTED A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION AS WE RODE THROUGH THESE RURAL MOUNTAIN DISTRICTS.

HORSES AND COWS RAN FROM US, AND THE INHABITANTS WOULD STOP THEIR WORK AND GAZE AT US IN ASTONISHMENT.

Narrator: FOR LIEUTENANT MOSS, LANCE CORPORAL WILLIAM HAYNES, MECHANIC FINDLEY, AND PRIVATES FRANK JOHNSON, WILLIAM PROCTOR, AND ELWOOD FOREMAN, THE SCENERY SO FAR LOOKED VERY FAMILIAR.

THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE 25th INFANTRY BICYCLE CORPS HAD TRAVELED THROUGH THIS VALLEY.

A YEAR BEFORE, IN THE SUMMER OF 1896, MOSS AND EIGHT SOLDIERS COVERED THE SAME GROUND DURING A ROUNDTRIP RIDE FROM FORT MISSOULA TO YELLOWSTONE PARK, JUST INSIDE THE WYOMING BORDER.

Man: AUGUST 10, 1896.

WE LEFT FORT MISSOULA WITH SUCH A STRONG WIND AGAINST US THAT IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO RIDE, TAKING THE RAILROAD TRACKS THREE TIMES TO AVOID STEEP GRADES AND HAVING TO PAY TOLLS.

AUGUST 15, 1896.

MUSICIAN BROWN, TAKING ILL WITH CRAMPS, CAUSED FROM EATING WILD FRUIT.

GAVE BROWN A DOSE OF GINGER AND SOME EPSOM SALTS, AND SIX DOLLARS TO TAKE THE TRAIN AHEAD AND MEET US AT FORT HARRISON.

PUNCTURES TO OUR TIRES IS A CONCERN.

MECHANIC FINDLEY'S REAR TIRE GAVE OUT COMPLETELY, FIBER ALL ROTTEN.

HAD TO STOP EVERY 15 MINUTES TO PUMP IT UP.

AUGUST 19th.

BY NOW THE FIBER OF NEARLY ALL OUR TIRES ARE ROTTEN, AND WE'RE DELAYED HAVING THEM WRAPPED WITH TAPE AND REPAIRED.

STOPPED AT A BLACKSMITH SHOP AND HAD TWO SEAT SPRINGS MADE.

FINE EXAMPLE OF ONE MAN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ANOTHER MAN'S MISFORTUNE.

HE WANTED TO CHARGE ME $2 FOR THEM.

THEY WERE WORTH 25 CENTS EACH.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWNSEND, I FORMED THE SOLDIERS AS SKIRMISHERS, AND HAD THEM FIRE AT A COVEY OF CHICKENS.

AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THE CHICKENS ARE ALL STILL LIVING.

OF COURSE THEY WERE UPSET BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE FOOD.

BUT IT BECAME A JOKE WITH THE TROOP FOR A FEW DAYS THAT WE BETTER HOPE THAT WE CAN GET TO OUR RATION STATION QUICK BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT A VERY GOOD SHOT AT THE END OF THE DAY AFTER RIDING OUR 50, 60 MILES ON A BICYCLE.

Man: HAYNES' AND PROCTOR'S TIRES ARE IN SUCH A DEFECTIVE CONDITION THAT WE CANNOT REPAIR THEM.

I GAVE THEM A CAN OF CORNBEEF AND ONE DOLLAR AND INSTRUCTED THEM TO WALK ABOUT 10 MILES THAT EVENING AND THE REST OF THE DISTANCE THE NEXT DAY, MEETING US AT FORT YELLOWSTONE SOMETIME THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON.

AS WE MOUNTED OUR WHEELS AND SWIFTLY GLIDED AWAY, HAYNES AND PROCTOR STOOD GAZING AT EACH OTHER AMID THE LONELINESS OF THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS.

THE REST OF THE SOLDIERS JOLLIED THEM WITH SUCH EXPRESSIONS AS "YOU BETTER LOOK OUT!

"THE COYOTES ARE GOING TO EAT YOU UP TONIGHT!

"IF WE DON'T SEE YOU AT FORT YELLOWSTONE, WE HOPE TO SEE YOU WHEN WE GET BACK TO FORT MISSOULA."

THE NEXT MORNING WE NOTICED FRESH BICYCLE TRACKS ON THE ROAD, AND THOUGHT SOME ENERGETIC CYCLISTS HAD BEEN ALONG EARLIER.

REACHED CINNABAR AT 10:00 A.M.

LO AND BEHOLD, THERE TO GREET US WERE HAYNES AND PROCTOR WHO HAD WALKED AHEAD ALL THE NIGHT BEFORE.

AUGUST 25th.

PEDALLED THROUGH THE GOLDEN GATE AT 10:00 A.M.

VERY FORTUNATE SEEING THE GIANTESS, THE CASTLE GEYSER, AND OLD FAITHFUL ALL PLAYING AT THE SAME TIME.

SOLDIERS DELIGHTED WITH THE TRIP.

TREATED ROYALLY EVERYWHERE.

I THINK THE SULFURIC FUMES AND ROARING GEYSERS HAD A GOOD MORALE EFFECT ON THEM.

Narrator: AMONG THE ESSENTIALS CARRIED TO YELLOWSTONE, LIEUTENANT MOSS SLIPPED IN ONE ALMOST FRIVOLOUS ITEM -- A 4X5 KODAK CAMERA.

WIND, RAIN, AND MUD DEFINED THE RETURN TRIP FROM FORT YELLOWSTONE.

LAMINATED WOOD RIMS -- A COMMON FEATURE OF EARLY BICYCLES -- BECAME A DISADVANTAGE IN WET WEATHER.

MOISTURE DISSOLVED THE GLUE THAT BOUND THE WOOD TOGETHER, AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COLLAPSE.

