SAFE HAVEN

Buffalo Soldiers

Posted by: Alleyoops, 21:30 GMT le 30 juillet 2012

Buffalo Soldier of El Paso, TX

Who are the Buffalo Soldiers?

African-Americans have fought in military conflicts since colonial days. However, the Buffalo Soldiers, comprised of former slaves, freemen and Black Civil War soldiers, were the first to serve during peacetime.

Once the Westward movement had begun, prominent among those blazing treacherous trails of the Wild West were the Buffalo Soldiers of the U.S. Army. These African-Americans were charged with and responsible for escorting settlers, cattle herds, and railroad crews. The 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments also conducted campaigns against American Indian tribes on a western frontier that extended from Montana in the Northwest to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the Southwest. Throughout the era of the Indian Wars, approximately twenty percent of the U.S. Cavalry troopers were Black, and they fought over 177 engagements. The combat prowess, bravery, tenaciousness, and looks on the battlefield, inspired the Indians to call them "Buffalo Soldiers." Many Indians believe the name symbolized the Native American's respect for the Buffalo Soldiers' bravery and valor. Buffalo Soldiers, down through the years, have worn the name with pride.

African-Americans have fought with distinction in all of this country's military engagements. However, some of their most notable contributions and sacrifices came during the Civil War. During that conflict, more than 180,000 African-Americans wore the Union Army blue. Another 30,000 served in the Navy, and 200,000 served as workers on labor, engineering, hospital and other military support projects. More than 33,000 of these gallant soldiers gave their lives for the sake of freedom and their country.

Shortly after the Civil War, Congress authorized the formation of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry Regiments: Six all Black peacetime units. Later the four infantry regiments were merged into the 24th and 25th Infantries.

In countless skirmishes and firefights, the troopers won the respect of the Plains warriors who named "Buffalo Soldiers." African-Americans accepted the badge of honor and wore it proudly.

At least 18 Medals of Honor were presented to Buffalo Soldiers during the Western Campaigns. Similarly, 23 African-Americans received the nation's highest military award during the Civil War.

Personal story.

As a Buffalo Soldier, Sergeant Henry Parker, and the U.S. army were a part of the Plains Indian's nightmare. As an American soldier, he served his country under the worst of conditions, showing the courage and bravery that has been the tradition of all fighting men, no matter their cause, no matter their sacrifice. It should be noted, that Regimental returns show that the Buffalo Soldiers were not involved in Indian massacres, though they were camped near the sites of two incidents and assisted those who survived. It is this author's stated belief, that the Buffalo Soldiers did not mistreat Native-Americans and were not responsible for their removal from reservations.

After escaping from his slavemaster in Apton Valley, Kentucky, great-grandfather joined the 101st Regiment United States Colored Infantry, at 18 years of age. He served three years as a private in the Civil War. Action was seen at White's Ranch, Boyd's Station and Stevenson's Gap, and at Scottsborough and Larkinsville, Alabama.

Henry Parker enlisted in the U.S. Cavalry on May 18, 1867 in Memphis, Tennessee by Captain Davis for a period of five years. He was 21 years old and listed his occupation as a groom. His description included black eyes, black hair and a complexion listed as mulatto. Henry's height was recorded as 5'9 1/2". He was assigned to Company D of the Tenth U.S. Cavalry and was discharged on May 18, 1872 at Ft. Sill, Indian Territory * as a private. Fort Sill ca. 1827-1876.

Remarkably, he never reported for sick call during the first two years and four months of service.

On June 6, 1872, Henry Parker re-en1isted in the army at Fort Sill for another five years. His height, however, was now listed as 5' 11 1/2". He was again assigned to Company D of the Tenth U.S. Cavalry. When discharged at Fort Concho, Texas on June 6, 1877, Henry Parker was a sergeant, a member of the "Color Guard" with his character listed as "Excellent".

