Sunday, November 19, 2006

Formation of the Buffalo Soldier Regiments

I guess the best place to start would be at the beginning.

On July 28, 1866 the Thirty-Ninth Congress passed into law a provision that allowed Black men to serve in the United States Army during peace time. This was the first time in our nation’s history that such a thing was even possible. “An Act to increase and fix the Military Peace establishment of the United States” made it all possible. It reads as follows:

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the military peace establishment of the United States shall hereafter consist of five regiments of artillery, ten regiments of cavalry, forty-five regiments of infantry, the professors and corps of cadets of the United States Military Academy, and such other forces as shall be provided for by this act, to be known as the Army of the United States.”

Section Three of the act went on to say: “And be it further enacted, That to the six regiments of cavalry now in service there shall be added four regiments, two of which shall be composed of "Colored" men, having the same organization as is now provided by law for cavalry regiments…” Those four additional cavalry regiments were the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th regiments. It was the 9th and 10th cavalries that were “composed of Colored men” and who spent the next 30 years serving in the Western territories where they were named Buffalo Soldiers by the Plaines Indians who engaged them in battle.

Section Four of the act outlined the infantry as follows: “And be it further enacted, That the forty-five regiments of infantry provided for by this act shall consist of the first ten regiments, of ten companies each, now in service; of twenty-seven regiments, of ten companies each, to be formed by adding two companies to each battalion of the remaining nine regiments; and of eight new regiments, of ten companies each, four regiments of which shall be composed of "Colored" men and four regiments of ten companies each to be raised and officered as hereinafter provided for...” The four infantry regiments that were "composed of Colored men" were the 38th, 39th, 40th and 41st regiments. In 1869 the 38th and 41st infantry regiments were reorganized to form the 24th infantry regiment and the 39th and 40th infantry regiments were reorganized to form the 25th infantry regiment, together all four regiments (the 9th & 10th Cavalries and the 24th & 25th Infantries) made a name for themselves while serving out west.

The general view at the time, of these “Colored” troops, was best captured by Lt. Grothe Hutcheson Adjutant 9th U.S. Cavalry. “The men knew nothing, and the non-commissioned officers but little more. From the very circumstances of their preceding life it could not be otherwise. They had no independence, no self-reliance, not a thought except for the present, and were filled with superstition. To make soldiers of, such material was, at that time, considered more of an experiment than as a fixed principle.” An experiment… That’s exactly what it was, but an experiment that exceeded all expectations. With their Seminole Negro Indian Scouts included these “Colored” regiments had 23 individuals earn the Medal of Honor. While the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments made up just 20% of the mounted regiments in the U.S. Army, and were often stationed at very remote locations, they managed to be involved in over 140 Indian engagements.

On July 28th, 2006 we celebrated the 140th Anniversary of the formation of the United States Army‘s six Black Regiments, who were nicknamed Buffalo Soldiers. I’d like to add that every minority serving in the military today, including women, owe a vote of thanks to the Buffalo Soldiers, who were the first and who opened the ‘door of opportunity’ so the rest of us could serve in the U.S. military.

Thank You – Buffalo Soldiers!
Trooper Ron Jones – Vietnam Vet – 12 years U.S. Navy,
Submarine Service (Nuclear)

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