BY THE TIME THE NINE MEN RETURNED TO FORT MISSOULA, THEY HAD TRAVELED 800 MILES, AVERAGING SIX MILES AN HOUR.

ONE DAY COVERING 72 MILES -- A RECORD THEY WOULD NEVER BREAK.

DESPITE THE ROTTEN TIRES AND CRUMBLING RIMS, MOSS FELT THE TRIP DEMONSTRATED THE PRACTICALITY OF THE BICYCLE FOR MILITARY PURPOSES.

Man: WE MADE AND BROKE CAMP IN RAIN.

TRAVELED THROUGH MUD, WATER, SAND, AND DIRT.

OVER ROCKS AND MOUNTAINS.

WE CROSSED AND RECROSSED MOUNTAIN RANGES AND FORDED STREAMS CARRYING OUR RATIONS, RIFLES, TENTS, MEDICINES, AND EXTRA PARTS.

Narrator: AFTER THE EXPERIENCE OF THE YELLOWSTONE RIDE, MOSS SPENT THE NEXT WINTER TOURING THE LEADING BICYCLE AND TIRE FACTORIES IN THE EAST.

HE PARTICULARLY LIKED THE SPALDING BICYCLE PLANT IN CHICOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS.

THEIR MACHINES FEATURED STEEL RIMS, HEAVY SIDE FORKS, GEAR COVERINGS, AND DEPENDABLE TIRES.

Man: UNLESS THE MILITARY CYCLIST HAS PUNCTURE PROOF TIRES, HE WILL DURING TIMES OF ACTUAL WARFARE DREAD THE ENEMY'S TACKS NEARLY AS MUCH AS HIS BULLETS.

Narrator: NOW, AFTER A YEAR OF METICULOUS PLANNING, MOSS WAS BACK ON THE ROAD.

BUT FROM THIS POINT ON, IT WAS AN UNFAMILIAR ONE.

THEY CROSSED THE RANGE OF MOUNTAINS THAT SEPARATED THE WATERS OF THE MISSOURI AND YELLOWSTONE RIVERS.

THEN COASTED DOWNHILL INTO BIG TIMBER, MONTANA, WHERE THEY WERE CEREMONIOUSLY ESCORTED INTO TOWN BY THE BIG TIMBER WHEELMEN, THE LOCAL CYCLING ORGANIZATION.

ONE OLD VETERAN INSISTED ON BUYING THE ENTIRE DETACHMENT A DRINK AT THE LOCAL SALOON.

THAT EVENING, THEY CAMPED ON A FARM JUST OUTSIDE PARK CITY, MONTANA.

THERE LIEUTENANT MOSS PURCHASED FRESH EGGS AND MILK.

EARLIER IN THE DAY THE MEN SHOT FIVE BIRDS AND A JACKRABBIT.

WITH STOMACHS FULL AND 60 HARD EARNED MILES UNDER THEIR BELTS, THE CORPS SLEPT.

FINDLEY SPENT THE NIGHT REPLACING THE WHEEL THAT HAD COMPLETELY CRUMBLED DURING THE AFTERNOON.

Man: WELL, THERE'S THE OLD SAYING IN THE ARMY THAT THE SERGEANTS RUN THE ARMY.

NOW MOSS, IT'S TRUE -- HE WOULD HANDLE THE LOGISTICS, OKAY, OF WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO, BUT THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF HOW IT WORKED FELL ONTO THAT NCO, THAT SERGEANT.

HE DID ALL THE WORK.

Narrator: AT 39, FIRST SERGEANT MINGO SANDERS WAS THE OLDEST AND MOST EXPERIENCED SOLDIER ON THE ROAD TO ST.

LOUIS.

A CAREER SOLDIER, MINGO HAD ENLISTED 16 YEARS EARLIER AFTER SEEING A RECRUITMENT AD IN HIS HOMETOWN OF MARION, SOUTH CAROLINA.

14 YEARS LATER, AN EXPLODING SODA BOTTLE LEFT HIM PARTIALLY BLIND IN ONE EYE -- A CONDITION THAT ALMOST LED TO A MEDICAL DISCHARGE HAD NOT HIS COMMANDING OFFICER INTERVENED ON HIS BEHALF.

AS A RESULT, MINGO WAS ALLOWED TO REENLIST.

WHEN THERE WERE TIMES, DAYS, THAT THE TROOPS WANTED TO QUIT, HE WAS PROBABLY THEIR SPIRITUAL ADVISOR, PROBABLY THEIR MOTIVATOR, AND TALKING TO THEM, YOU KNOW -- "HEY, I'M DOING THIS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS," OR "YOU WILL DO THIS."

"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LET ME DOWN."

"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOURSELF DOWN."

SO I'M SURE HIS PRESENCE AND EXPERIENCE PUSHED AND ASSISTED THE LESSER EXPERIENCED MEMBERS OF THE CORPS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

Narrator: MINGO'S WIFE LOUELLA WAITED FOR HIM BACK HOME IN MISSOULA.

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS THAT COMPRISED THE 25th INFANTRY HAD BEEN AT FORT MISSOULA FOR 10 YEARS.

THERE WERE FIVE COMPANIES, ABOUT 220 MEN IN ALL.

THEY ROUTINELY DUG WELLS, STRUNG TELEPHONE WIRES, AND BUILT UP THE FORT.

WHEN LABOR DISPUTES THREATENED TO SHUT DOWN THE MINES IN IDAHO, OR DISRUPT LOCAL RAILROAD SERVICE, THE 25th WAS SUMMONED TO MAKE ARRESTS OR PROVIDE ESCORT.

THEIR TACT WHEN DEALING WITH POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE SITUATIONS EARNED THE PRAISE OF STRIKERS AND MANAGEMENT ALIKE.

BUT PAPA SAID, OF ALL THE PLACES THEY HAD EVER BEEN, MISSOULA WAS THE ONLY PLACE THAT TREATED THEM NICE.