In every major war, throughout the history of the United States, from the American Revolution through the Indian Wars, Native-Americans and African-Americans have fought with and against each other. This scenario prevailed during the Civil War. Some tribes fought for the South, such as the Cherokees while others assisted the North like the Seminoles.

Slaves and the black soldiers, who couldn't read or write, had no idea of the historical deprivations and the frequent genocidal intent of the U.S. government toward Native Americans. Free blacks, whether they could read and write, generally had no access to first hand or second-hand unbiased information on this relationship. Most whites who had access often didn't really care about the situation. It was business as usual in the name of "Manifest Destiny". Most Americans viewed the Indians as incorrigible and non-reformable savages. Those closest to the warring factions or who were threaten by it, naturally wanted government protection at any cost.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, the government was fighting the Indians in the west. It withdrew most of its men and resources from the Indian wars, to concentrate on ending the rebellion. At the end of the Civil War, 186,000 black soldiers had participated in the war, with 38,000 killed in action. Southerners and eastern populations did not want to see armed Negro soldiers near or in their communities. They were also afraid of the labor market being flooded with a new source of labor. General employment opportunities in these communities was not available to blacks, so many African-Americans took a long hard look at military service which offered shelter, education, steady pay, medical attention and a pension. Some decided it was much better than frequent civilian unemployment. Of course in some quarters, it was thought this is an good way of getting rid of two problems at the same time.

When Congress reorganized the peacetime regular army in the summer of 1866, it had taken the above situation into account. It also 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 the discharge of Cathay Williams, the female Buffalo Soldier in disguise, the black infantry regiments were consolidated into two units, the Twenty-fourth United States Infantry and the Twenty-fifth United States Infantry. All of the black regiments were commanded by white officers at that time.

Black soldiers who fought in the Indian Wars, fought their opponents as they have done throughout this country's military history. They fought to win and to give their lives if necessary, for their personal beliefs. They wanted to gain the respect and equality they never saw as slaves and rarely received as freedmen. So, they continued on as soldiers. They were sadly mistaken in thinking they would gain these components of freedom, in a country built in-part by their enslavement and which still held deep racial and cultural prejudices.

As soon as these soldiers were relocated into their hostile environments, they were engaged in life and death struggles. They were under fire. Friends were killed and their oath to keep the peace, put to the test by Indians, settlers and those outside the law. Though they guarded railroads and telegraph lines, stagecoaches, arms shipments, towns, homesteads, whites and Indians, they never knew when they would be ambushed by foes or the very townspeople they were protecting! Not infrequently, just by entering a town or saloon, shoot-outs occurred. There was also the occasional sniper, waiting for a kill. Those that murdered troopers were never punished for their crimes, even when there were witnesses. The troopers always responded with a deadly intent of their own. When investigated by the military, those troopers found guilty were punished accordingly, but not always justly.

After arriving at their posts the alternatives to soldiering were: desert to all white communities, where they were regarded with hateful scorn and risk imprisonment. Death and torture at the hands of the Indians or possible death by exposure to the killing heat and freezing cold. Though the Buffalo Soldiers did their duty in carrying out the government's version of law and order on the frontier west, many influential blacks such as Senator Blanche Kelso Bruce, continually spoke out for the Indians and against the United States treaty making and treaty breaking policies.

Segregation in the Military

The army supported segregation. It maintained separate facilities where possible. The Buffalo Soldiers built many forts whose facilities at times they couldn't use. At Fort Concho for example, there were separate rooms for educational purposes, etc. The necessities of military life forced white and black troops together, breaking down long standing prejudices. Lieutenant Charles J. Crane always believed in the superiority of the Anglo-Saxon and resented his appoint to the Twenty-third Infantry. But in his autobiography he wrote he was happy with the assignment.

So brave and courageous were these men that their legendary Indian foes called them Buffalo Soldiers. Their commanding officer, Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson of Civil War fame, said the name was given because the Indians respected a brave and powerful adversary, which relates directly to their much revered buffalo. Others say it was due to the similarity of the soldier's hair to that of the hair surrounding the buffalo's head.

