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The Buffalo
Soldiers - A Brief History
The
American public was first introduced to the historic account of black
soldier integration into the United States military on a broad scale with
Edward Zwick’s Academy Award Winning
motion picture, Glory.
This motion picture “officially” introduced us to a very
important part of American history that, even in the year 2000, is still
not readily taught in our public schools.
When the Civil War ended in 1865, there were 166 black regiments
consisting of 145 infantry regiments, seven cavalry regiments,
13 artillery batteries and one engineer battalion.
At the close of the war, the U.S. Army’s size was significantly
reduced.
However, it wasn’t long before the government realized it needed more
manpower in rebuilding the South and providing support for the westward
movement of settlers. In 1866
the Congress of the United States created new regiments in the Army,
including two regiments of black cavalry, the Ninth and Tenth regiments,
and four regiments of black infantry, the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st. In
1868, the infantry regiments were combined and became the 24th
and 25th
infantry. The regiments were
manned by black NCOs and enlisted men (troopers) and commanded by white
officers.
The Tenth Cavalry, on which the Buffalo Soldiers of the American
West reenactment group is based, was formed at Leavenworth,
Kansas. It served there and
in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Oklahoma, the Dakotas, and
Colorado.
As with the white regiments,
the black regiments were also charged with maintaining peace throughout
the United States’ Western territories and along what was then called
the “frontier.” This
included the (still controversial) task of controlling Native American
activity throughout the territories and keeping Native American tribe
members on their reservations.
They also fought desperadoes, comancheros, American and Mexican
bandits, and Mexican revolutionaries.
In addition, they escorted wagon trains, strung telegraph lines,
protected settlers and railroads, and built the Army forts that dotted the
West. One famous post built
by the Tenth Cavalry is Fort Sill, in Lawton, Oklahoma.
The name “Wild
Buffalo” was bestowed upon men of the Tenth Cavalry after a battle with
Cheyenne Indians. In Native
American tradition, the buffalo is great medicine. The Cheyenne said the black soldiers fought with the tenacity
and bravery the buffalo did when cornered.
The Cheyenne also identified the hair of the black soldiers with
the hair on the head of the buffalo.
Over time, the term "Wild Buffalo" changed to
"Buffalo Soldier,” and then became associated with all black
regiments in the army, not just the Tenth Cavalry.
Buffalo Soldier cavalry
regiments were part of the U.S. Army until 1943 when the Army decided to
discontinue the use of the horse cavalry. Per the direction of President Truman in 1949, the black
units were disbanded and integrated into white units. This was completed in the latter part of 1953.
However, the legend of the Buffalo Soldiers lives on and today we
are coming to know them as America’s forgotten heroes.
Historical
information contributed
by 2nd Lt. Mitch Bart, and Qtr. Master Sgt. John Bell, Buffalo Soldiers of the American
West.
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| The Buffalo Soldiers
of the American West put on historically accurate educational
re-enactments around the country for schools and special events.
Here, 1st Sgt. Robert Sapp leads his troop as they
salute an audience at the annual Colorfest in Fraser, Colorado. |
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| Knecht
on location with Qtr. Master Sgt. and BSotAW founder John Bell in Fraser,
Colorado.
“Filming the Buffalo Soldiers was one of the most fulfilling
experiences of my production career,” said Knecht.
“It was rainy and cold that day, and I felt a real sense of pride
as I watched them perform, despite the bad weather.”
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Photos
Courtesy Tina Louise Holm
Click
here to learn more about the Buffalo Soldiers.
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