History of the

Buffalo Soldiers

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For more than 20 years after the US Civil War, regiments of African-American service members known as “Buffalo Soldiers” protected the Western Frontier, upholding Native American rights, defending settlers, building roads, installing thousands of miles of telegraph lines and aiding in the delivery of US mail.

The Buffalo Soldiers were established by Congress in 1866 and included the men of the all-black 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments of the United States Army. The legislation also created four all-black infantry regiments, which were eventually consolidated to form the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments. These four regiments comprised the original Buffalo Soldiers.

Although the exact origin of the term “Buffalo Soldiers” remains unclear, most historians agree the name was given to the African-American soldiers on the Western Frontier by Native American tribes who were impressed by their equal treatment and ability to establish order during a tumultuous time in the nation’s history.

The Buffalo Soldiers were also iconic in that they enlisted the first and only documented African American woman, Cathay Williams, to serve in the regular Army in the 19th century, even though it was forbidden.

In 1888, the first commander of the 10th Cavalry Regiment, Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson, also known for his equal treatment of Native Americans gave a fitting tribute to the dedication, bravery, and devotion to the duty of the Buffalo Soldiers. He once remarked that:

From the turn of the century to WWII, Buffalo Soldier regiments served in Nebraska and Wyoming (1902-1907), the Philippines (1907-1909), Fort Ethan Allen near Burlington, Vermont (1909-1913), West Point (1907-1946) and in Naples, Italy (1944-1945).

Although they faced hardships that other military personnel were not expected to meet, Buffalo Soldiers gained their share of victories, and welded together organized bands of true and tried Veterans that fought and died so that Americans could be free.

Today, Buffalo Soldiers is synonymous with the extraordinary courage, honor and valor shown by black US Army members. The term regularly appears in pop culture references, such as the song “Buffalo Soldiers” by Bob Marley.