Buffalo Soldiers History

 

By the early 1890s, the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers, made up 20 percent of all cavalry forces on the American frontier. Their service in subduing Mexican revolutionaries, hostile Native American tribes, Comancheros, and rustlers was invaluable, though often unrecognized. They operated across some of the most rugged and inhospitable terrains in North America. Among their adversaries were iconic figures like Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Victorio, Lone Wolf, Billy the Kid, and Pancho Villa—a "Who's Who" of the American West. Yet, their contributions went far beyond combat.

 

The Buffalo Soldiers explored and mapped vast territories in the Southwest, strung hundreds of miles of telegraph lines, and built and repaired frontier outposts that eventually gave rise to towns and cities. Their protection of railroad crews from outlaws and hostile forces was critical to the expansion of the nation’s railroads, yet they consistently received some of the harshest assignments the Army had to offer. On top of this, they faced fierce racial prejudice from both frontier townspeople and their fellow soldiers, who judged them by both the color of their uniforms and their skin. Despite these hardships, the 9th and 10th Cavalry developed into two of the most distinguished fighting units in the U.S. Army.

 

On July 28, 1866, Congress passed legislation establishing additional regular Army regiments, including the all-Black 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments and four infantry regiments (38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st), with white officers. For the first time, African Americans were designated as regular Army soldiers. On March 3, 1869, these infantry units were consolidated into two regiments.

 

The 9th Cavalry Regiment was activated on September 21, 1866, in Greenville, Louisiana, and the 10th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, under the leadership of Colonels Edward Hatch and Benjamin Grierson, respectively. As the American frontier expanded, so did the missions of the Buffalo Soldiers. They patrolled the rugged western territories, assisted settlers traveling west, and built forts and outposts that would eventually grow into towns and cities.

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The name "Buffalo Soldiers" was given to them by Cheyenne warriors, who admired their fierce fighting spirit and drew comparisons to the wild buffalo, a creature they revered. The name also referenced their dark skin and curly hair, marking the soldiers with a badge of respect. Most of these recruits had served in Black units during the Civil War, and their experience and resilience earned them a storied legacy.

 

The Buffalo Soldiers were organized during one of the most turbulent periods in American history, the post–Civil War era. Despite enduring racial discrimination, they served with dignity and honor, contributing to both peacetime efforts and military conflicts such as the Indian Wars and the Spanish-American War. Their success as capable and courageous soldiers helped pave the way for the eventual desegregation of the U.S. armed forces.

 

In 1966, veterans who had served in the original units established the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers, preserving the legacy of these remarkable regiments and their contributions to American history.   501(c)3.