Narrator: IN 1897, MISSOULA, MONTANA, WAS BASICALLY A WHITE COMMUNITY.

REGARDLESS, ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE 25th INFANTRY WAS A FRIENDLY ONE.

THE REGIMENTAL BAND DID MORE THAN ANYTHING TO BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS OF RACISM.

THEIR MUSICAL ABILITY AND FLAIR FOR SHOWMANSHIP MADE THE BLACK MUSICIANS VERY POPULAR.

THE BAND NEVER MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM AT A CIVIC EVENT, AND WERE OFTEN AT THE HEAD OF ANY PARADE, A SPOT USUALLY RESERVED FOR THE MASONS.

DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, OPEN AIR CONCERTS WERE WEEKLY EVENTS ON THE PARADE GROUNDS.

HE PLAYED TROMBONE IN THE BAND, AND EVERY TIME THEY HAD A GET-TOGETHER FOR THE COMMANDERS AND ALL, THEY HAD TO PLAY.

AND HIS FAVORITE NUMBER WAS "AMERICA..." [ HUMMING "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" ] THAT WAS HIS FAVORITE NUMBER.

Narrator: AT HOME, FRIENDS AND FAMILIES EAGERLY ANTICIPATED THE ARTICLES THAT REPORTER EDWARD BOOS WAS SUPPLYING FROM THE FIELD.

OTHER NEWSPAPERS PICKED UP BOOS' COLUMN, AS READERS AROUND THE COUNTRY LEARNED WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO COVER HALF A CONTINENT ON BICYCLE.

Man: THE COUNTRY PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF MONTANA HAVE LITTLE REGARD FOR A WHEELMAN.

THREE WOMEN GOING TO TOWN HELD THE WHOLE ROAD, AND KEPT THEIR TEAM GOING FAST ENOUGH TO PREVENT OUR PASSING.

WHEN WE ASKED FOR HALF THE ROAD, WE WERE LAUGHED AT.

WHEN A CHANCE OCCURRED, WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT BY PASSING.

THE WOMEN WERE SO SURPRISED THEY FORGOT ABOUT THE HORSES WHICH TOOK FRIGHT AND RAN OFF IN THE ROUGH GROUND, GIVING THE CORPS A WIDE BERTH.

Narrator: 10 DAYS OUT, THE SPECIALLY DESIGNED COFFEE POTS BROKE, AND MOSS HELD THE GROUP IN BILLINGS WHILE NEW ONES WERE MADE.

MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME, THE BICYCLE CORPS LEFT BILLINGS ACROSS A VAST CLAY AND SAGEBRUSH FLAT WHICH QUICKLY CHOKED THE WHEELS.

WHEN THE MUD BECAME TOO MUCH, THEY AGAIN RESORTED TO CARRYING THEIR BICYCLES ON THEIR SHOULDERS.

Man: OUR CYCLOMETERS WERE CHOKED WITH MUD THE LAST MILE OR TWO.

WE WENT TO BED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE WERE WET, COLD, AND HUNGRY.

AND A MORE JADED SET OF MEN NEVER EXISTED.

Narrator: BY NOW, RATIONS WERE EXHAUSTED.

FOR BREAKFAST, THE BICYCLE CORPS WASHED DOWN A SLICE OF BURNT BREAD WITH ONE CUP OF COFFEE, EATING IT IN CLOTHES STILL WET FROM THE DAY BEFORE.

IT WAS 42 DESOLATE MILES ACROSS THE CROW INDIAN RESERVATION BEFORE REST AND A HOT MEAL AT FORT CUSTER.

AFTER ONE OF THE HARDEST DAYS THEY HAD EXPERIENCED, THE DETACHMENT PULLED INTO FORT CUSTER EXACTLY 21 YEARS TO THE DAY OF THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN.

WHILE THE ENLISTED MEN TOURED THE BATTLEFIELD, MISSOULIAN REPORTER EDWARD BOOS RETRACED THE EXACT LINE OF CUSTER'S DOOMED MARCH.

UP MEDICINE TAIL COULEE, TO THE INEVITABLE LAST STAND.

HE DID IT ON HIS BICYCLE.

Man: IT IS SOMETHING OF NOTE THAT ON THE 21st ANNIVERSARY OF CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE, TROOPS ON BICYCLES WERE VIEWING THE GROUNDS FROM THEIR SILENT STEEDS, AROUND WHICH ARE BONES -- THE REMAINS OF CAVALRY HORSES WHICH FELL WITH CUSTER AND HIS 230 MEN.

Man: IN 1889 AND 1890, THE ARMY DECIDED TO, OR THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO PERMANENTLY MARK THE GRAVES OF THE SOLDIERS THAT FELL AT THE LITTLE BIGHORN, PARTICULARLY THOSE AROUND CUSTER'S COMMAND -- THAT CLUSTER OF MEN WHO DIED AROUND CUSTER.

SO THE 25th INFANTRY WAS DETAILED TO DO THAT.

AND HOW IRONIC IT IS THAT CUSTER, WHO DID NOT WANT TO COMMAND BLACK TROOPS, WOULD HAVE HIS BATTLE SITE MEMORIALIZED BY BLACK TROOPS.

Narrator: ANTICIPATING WARMER WEATHER, THE BICYCLE CORPS LEFT HALF THEIR BLANKETS BEHIND AT FORT CUSTER AND FOLLOWED A HILLY TRAIL THAT SKIRTED THE ROSEBUD MOUNTAINS SOUTH TOWARD WYOMING.

SOON THEY CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER WITH NO BRIDGE IN SIGHT.

BUT LIEUTENANT MOSS HAD DEVISED A SYSTEM TO COUNTER MOST OBSTACLES.

THE CORPS COULD CLEAR A NINE-FOOT BOARD FENCE IN 20 SECONDS.

