The Buffalo Soldiers were African American soldiers who served in the United States Army after the Civil War. They were the first African Americans to serve in a peacetime army.
They mostly served in the Western territories of the United States where they escorted settlers and worked to protect and help railroad crews and cattle herders. They were organized into all-black regiments with white commanding officers. These men were eager to sign up because the Army offered them a chance to better themselves both economically and socially.The soldiers were paid thirteen dollars a month, they were given a place to live, and were given food and clothing, so this was considered a golden opportunity for these men (Rand). 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 in July of 1866.In September of 1866, the 9th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Greenville, Louisiana, and the 10th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. They were lead by Colonels Edward Hatch and Benjamin Grierson. (www. whc.
net) For over twenty years, the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments fought 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. The reason for the name is unknown to this day but one view of it is that the Indians saw a resemblance between the black man's hair and the mane of a buffalo and 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 (www. whc. net). The 9th Calvary saw constant field duty from 1867 to 1890.
Law and order were little more than a hope in the post-Civil War southwest, and civil authorities consistently relied upon the aid of the Army in rounding up undesirables who were the cause of many disturbances that could not be handled by local authorities (Davis). In 1881, the 9th Cavalry's headquarters moved to Fort Riley, Kansas where it was assigned the unpopular task of keeping settlers out of Indian Territory. Four years later, the headquarters was moved to Fort McKinney, Washington. Studded with 5 Medals of Honor received between 1870 and 1890, the 9th left an enviable campaign record in the legacy of the frontier.In Cuba, the 9th again rose to the occasion as it captured one of the Spanish blockhouses at Santiago. Consequently, the blockhouse appears on the regimental crest.
Like their brothers of the 10th regiment, the 9th was in the thick of the action during the charge up San Juan Hill (Rand). The 10th Cavalry was organized September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas with Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson commanding. Most of its recruits came from Philadelphia, Boston and Pittsburgh.
General William Hoffman, commanding at Fort Leavenworth, had little fondness for Negro troops or their officers. He would not respond to Grierson's petitions for better quarters or even provide walkways to keep the men's feet dry. Early on, training for the Buffalo soldiers of the 10th was limited because of a shortage of officers. In the spring of 1867, the number of officers increased and the units finally had their full complement of recruits.
Early on, the young soldiers refused to obey the orders of their noncommissioned officers, since they were only accustomed to taking orders from white men.But they soon learned that sergeants and corporals earned their stripes and wore them as symbols of authority, delegated by the commander (Rand). When the buffalo soldiers were 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 (Davis). In 1941, the two regiments formed the 4th Cavalry Brigade. The Buffalo Soldiers were obviously a vital part of the Americans success in all of the battles fought.
Their hard work and dedication along with their fierce combat led the U. S. to prosper during these times. The Buffalo Soldiers distinguished themselves in Cuba at Santiago and Las Guasimas, and in the famous charge up San Juan Hill.Generally, the "Rough Riders" are given the credit for taking the blockhouse atop San Juan Hill. What most people do not know is that the brunt of the fighting was started by the soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments.
One eyewitness said "If it had not been for the Negro Cavalry, the Rough Riders would have been exterminated. The 9th and 10th Cavalries fought for 48 hours under heavy fire from the Spaniards who were in brick forts on the Hill” (Rand). In conclusion, the buffalo soldiers were a huge part in the United States success in many of the battles that they fought.They were the first black army during a peacetime war and made the best of their opportunity to show that they could do the job just as well as their white comrades.
They displayed fierce fighting techniques, compared to that of a buffalo. The buffalo soldiers often experienced a ton of prejudice and discrimination, but put differences aside and put forth their best effort to help the United States win their battles. They often lived in poorly ventilated barracks and had to bathe in a nearby creek.In their years of service on the frontier, the buffalo soldiers, in spite of continued prejudice and discrimination, formed a bond of loyalty to America and the United States Army. Because of their loyalty and dedication to the Army they are looked at as heroes and some even say that the battles would’ve turned out very differently if it weren’t for the buffalo soldiers, especially at the battle of San Juan Hill. The Buffalo Soldiers will always be remembered by Americans because of their hard work and dedication to help fight a cause.