Desertion

The Tenth had the lowest desertion rate in the army, though their army posts were often in the worst country in the west. Official reports, show these soldiers were frequently subjected to the harshest of discipline, racist officers, and poor food, equipment and shelter. White regiments were supplied with silk-embroidered banners. The Tenth's regimental standard had to be homemade and was tattered and worn. The government did not send them a regulation flag until many, many years later. In spite of these deprivations, the morale of these soldiers remained high. Some white commanding officers were proud to lead these men and publicly expressed their feelings. In the end 20 black soldiers of the Ninth and Tenth Companies won the Medal of Honor, the highest award this country gives for the most outstanding performance under enemy fire.

Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 22, 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:

9th Cavalry Regiment
10th Cavalry Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
25th Infantry Regiment

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.

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.

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1. Alleyoops 21:34 GMT le 30 juillet 2012
Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

2. Alleyoops 21:36 GMT le 30 juillet 2012
Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

3. Proserpina 22:27 GMT le 30 juillet 2012
Alley, I enjoyed your blog on the Buffalo Soldiers. It is amazing how we use minorities to die for the general public and when they are no longer needed they are shunned and or forgotten. Thank you for reminding us about the courage and service by these brave soldiers. Member Since: 6 mai 2008 Posts: 152 Comments: 16717

4. plapman 12:44 GMT le 31 juillet 2012
Good morning Alley. I'm trying to spend less time in front of the computer. Yesterday I worked on a box for my daughter to take a clock home with her to NFLD. The darn thing took me all afternoon. It should have been a 15 minute job. I'll finish it today. Enjoy your day. Member Since: 18 août 2006 Posts: 2300 Comments: 7008

5. Alleyoops 13:20 GMT le 31 juillet 2012
Good morning PROS. Being a throw away society,I am afraid its not only minorities who have faught in these great wars but it's even happening today. Many of our good men and women who are now serving will face a bleak future when they return. My next blog I think will be on Ira Hayes. That should make it interesting. A real hero who was shunned and died in the gutter, just another drunken native American. So sad, yet so many. Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

6. Alleyoops 13:22 GMT le 31 juillet 2012
Good morning Tony. I know what you mean. I have been doing the same thing too. I am trying to limit my computer time and concentrate on me. Have a great day dear one. Enjoy your box making. Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

7. Ylee 15:27 GMT le 31 juillet 2012
Good morning, Alley! Thanks for posting the picture of the statue! With the trees in the distance it looks like the horse is kicking up dust! Good blog! Hotter than heck here again todsy, back up in the upper 90s! Hope it's cooler for you! Member Since: 3 février 2011 Posts: 65 Comments: 11298

8. Proserpina 10:50 GMT le 01 août 2012
Member Since: 6 mai 2008 Posts: 152 Comments: 16717

9. Alleyoops 11:45 GMT le 01 août 2012
Good morning everyone. Gosh it's Aug already. One more month of oppressive heat then cooler temps will reign. After the middle of Sept things start cooling here and once again I will be able to enjoy the outdoors. Just looking outside, I can see how still it is. Going to be another hot day in SW Ont. I think its to my benefit to let the lad on Sat cut both lawns. Between the heat and how I have been feeling, I don't want to have to go out in that heat nor do I want to aggravate my arthritis. The old back and knees have been protesting a way too much. More than likely its the AC that is causing me grief but I would rather deal with it than have it so hot in here that I can't breathe. Anyway have a great hump day. Pros, thanks for dropping by. ALways nice to see your pics. Happy first of Aug. Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

10. 1759 15:39 GMT le 01 août 2012
wonderfull and insightfull reading nice to learn something new ,good work Member Since: 26 juillet 2012 Posts: 1 Comments: 23

11. plapman 19:34 GMT le 01 août 2012
Good afternoon Alley. I'm off to finishe the box for the daughters clock. Have a great day. Member Since: 18 août 2006 Posts: 2300 Comments: 7008