AT THE COMMAND "JUMP FENCE!"

THE FRONT COLUMN USED THE HEIGHT OF THEIR HANDLE BARS TO SCALE THE FENCE.

THE REMAINING MEN WOULD PASS ACROSS THEIR BICYCLES AND THEN THEY WOULD BE PULLED OVER THE OBSTRUCTION.

SHALLOW STREAMS WERE FORDED BY DISMOUNTING AND ROLLING THE BICYCLES ACROSS.

IN DEEPER WATER, THE SOLDIERS WADED IN WITH THEIR BICYCLES SUSPENDED ABOVE THEIR HEADS ON FRESHLY CUT POLES.

[ THUNDER ] THE CORPS CROSSED THE LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER SIX MORE TIMES THAT AFTERNOON.

ALL THE TIME, RACING TO STAY AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING STORM.

AS LIGHTNING FLASHED ABOUT, THEY CROSSED INTO WYOMING.

IN 1897, THE STATE LINE WAS MARKED WITH A SINGLE STRAND OF BARBED WIRE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE WEATHER KNEW NO BOUNDARIES.

IN WYOMING'S BADLANDS, IT HAILED SO INTENSELY THAT ENORMOUS DRIFTS OF HAIL BLOCKED THE ROAD.

IN THE DARKNESS, THEY GROPED THEIR WAY AROUND MOST AND ONCE SCALED A DRIFT EIGHT FEET HIGH.

Man: THIS HARD WORK WAS TOO MUCH.

IT COULD NOT PROVE ANYTHING ABOUT A BICYCLE, AND WAS MERELY A TEST OF PHYSICAL ENDURANCE OF WHICH WE HAD QUITE SUFFICIENT.

Narrator: NEAR GILLETTE, THE MUD WAS REPLACED WITH WIND AND DUST.

FRESH WATER, WHICH HAD BEEN SO ABUNDANT, COULD NOW ONLY BE FOUND IN RAILROAD WATER TANKS.

AND VAPORS RISING FROM THE BURNING ALKALI SOIL MADE THE MEN SICK.

DR.

KENNEDY RECOMMENDED AN EXTENDED REST AFTER SOME OF THE MEN PASSED OUT WHILE EATING LUNCH.

MOSS LET THEM SLEEP FOR THREE HOURS THEN HAD BUGLER ELIAS JOHNSON BLOW ASSEMBLY.

SINCE THE ROAD WAS GOOD AND SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL, MOSS FELT CERTAIN THEY COULD EASILY REACH MOORCROFT 30 MILES AWAY.

HE HADN'T COUNTED ON GATHERING STORM CLOUDS AND A SUDDEN ALMOST COMPLETE DARKNESS.

UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD, EDWARD BOOS, WHO WAS IN THE LEAD, NEARLY LED THE SQUAD OVER A STEEP CLIFF.

THE SITUATION WORSENED WHEN PRIVATE FOREMAN BROKE A FRONT AXLE.

WITH NO REPLACEMENT PART, HE WOULD HAVE TO ROLL HIS WHEEL TO THE NEXT SUPPLY STATION.

IT INDICATES SOME OF THE PHYSICAL PERIL THAT OCCURRED WHEN THEY WERE SIMPLY TRYING TO REACH A DESTINATION, AND THAT THEY HAD TO BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEIR FOOD WAS.

Narrator: FRUSTRATED, MOSS TURNED COMMAND OF THE MAIN BODY OVER TO FIRST SERGEANT MINGO SANDERS, REMINDING THE SERGEANT TO KEEP THE GROUP TOGETHER, MOVING ONLY AS FAST AS FOREMAN CAN WALK.

MOSS RODE AHEAD WITH TWO MEN AND THE COOK.

HE PLANNED TO SET UP CAMP IN MOORCROFT AND HAVE A HOT MEAL READY FOR THE OTHERS.

BUT IN THE INTENSE DARKNESS BOTH SECTIONS BECAME HOPELESSLY LOST, SPREAD OUT OVER 15 MILES OF PRAIRIE.

FINALLY, BY FIRING THEIR RIFLES AND FOLLOWING THE REPORT, THE CORPS REGROUPED.

THE SOLDIERS WERE SPREAD OUT.

MAYBE SOMETIMES FIVE TO EIGHT MILES APART.

FEELING ISOLATED LIKE THAT -- IT DOES TAKE ITS TOLL MENTALLY ON YOU SOMETIMES BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE COMPANIONSHIP.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU TO TALK TO, TO SHARE YOUR BEING TIRED, OR YOUR LONELINESS.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

Narrator: AS THE SKY LIGHTENED AND THE LINE OF THE HORIZON APPEARED, LIEUTENANT MOSS, ALREADY ASLEEP ON HIS FEET, BEGAN TO HALLUCINATE.

Man: I WAS SO TIRED AND SLEEPY THAT THE HORIZON APPEARED LIKE A CLOTHES LINE JUST ABOUT TO STRIKE ME ABOVE THE EYES.

THREE OR FOUR TIMES I THREW MY HAND OUT AT IT.

A SOLDIER A FEW YARDS BEHIND ME EXCLAIMED, "MY GOD!

I CAN'T GO ANY FARTHER!"

AND COLLAPSED.

Narrator: WHEN THE DETACHMENT AWOKE, THEY WERE SURPRISED TO FIND THEY HAD COLLAPSED WITHIN SIGHT OF MOORCROFT, JUST A MILE DOWN A MUDDY ROAD.

Man: WE LOOKED AT OUR BICYCLES BUT HARDLY RECOGNIZED THEM.

THE MUD COVERED EVERY PART OF THE MACHINE.

NOT A SPOKE WAS TO BE SEEN.

THE WHEELS WERE SIMPLY DISKS OF GUMBO.

Narrator: BY 1897, FOUR MILLION AMERICANS REGULARLY RODE BICYCLES.

