Final answer:
The Buffalo Soldiers received recognition in various forms including equality in pay by 1864, and some were awarded medals of honor. Land bounties and pensions were part of the post-service rewards in some cases, with notably delayed benefits for black soldiers and seamen of Virginia after the Revolutionary War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Buffalo Soldiers received various forms of recognition for their service, though it varied greatly over time and by location. Initially, African-American soldiers faced lower wages and discrimination. However, efforts by abolitionists and Republican supporters led to equality in pay by 1864, with Black soldiers receiving the same pay as White soldiers, including retroactive pay.
After the Revolutionary War, for example, the black soldiers and seamen of Virginia were granted financial rewards, land bounties, and pensions, although this often required petitioning and came many years later. Across a broader time frame, some African American soldiers were awarded medals of honor, particularly during later conflicts, as illustrated by the awards given by the French government to several African American soldiers from New York for heroism during World War I (Figure 4.3.30).
However, the rewards did not typically include land grants, political positions, or specific financial compensation at the time of their service as doled out to some others in history.