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Why was the desertion rate so low?The most serious problem faced by the Army during the Indian Wars was desertion. In 1868, the desertion rate for enlisted personnel was approximately 25%. Desertion among White regiments was roughly three times greater than among similar Black units. Also, both African-American cavalry and infantry regiments had lower rates of alcoholism than their White counterparts. There was no place for them to go because they could not blend into the local population. Yet even with the hardships, being a Black cavalryman was better than being enslaved.
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