Nearly sixteen months after the end of the Civil War, Section 3
of an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to increase and fix the
Military Peace Establishment of the United States" authorized
the formation of two regiments of cavalry composed of "colored"
men. The act was approved on 28 July 1866. On 21 September 1866,
the 9th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Greenville, Louisiana,
and the 10th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas. Under the competent leadership of Colonels Edward Hatch
and Benjamin Grierson, first Regimental Commanders of the 9th
and 10th Cavalry Regiments, respectively, both regiments were
trained and equipped and began a long and proud history.
For over two decades, the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments
conducted campaigns against American Indian tribes on a Western
Frontier that extended from Montana in the Northwest to Texas,
New Mexico, and Arizona in the Southwest. They engaged in
several skirmishes against such great Indian Chiefs as Victorio,
Geronimo, and Nana. "Buffalo Soldiers" was the name given the
black cavalrymen by the Plains Indians. Reason for the name is
uncertain. One view is that the Indians saw a resemblance
between the black man's hair and the mane of a buffalo. Another
view is that when a buffalo was wounded or cornered, it fought
ferociously, displaying unusual stamina and courage. This was
the same fighting spirit Indians saw in combat with black
cavalrymen. Since Indians held the buffalo in such high regard,
it was felt that the name was not given in contempt.
When not engaged in combat with Indians, both regiments built
forts and roads, installed telegraph lines, located water holes,
escorted wagon trains and cattle drives, rode "Shotgun" on
stagecoach and mail runs, and protected settlers from renegade
Indians, outlaws, and Mexican revolutionaries. Elements of both
regiments fought in Cuba during the War with Spain and
participated in the famous charge on San Juan Hill. Troopers of
the 10th Cavalry Regiment rode with General John J. Pershing
during the Punitive Expedition in Mexico in search of Pancho
Villa.
During
the course of the Indian Wars fought from 1866 to the early 1890s, 13
enlisted men and six officers from the 9th and 10th regiments and two
African-American infantry units earned the Medal of Honor.
During the Spanish-American War, African-American soldiers with the 9th
and 10th Cavalry Regiments and the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments
fought alongside Lt. Col. Teddy Roosevelt and his volunteer unit of
“Rough Riders,” and defeated Spanish troops at the Battles of Kettle
Hill and San Juan Heights, Cuba, on July 1, 1898. Five
African-American soldiers earned Medals of Honor for their heroism
during the Spanish-American War. Many African-American households
proudly acquired prints featuring resolute, African-American troops
charging up San Juan Hill with Roosevelt and his volunteers.
In 1941, the two regiments formed
the 4th Cavalry Brigade, commanded by General Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., at
Camp Funston, Kansas. In 1944, the end came to the horse cavalry
regiments and the curtain was lowered on the long and glorious past of
"The Buffalo Soldiers."
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