THE RECENTLY DEVELOPED SAFETY BICYCLE WAS IN MASS PRODUCTION.

A VAST IMPROVED OVER THE EARLIER HIGH WHEELS OR PENNY FARTHINGS, SAFETY BICYCLES USED GEARS AND CHAIN DRIVES TO SAFELY POSITION THE RIDER ON TWO COMFORTABLE AIR-FILLED TIRES.

THEY WERE SAFE FOR CHILDREN AND LIBERATING FOR WOMEN WHO COULD NOW REDISCOVER THE COUNTRYSIDE.

CYCLING CLUBS, LIKE THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN WHEELMEN, LOBBIED FOR BETTER ROADS.

AND EVERYWHERE, CITIZENS FOUND NEW USES FOR THE POPULAR DEVICES.

Man: COWBOYS ON THE R.B.

MOSELY RANCH WERE SPEEDING AFTER THEIR MASTERS' HERDS ON BICYCLES, WHILE THE COW PONIES WERE EATING THEIR HEADS OFF IN THE BARNYARD.

ONE COWBOY ATTEMPTED TO ROPE A STEER WITH THE END OF HIS LARIAT TIED TO HIS HANDLE BARS, AND WAS YANKED CLEAR INTO THE NEXT COUNTY.

Narrator: FOR THE U.S.

CAVALRY, THE BICYCLE MADE PERFECT SENSE.

THEY WERE CHEAPER, QUIETER, AND LESS CONSPICUOUS THAN A HORSE.

THEY DIDN'T RAISE A TELL-TAIL CLOUD OF DUST.

AND UNLIKE A HOOF PRINT, AN ENEMY COULDN'T TELL THE DIRECTION OF A RIDER.

AND SINCE THEY NEEDED NO HANDLERS, EVERY SOLDIER WAS FREE TO FIGHT.

STANDARD INFANTRY DRILLS WERE REDESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR A BICYCLE.

NEW TRUMPET CALLS AND WHISTLE SIGNALS WERE COMPOSED AND ARMY MANUALS RE-WRITTEN, REMINDING SOLDIERS TO NEVER LET THEIR WHEELS FALL INTO ENEMY HANDS.

Man: "A SOLDIER SHOULD DISABLE THEIR WHEELS "BY SMASHING THE SPOKES WITH A RIFLE "AND BUCKLING THE FRAME BY JUMPING ON IT OR CUTTING THE TIRES."

ARMY MANUAL.

Narrator: BUT THE ARMY'S PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF MILITARY CYCLING WAS GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND IT WAS BOGGED DOWN IN THE MUD JUST OUTSIDE MOORCROFT, WYOMING.

AS THE 25th INFANTRY BICYCLE CORPS PEDALLED INTO JULY, CONDITIONS GOT HOTTER AND DRIER.

THEY CROSSED THE NORTHERN TIP OF WYOMING AND SKIRTED THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SOUTH DAKOTA ACROSS VAST PRAIRIES OF PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS.

REMARKABLY, FEW PUNCTURES WERE REPORTED.

NEBRASKA HIT THE CORPS LIKE AN ANVIL, WITH TEMPERATURES THAT HOVERED AT 110 DEGREES, AND ROADS THAT GOT SANDIER THE FARTHER EAST THEY PEDALLED.

THE METAL FRAME OF THE BICYCLE, THE HANDLE BARS, BECAME EXTREMELY HOT -- SO HOT, IN SOME INSTANCES, THAT A COUPLE OF THE MEN REPORTED THAT THEY WERE GETTING BLISTERS FROM THE HEAT.

THEY WERE LITERALLY BEING BURNED.

THE OTHER SEVERE PROBLEM WAS THE SHORTAGE OF WATER.

Narrator: WATER WAS SCARCE, AND WHAT LITTLE THEY FOUND, TAINTED WITH ALKALI.

BY ACCIDENT, THEY PEDALLED INTO CRAWFORD, NEBRASKA, AT THE HEIGHT OF THE TOWN'S FOURTH OF JULY PARADE.

THE CORPS FELL IN LINE BEHIND THE NINTH CAVALRY BAND AND FOLLOWED THE PARADE ROUTE THROUGH TOWN.

CITIZENS, SURPRISED AT THE UNEXPECTED ENTRY TO THEIR PARADE, CHEERED THEM ON AS THEY PEDALLED FROM SIGHT.

NEAR ALLIANCE, TAINTED WATER CAUGHT UP WITH THE SOLDIERS.

WITHIN DAYS, THREE-QUARTERS OF THE MEN WERE SICK, INCLUDING MINGO SANDERS.

LIEUTENANT MOSS WAS SO SEVERELY AFFECTED HE REMAINED IN ALLIANCE TO CONVALESCE.

IN HIS ABSENCE, DR.

KENNEDY TOOK OVER COMMAND.

HE ORGANIZED A SICK BRIGADE WHICH TRAVELED AT A SLOWER PACE BUT KEPT THE GROUP MOVING.

HUNCHED OVER THEIR HANDLE BARS, THEIR EYES SHUT TO KEEP OUT BLOWING SAND, THEY MONOTONOUSLY PUSHED THEIR WAY THROUGH HYANNIS, ANSELMO, BROKEN BOW, AND ANSLEY.

THEY REACHED THE EASTERN BORDER OF THE SAND HILLS IN LESS THAN FIVE DAYS, HAVING AVERAGED 35 MILES A DAY.

LIEUTENANT MOSS, FULLY RECOVERED FROM ALKALI POISONING, CAUGHT UP WITH THE CORPS BY RAIL.

DEHYDRATED, SUN BURNED, AND BLISTERED, THEY SLOWLY PEDALLED INTO GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA, WITH THE END IN SIGHT.

