Trial by Fire — Charles Ray

After the Civil War, Ben Carter walked from east Texas to New Orleans to enlist in the 9th (Colored) Cavalry Regiment. A good field soldier, he gets into trouble when he can't deal with the prejudice of white settlers. His commander gives him a last chance to save his army career when he puts him in charge of a detachment that must protect settlers from marauding Comanche warriors. Ben learns a lot about the nature of prejudice, but is it enough to keep him and his men alive?