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Los Caminos Antiguos
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Wayside Excursion: The Buffalo Soldiers
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| In July 1866, the United States Congress approved an act to authorize and form two regiments of cavalry composed of “colored” men. Composed of former slaves, freemen and Black Civil War soldiers, the two regiments were the first African-American soldiers to serve the United States Army in an era of peace. On September 21, 1866, the 9th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Greenville, Louisiana and, on the same date, the 10th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. |
| In the beginning, the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments were charged with escorting settlers, cattle herds, and railroad crews into the western frontier that ranged from Montana to Texas, and included New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and the Dakotas. In addition to their escort duties, the soldiers built forts and roads, and strung telegraph wire throughout the rugged environment of the American west. Shortly after their formation, the two regiments also joined in the military campaigns against Native American tribes. |
| “Buffalo Soldiers” was the name given to the African-American soldiers by the Plains Indians. Although the reason for the name is not clear, one view is that the Plains Indians saw a resemblance between the African-American soldiers’ hair and the mane of a buffalo. Another story suggests that the Plains Indians observed similarities in the ferocity, stamina and courage of a wounded buffalo and the African-American soldiers in combat situations. In any case, because the Plains Indians held the buffalo in high regard, the name was not thought to have been given in contempt. |
| In 1875-76, the 9th Cavalry was transferred to the New Mexico District where one of the companies was stationed at Fort Garland, in the San Luis Valley. Immediately upon arriving in the New Mexico district, the 9th Cavalry became immersed in trouble with the Apaches and Utes that would continue for many years to come. |
| Throughout the era of the Indian Wars, (approximately 1864-1891) almost 20 percent of the U.S. Cavalry were Black, and they fought over 175 engagements. However, prejudice was always present and often prevented them from achieving maximum effectiveness. |
| By any standard other than racial prejudice, the experiment with Black troops was judged a success. The men fought gallantly, helped lay the infrastructure for future settlement of the American west, and provided protection to countless men and women who would form the nucleus of population on the western frontier. At least 18 Medals of Honor were presented to Buffalo Soldiers during the Western Campaigns. |
| In more recent times, troops from both the 9th and 10th Regiments fought in Cuba during the War with Spain, and some of the men of the 10th Cavalry rode in Mexico with General Pershing in search of the legendary Pancho Villa. In 1944, the horse cavalry units of the United States Army were decommissioned and the long and colorful history of the Buffalo Soldiers came to an end. |
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