Man: OUR EXPERIENCES IN THE SAND HILLS TESTED TO THE UTMOST NOT ONLY THEIR PHYSICAL ENDURANCE, BUT ALSO THEIR MORAL COURAGE AND DISPOSITION.

I WISH TO COMMEND THEM FOR THEIR SPIRIT, PLUCK, AND FINE SOLDIERLY QUALITIES THEY DISPLAYED.

Narrator: IN MISSOURI, THE HEAT AND BLISTERING SAND WERE BEHIND THEM AND THE PROMISE OF BETTER ROADS LAY AHEAD.

UNFORTUNATELY, SOME CITIZENS, STILL SYMPATHETIC WITH THE CIVIL WAR'S CONFEDERATE CAUSE, HELD LITTLE REGARD FOR UNION SOLDIERS.

BOOS ASKED IF THE SQUAD COULD SPEND THE NIGHT THERE, AND THE FARMER OR SOMEONE FROM THE HOUSE SAID, "BE YOU UNION ARMY?"

AND BOOS SAID, "WELL, I GUESS WE ARE."

"WELL, GET OFF THE LAND!"

AND THEN, AS THEY STARTED TO DO THAT, ANOTHER VOICE WAS HEARD SAYING, "WELL, YOU CAN CAMP OVER THERE NEAR THE PIG STY."

40 YEARS AFTER THE WAR THERE WAS STILL THIS RESENTMENT TOWARD THE UNION ARMY -- THE SOLDIERS IN BLUE -- AS OPPOSED TO THE CONFEDERACY AND THE SOLDIERS IN GRAY.

Narrator: AT ST.

JOSEPH, MISSOURI NATIVE JOHN FINDLEY REUNITED WITH HIS FAMILY, AND THERE EUGENE JONES LEFT THE BICYCLE CORPS.

PRIVATE JONES, WHO HAD BEEN A CONSTANT DRAIN ON CORPS MORALE, CLAIMED TO BE ILL AND ASKED TO FINISH THE TRIP BY RAIL.

MOSS PUT JONES ON THE TRAIN BUT SENT HIM BACK TO FORT MISSOULA.

Man: AS HE HAD GIVEN ME TROUBLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEST TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE TO SEND HIM BACK TO HIS STATION.

Narrator: WHEN THE CORPS REACHED THE MISSOURI RIVER, THEY WERE MET BY THE ST.

LOUIS WHEELMEN AND ESCORTED THE REST OF THE WAY.

THAT AFTERNOON, IT BEGAN TO RAIN, MAKING THE FINAL MILES A MUDDY REMINDER OF THE FIRST TWO WEEKS.

THEY WALKED THE LAST LEG OF THE TRIP, FINALLY ARRIVING AT THE COTTAGE HOTEL IN FOREST PARK, A SUBURB OF ST.

LOUIS.

MOSS NOTED THE TIME -- 6:00, JULY 24, 1897.

41 DAYS AND 1,900 MILES AFTER THEIR START IN MONTANA.

HE ENDED THE RIDE WITH ONE LAST ORDER TO HIS MEN.

Man: OUR TRIP HAS ENDED.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR FORTITUDE.

YOU WILL NOW REST YOUR WHEELS AND FALL IN FOR MESS.

Narrator: THEY WERE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.

OVER 10,000 BLACK AND WHITE CITIZENS CAME TO WATCH THE SOLDIERS DRILL ON THEIR BICYCLES.

STILL DRESSED IN THE TATTERED RAGS THEY HAD CROSSED HALF A CONTINENT IN, THE CORPS THRILLED ST.

LOUIS CROWDS WITH BICYCLE DRILLS AND MANEUVERS.

THE ST.

LOUIS REPUBLIC CALLED THE RIDE "A GREAT FEAT," AND CALLED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BICYCLE CORPS IN EVERY POST IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT THE PAPER WENT ON TO ADD THAT NO OFFICERS FROM THE ARMY WERE PRESENT TO WELCOME THEM.

OUTSIDE ST.

LOUIS, INTEREST IN THE BICYCLE CORPS HAD WANED.

NEWSPAPERS, WHICH HAD CARRIED BOOS' REPORTS, NOW RESERVED SPACE FOR A BIGGER STORY.

THAT SUMMER, GOLD HAD BEEN DISCOVERED IN THE YUKON.

WHILE THE CORPS ENTERTAINED, MOSS PREPARED A DETAILED REPORT ON THE TRIP, TO GENERAL MILES.

THEY HAD TRAVELED 1,900 MILES OVER MOUNTAIN ROADS, CACTUS BEDS, AND WAGON RUTS IN 41 DAYS -- 35 ACTUALLY SPENT IN TRAVEL.

AN AVERAGE OF 55 MILES PER DAY.

TWICE AS FAST AS AN INFANTRY AT ONE-THIRD THE COST.

MOSS' PERSONAL EXPENSES FOR THE TRIP CAME TO $43.

HE NOTED THE PHYSICAL CONDITION OF HIS MEN.

MOST GAINED IN CHEST AND ARM MEASUREMENTS.

14 MEN ACTUALLY GAINED WEIGHT.

AND LIEUTENANT MOSS REPORTED ON ROAD CONDITIONS.

Man: MANY OF THE ROADS SEEMED TO BE AN INDEX OF THE QUALITY OF PEOPLE IN THE AREA.

WHERE THERE WERE GOOD ROADS, INHABITANTS APPEARED TO BE WELL-INFORMED AND USED MODERN FARMING IMPLEMENTS.

THE PEOPLE IN AREAS WITH POOR ROADS WERE NARROW MINDED, DEVOID OF ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTRY, AND BEHIND THE TIMES IN EVERYTHING.

Narrator: MOSS CLOSED HIS REPORT REQUESTING PERMISSION TO CONTINUE ON TO ST.

PAUL, MINNESOTA.

