History of the Buffalo Soldiers

An act of U.S. Congress approved on July 28, 1866 authorized the formation of two peacetime regiments of cavalry composed of "colored" men. On September 21, 1866 the 9th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Greenville, LA and the 1th Cavalry was activated at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Two other regiments of Infantry were also formed - 24th and 25th Infantry. All regiments were trained and equipped for a long and proud history. Recruits were made up of former slaves, freemen, and veterans of the Civil War - all volunteers. The pay for enlisted men was $13.00 per month with food, clothing, shelter, and medical care provided for free.

All line officers were White men. For the first time a Black Chaplain was assigned to the regiment to provide spiritual guidance and to teach basic reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Many people resented the presence of Black men in the peacetime Army even in segregated units. Some of the reasons were "Black men do not have the mental capacity to make good soldiers and especially to ride and fight from horseback" and "Black men do not have the dicipline and courage required when placed under fire because they would panic and run." Excuses after excuses were invented as time went by, but they were disregarded because of the outstanding military performances of Black men in the earlier years.

Some officers refused to be assigned to command colored regiments like General George Custer who lost his life in the Battle of Little Big Horn. The Buffalo Soldiers were always in a "fish bowl" for America to see.

For over twenty years the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments fought campaigns against American Indian tribes on the Western Frontier that ran from Nontana to Texas, New Mexicoa and Arizona. They fought mini battles against some great Indian Chiefs which include Geronimo, Victorian, Nana, and others.

The name of "Buffalo Soldiers" was given to the Black cavalrymen by the Indians of the Plains because they saw a resemblance between the Black man's hair and the mane of the buffalo. Another reason was, when a buffalo was cornered or wounded, they fought ferociously, showing unusual courage and stamina, a quality the Indians also saw in the fighting spirit of the Black cavalrymen. The buffalo was sacred to the American Indians which they held in high regare; therefore, the Buffalo Soldiers were found worthy of the tribute.

When not fighting with the Indians, the Buffalo Soldiers built forts and roads, located and guarded water water holes, erected telegraph lines, excorted wagon trains and cattle drives, and rode shotgun on stage coaches and routes of mail runs. they also protected settlers from renegade Indians, outlaws and Mexican revolutionaries.

Buffalo Soldiers earned 24 Medals of Honor during the Indian Wars. It is the highest honor that a military man can receive. Some troops of the 9th & 10th Cavalries fought in Cuba on San Juan Hill with Colonel (and later President) Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders. The 10th Cavalry rode with General Hohn J. Pershing during the Punitive Expedition in Mexico in search of Pancho Villa.

For many years the 9th & 10th Cavalry Regiments an the 34th & 25th Infantry Regiments were the only military units that Black men could join. Volunteers had to wait for someone to retire or die to fill the vacancies.

The last chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers ended in World War II. After creation of the 2nd Cavalry Division, 9th, 10th, 27th, and 28th Regiments filled with draftees. A segregated Division with basic and combat training completed and duty in the Mexican Border areas, they were loaded on troop ships and shipped to North Africa in 1944. They were proud of their military history and tradition and they looked forward to combat action. But once again, The War Department decided that they were needed for a different role. The 2nd Cavalry Division was inactivated in North Africa and was converted to Service and Port units. This was a severe shock to the men in the Regular Army. They felt that they deserved better from a nation that they had so proudly served. The Regular Army soldiers are mindful that they are the last living link to those cavalryment who preceded us and guarded the westward march of American civilization.

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