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Buffalo Soldiers of History
"Wild Buffaloes"
African Americans have served in the United States Army since the Revolutionary War. They were, however, segregated in all black units until the Korean War.
In 1866, Congress approved legislation creating six all African-American
Army regiments: two cavalry (the 9th and 10th) and four infantry (the
38th, 39th, 40th and 41st). These units represented the first African-American
professional soldiers in a peace-time army. Some of the recruits for the
new units were formerly slaves. Many others served in the Union Army during
the Civil War.
Another reorganization of the Army a short time later led to the merger
of the four infantry regiments into two units: the 24th and 25th.
The nickname "Buffalo Soldiers" was originally given to the 10th Cavalry by Cheyenne warriors out of respect for their fierce fighting in 1867. The Native-American term used was actually "Wild Buffaloes", which was translated to "Buffalo Soldiers." In time, all African-American Soldiers became known as "Buffalo Soldiers." Despite second-class treatment these soldiers made up first-rate regiments of the highest caliber and had the lowest desertion rate in the Army.
In the late 1800's and early 1900's, these units were consistently assigned to the harshest and most desolate posts. They were sent to subdue Mexican revolutionaries, outlaws, comancheros, rustlers, and hostile Native Americans; to explore and map the Southwest; to string telegraph lines; and to establish frontier outposts around which future towns and cities grew.
All four units fought in the Indian Wars of the American West and were, in part, responsible for the defeat of Geronimo, the notorious Apache leader Victorio, William "Billy the Kid" Bonner and Mexican bandit Francisco "Pancho" Villa. During the Spanish American War of 1898, it was the 9th and 10th Cavalry Corps which drew the fire that led to the decisive and successful charge up Kettle Hill, and San Juan Heights in Cuba.
The Buffalo Soldier legacy continued into the 20th Century. They served in the Philippines and China. Units also fought in WWI and WWII.