BUT THE ARMY, STILL UNCONVINCED THAT BICYCLES WERE BETTER THAN HORSES IN OPEN COUNTRY, DENIED HIS PROPOSAL.

HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO SHIP THE DONATED BICYCLES BACK TO THE SPALDING COMPANY AND RETURN TO MISSOULA BY RAIL.

THE GREATEST MILITARY CYCLING EXPERIMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY WAS OVER.

♪ ON MY JOURNEY NOW, MOUNT ZION ♪ ♪ ON MY JOURNEY NOW ♪ ♪ MOUNT ZION ♪ ♪ WHERE I WOULDN'T TAKE NOTHIN' ♪ ♪ MOUNT ZION ♪ ♪ FOR MY JOURNEY NOW ♪ ♪ MOUNT ZION ♪ Narrator: THAT WINTER MOSS DREW UP PLANS FOR ANOTHER RIDE, ONE FROM FORT MISSOULA TO SAN FRANCISCO.

BUT WHEN THE BATTLESHIP MAINE EXPLODED IN THE HAVANA HARBOR, ANY HOPE FOR REPEATED CYCLING EXPERIMENTS WAS OVER.

THE 25th INFANTRY WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE FIRST OUTFITS MOBILIZED FOR THE WAR IN CUBA.

THE ARMY BELIEVED THAT BLACK TROOPS WOULD BE LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE HEAT AND DISEASE OF THE TROPICS.

ON SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 1898, MISSOULIANS POSTPONED EASTER SERVICES AND GATHERED ONE FINAL TIME TO ESCORT THE 25th INFANTRY THROUGH TOWN.

Man: THE FORTUNES OF THE MEN WILL BE FOLLOWED WITH INTENSE INTEREST BY THE PEOPLE OF MISSOULA, WHO ARE SATISFIED THAT THOUGH IT IS A DARK REGIMENT, NOT A WHITE FEATHER OF SURRENDER WILL BE SHOWN.

♪ ON MY JOURNEY NOW ♪ ♪ MOUNT ZION ♪ Narrator: MINGO SANDERS SAILED WITH THE 25th INFANTRY TO CUBA.

WOUNDED AND UNDER HEAVY FIRE, HE HELPED CAPTURE THE SPANISH-HELD FORT OF EL VISO NEAR EL CANEY.

NEAR SANTIAGO, THE 25th HELPED SUPPORT THEODORE ROOSEVELT'S CELEBRATED CHARGE UP SAN JUAN HILL.

WITH HIS TROOPS LOW ON RATIONS, THE FUTURE PRESIDENT APPROACHED SANDERS ASKING THE FIRST SERGEANT TO COLLECT AS MUCH HARDTACK AS POSSIBLE FROM THE NEGRO TROOPS AND SHARE WITH THE ROUGH RIDERS.

AFTER CUBA, SANDERS FOUGHT IN THE PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION.

HE LED A PLATOON UP COMANCHE HILL, CAPTURED 14 REBEL SOLDIERS, AND IN THE PROCESS RELEASED FIVE AMERICAN PRISONERS.

DURING PEACETIME, THE 25th INFANTRY WAS POSTED AT VARIOUS FORTS THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST AND SOUTH.

BY 1906, THEY FOUND THEMSELVES IN A HOSTILE, RACIST ENVIRONMENT WHILE SERVING AT FORT BROWN, TEXAS.

AT MIDNIGHT ON AUGUST 13th, A SMALL GROUP OF MEN INDISCRIMINATELY SHOT UP THE TOWN OF BROWNSVILLE, KILLING A WHITE BARTENDER.

LOCAL CITIZENS ALLEGED THAT THE SOLDIERS WERE RESPONSIBLE.

THE SITUATION WAS THRUST INTO THE POLITICAL ARENA WHEN SENATOR JOSEPH BENSON FORAKER ATTEMPTED TO USE THE INCIDENT TO WRESTLE POWER FROM THE WHITE HOUSE NOW LED BY PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT, THE MORE FORAKER ARGUED FOR THE WRONGFULLY ACCUSED TROOPS, THE MORE THE ADMINISTRATION PUSHED BACK.

FINALLY, WITHOUT A PUBLIC HEARING, ROOSEVELT DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED ALL 167 SOLDIERS.

AMONG THEM, SERGEANT MINGO SANDERS, NOW ONLY TWO MONTHS FROM RETIREMENT.

AFTER 25 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING MILITARY SERVICE, SANDERS WAS LEFT WITHOUT A CAREER OR A PENSION.

TO BE CAST OUT LEFT HIM ALMOST HOMELESS.

IT LEFT HIM IN A POSITION, OKAY, THAT ALMOST 30 YEARS OF HIS LIFE WAS WIPED OUT.

Narrator: DEVASTATED, MINGO APPEALED TO THE ONE PERSON HE THOUGHT OWED HIM A FAVOR.

Man: I SERVED MY COUNTRY HONEST AND FAITHFUL.

I'VE OFFERED MY LIFE TO BE DESTROYED FOR THE GOVERNMENT, MY BODY TO BE BURIED IN THE EARTH, AND CATTLE TO EAT GRASS OFF THE SUBSTANCE OF MY BLOOD.

NOW I AM TO BE CAST ON THE WORLD AS A CONDEMNED MAN.

CAN YOU DO SOMETHING FOR ME?

Narrator: THE BROWNSVILLE INCIDENT WOULD BECOME THE ONLY CASE OF MASS PUNISHMENT IN U.S.

MILITARY HISTORY.

NOT UNTIL 1973 DID THE GOVERNMENT REVERSE ITS STANCE.

THE TWO REMAINING SURVIVORS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT WERE EXONERATED AND PAID THE COINCIDENTAL SUM OF $25,000 EACH.

MINGO SANDERS WAS NOT AMONG THEM.

