The Buffalo Soldier Story
The proud history of the 9th and 10th Cavalry.
The Buffalo Soldier Story The proud history of the 9th and 10th Cavalry. |
Nearly sixteen months after the end of the Civil War, Section 3
of the Act of Congress entitled "An Act to increase and fix the Military Peace
Establishment of the United States" authorized the formation of the two regiments
of cavalry composed of "colored" men. The Act was approved on 28 July 1866.
On September 21, 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,repectively,
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 Nan."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
the 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 wasfelt that the name was not given in contempt. |
 When not engaged in combat with Native Americans,
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 Regiments rode with General John J. Pershing during the punitive
Expedition in Mexico in search of the outlaw Pancho Villa. 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 cavalry regiments
and the curtain was lowered on the long and glorious past of the "Buffalo Soldiers".
The 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association traces its begining to the year 1966
in Kansas City, Missouri. The Baltimore Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Association
hosted the 132nd Anniversary Reunion in Baltimore last July 27th thru August 2nd of
1998. |
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