Buffalo Soldiers!

Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  The nickname was given to the "Negro Cavalry" by the Native American tribes they fought; the term eventually became synonymous with all of the African-American regiments formed in 1866.

Although several African-American regiments were raised during the Civil War to fight alongside the Union Army (including the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and the many United States Colored Troops Regiments), the "Buffalo Soldiers" were established by Congress as the first peacetime all-black regiments in the regular U.S. Army. Many African-Americans took a long hard look at military service which offered shelter, education, steady pay, medical attention and a pension. Some, such as Cathay Williams, who later enlisted as William Cathay, the first female Buffalo Soldier, decided it was much better than frequent civilian unemployment. Congress recognized the military merits of black soldiers by authorizing two segregated regiments of black cavalry, the Ninth United States Cavalry and the Tenth United States Cavalry and the 24th, 25th, 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry Regiments. Orders were given to transfer the troops to the western war arena, where they would join the army's fight with the Indians. In 1869, one year after Cathay Williams' discharge, from the army, the black infantry regiments were consolidated into two units, the Twenty-fourth United States Infantry and the Twenty-fifth United States Infantry. The 38th U.S. Infantry became the Twenty-fourth United States Infantry. All of the black regiments were commanded by white officers at that time.

The fact that five hospital visits failed to reveal that William Cathay was a woman raises questions about the quality of medical care, even by mid-l9th century standards, available to the soldiers of the U.S. Army, or at least to the African-American soldiers. Clearly, she never fully undressed during her hospital stays. Perhaps she objected to any potentially intrusive procedures out of fear of discovery. There is no record of the treatment given her at the hospitals. There is every indication that whatever treatments she received, they did not work.

Their job wasn’t easy. The "Buffalo Soldiers" were often confronted with racial prejudice from other members of the U.S. Army. Civilians in the areas where the soldiers were stationed occasionally reacted to them with violence. They were attacked in Rio Grande City, Texas in 1899, Brownsville, Texas in 1906, and Houston, Texas in 1917. There were recorded incidents. How many more were never heard of? In the Spanish-American Ward General John J. Pershing fought with the 10th Calvary from 1895 to 1897. He saw these brave men as good soldiers. But white cadets and officers at West Point began calling him Nigger Jack, it changed to Black Jack Pershing.  Some of you are familiar with that last term.

On September 6, 2005, Mark Matthews, who was the oldest living Buffalo Soldier, died at the age of 111. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. I met Trooper Harold S. Cole on April 21, 2012, in Columbia, S. C. at Freedom Fest acknowledging the Buffalo Soldiers and the Viet Nam Veterans. In 1944, the army disbanded the 2nd Cavalry Division, which included the 9th & 10th Cavalry Regiments in North Africa. It’s like Trooper Cole is one of the last Buffalo Soldiers.

A lasting legacy of the soldiers as park rangers is the Ranger Hat (popularly known as the Smokey Bear Hat). Although not officially adopted by the Army until 1911, the distinctive hat crease, called a Montana Peak, (or pinch) can be seen being worn by several of the Buffalo Soldiers in park photographs dating back to 1899. Soldiers serving in the Spanish American War began to crease the Stetson hat with a Montana "pinch" to better shed water from the torrential tropical rains. Many retained that distinctive "pinch" upon their return to the U.S. You can still see that look being worn among the military and law enforcement officers.

We must not forget the contribution that these brave men gave and suffered for this country.  That's right, men, not animals, but free men and former slaves who also gave their all.  They were abused, mistreated and humiliated but they were proud to be soldiers and fought their best that should be recognized throughout American History.