BROKEN BY A GOVERNMENT WHICH HE HAD FOUGHT SO VALIANTLY TO DEFEND, MINGO WAS REDUCED TO A STRING OF SMALL PUBLIC SERVICE JOBS.

HE DIED IN 1929 WHILE HAVING HIS FOOT AMPUTATED.

JAMES MOSS TRANSFERRED TO THE 24th INFANTRY, ANOTHER BLACK UNIT.

WHEN AN ARTILLERY SHELL KILLED OR WOUNDED HIS COMMANDING OFFICERS, MOSS LED TWO COMPANIES OF COLORED REGULARS ON A BLOODY CHARGE AT EL CANEY.

FOR THIS, HE WAS COMMENDED FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND RECEIVED THE SILVER STAR.

DURING WORLD WAR I, HE ORGANIZED AND COMMANDED THE 367th INFANTRY, "THE BUFFALOES."

IN PEACETIME, MOSS, WHO HAD GRADUATED LAST IN HIS CLASS AT WEST POINT, BECAME THE ARMY'S MOST PROLIFIC WRITER OF MILITARY INSTRUCTION MANUALS.

HE AUTHORED MORE THAN 35 TEXTS ON TACTICS, ORGANIZATION, PAYROLL, AND AN OFFICER'S MANUAL.

HE RETIRED A FULL COLONEL AND SPENT HIS REMAINING YEARS WRITING BOOKS ON THE HISTORY AND THE IDEALS SYMBOLIZED BY THE AMERICAN FLAG.

HE FOUNDED THE AMERICAN FLAG ASSOCIATION AND ORGANIZED THE YEARLY OBSERVANCE OF FLAG DAY.

Man: BEFORE I AM TAKEN OUT TO ARLINGTON, MY SILENT INTENT TO SPREAD IN THE BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD, I'LL MARCH WITH FIRMNESS IN MY STEP AS I FOLLOW OLD GLORY INTO THAT REALM WHERE BATTLE FLAGS ARE FURLED AND WAR DRUMS THROB NO LONGER.

De Franceaux: ILL-FATED DEATH -- KILLED IN A TAXI CAB ACCIDENT IN NEW YORK CITY.

HE WAS ON HIS WAY BACK TO HIS APARTMENT THERE FROM HIS PUBLISHERS, AND THE CAB HE WAS RIDING IN WAS BISECTED BY A BOSTON BUS.

IT WAS VERY BAD WEATHER.

AND HE WAS KILLED AND THE CAB DRIVER WAS KILLED.

Narrator: COLONEL MOSS LIVED TO SEE MANY CHANGES IN HIS ARMY.

THE OLD WESTERN FORTS, ORIGINALLY BUILT DURING THE INDIAN CAMPAIGNS, BECAME OUTDATED RELICS.

MOST EITHER CLOSED OR ADAPTED A NEWER USEFULNESS.

DURING WORLD WAR II, FORT MISSOULA WAS AN INTERNMENT CAMP FOR ITALIAN AND JAPANESE DETAINEES.

THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE PROVED TO BE FAR MORE EFFICIENT THAN EITHER THE HORSE OR THE BICYCLE.

TRUCKS WERE THE BEST MEANS OF TROOP TRANSPORT, AND THE NEWLY DEVELOPED JEEP COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE A BICYCLE COULD AT FIVE TIMES THE SPEED.

IN 1948, THE TRUMAN ADMINISTRATION DESEGREGATED THE ARMY, AND THE BLACK UNITS DISSOLVED, ALTHOUGH THE STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY WOULD CONTINUE FOR YEARS.

Man: THEY BELIEVED IN THE REALITY OF WHAT THIS NATION WAS ALL ABOUT EVEN THOUGH, DURING THAT PARTICULAR TIME, THEY DIDN'T SEE IT ALL IN THEIR LIVES.

BUT THEY KNEW THAT IN THE FUTURE THEIR CHILDREN, OKAY, WOULD BENEFIT BY WHAT THEY BELIEVED IN -- LIBERTY.

Narrator: AND THE JOURNEY OF THE BICYCLE CORPS WAS ALL BUT FORGOTTEN, EVEN BY ITS PARTICIPANTS.

ALTHOUGH MOSS PUBLISHED A SMALL TEXT ON THE TRIAL RUN TO YELLOWSTONE, HE NEVER WROTE OF THE ST.

LOUIS ADVENTURE, NEVER EVEN SHARED THE STORY WITH HIS FAMILY.

IT WAS THE SAME WAY WITH ALL THE MEN.

BETWEEN THEIR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PERSONAL TRAGEDIES, THE SOLDIERS OF THE BICYCLE CORPS DISMISSED THEIR 2,000 MILE RIDE AS JUST ANOTHER DETAIL, SOMETHING THEY DID IN AN ERA WHEN CROSSING THE WEST ON A BICYCLE WAS NEITHER DARING NOR IMPOSSIBLE, BUT SIMPLY FOR A SOLDIER THE CALL OF DUTY.

Man: IT'S IRONIC I THINK THAT WHAT WE SEE TODAY AS AN IMPORTANT EVENT, THE PLAYERS THEMSELVES MAY HAVE NOT THOUGHT IT AS BEING SUCH A CONSEQUENCE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE IRONIES OF HISTORY SOMETIMES THAT WHAT PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE DOING IS JUST ORDINARY, AND IN RETROSPECT OR FROM THE VIEW OF THE FUTURE GENERATIONS IT'S EXTRAORDINARY.

♪ FARTHER ALONG WE'LL KNOW ALL ABOUT IT ♪ ♪ FARTHER ALONG WE'LL UNDERSTAND WHY ♪ ♪ CHEER UP, MY BROTHER ♪ ♪ LIVE IN THE SUNSHINE ♪ ♪ WE'LL UNDERSTAND IT ALL BY AND BY ♪ ♪ WE'LL UNDERSTAND IT ALL BY AND BY ♪♪