I am studying how the Buffalo Soldiers helped secure the West and continued the spread of white domination, thus beginning the construction of an imperial nation. My professor mentioned them as liberators but I can not find any support for that notion until at least the Spanish-American War.
That is an interesting thesis. The Buffalo Soldiers were officially 'formed' in 1866, the regiments fought in many of the 'Indian Wars' as well being deployed in several range/ranch/cattle war such as the Lincoln County War and Johnson County War. Hope that gives you a start.