12. Ylee 06:18 GMT le 02 août 2012
Happy belated white rabbits x 3, Alley! Probably better for you to not mow under this heat! I shouldn't, either, but I don't have good sense anyway, lol! Take care! Member Since: 3 février 2011 Posts: 65 Comments: 11298

13. Alleyoops 17:05 GMT le 02 août 2012
Hi Ylee. Yes its going to be a real scorcher again today with temps into the 90s and high humidex readings. Not going to be venturing outside today much other than feed my babies and pick up the mail. MS Smudgie is such a good momma. She let her kittens have the Friskies wet food while she munched on the Purina dry kibble. Those little buggers are almost as big as she is. I had the whole family for noms this morning at 4 AM. Even papa, Nico was here for something to eat. He waited until the others were finished then he had his breakfast. What great parents these two are. Well I guess I should get productive but I just can't seem to get my mojo working, even coffee did not get the old motor working this morning. Just going through one of those "lazy hazy summer days" I guess. Have a great day everyone. The weekend will soon be upon us once again. It's a long wknd coming up for us here with Simcoe Day so stay safe on the roads and water. Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

14. GardenGrrl 17:32 GMT le 02 août 2012
Hi Alley, good blog. Stopped over to say you should check out Lousy Focus blog. Has a bunch of cute kitten pictures. Member Since: 25 Mars 2007 Posts: 217 Comments: 7244

15. ycd0108 21:20 GMT le 02 août 2012
Doesn't seem like I said "Good Job" here yet so it's about time: Good job "And there will be Peace In the valley Someday"! Member Since: 1 janvier 2008 Posts: 142 Comments: 3436

16. Alleyoops 02:03 GMT le 03 août 2012
Thanks YCD and GG. Yes I will have to check out the kitty pics for sure. Been looking around the various sites for inspiration for the next blog. I may have already found something interesting but will hold off until this coming week to post it. Have a great evening. Tomorrow brings its own challenges and rewards. Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

17. Ylee 03:51 GMT le 03 août 2012
It's raining here! Yipee! :) Hope you get some relief soon! Member Since: 3 février 2011 Posts: 65 Comments: 11298

18. Alleyoops 10:56 GMT le 03 août 2012
How wonderful Ylee you are finally getting some rain and relief. Unfortunately for us, its going to be up into the 90s for the next few days with high heat index readings. Yup although we may not see much in way of showers, the old humidex will be soaring along with the heat. Not going to be doing anything outdoors while its like this. Saturday, my lad comes to cut the back lawn, looks like he will end up having to do the front too. At least with a rider mower it's not so bad. Since I have not really had any real sleep yet, I guess I should go to bed and try to catch up. I kept waking up every 20 min or so looking at the clock then falling back into a light sleep only to do it again and again until I finally got up at 3:45 AM. So I am due for a good snooze. Breakfast is done, meds are taken so I can now find a comfortable spot between the sheets and get some rest. Have a great day everyone. Isn't it nice to see Friday? Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

19. Ylee 11:13 GMT le 03 août 2012
Sure is, Alley! It's payday! :) Member Since: 3 février 2011 Posts: 65 Comments: 11298

20. plapman 21:03 GMT le 03 août 2012
Good afternoon Alley. I'm off to a late start today. Enjoy our day Member Since: 18 août 2006 Posts: 2300 Comments: 7008

21. Alleyoops 02:45 GMT le 04 août 2012
Hi Tony, just spent the last couple of hours watching the series ROSE RED by Stephen King on youtube.com Sure was one great old spookfest. Love those kind of movies. Unfortunately its in 15 min sections but you just keep clicking onto the next one in the series until you have seen the whole movie. TV does not get much use anymore...LOL Maybe I should switch it for the computer monitor since it is computer compatible...LOL Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

22. Proserpina 06:02 GMT le 04 août 2012
Hi Alley. I am night prowling on the blogs. If I watched the scary movies that you watch, I would never get a wink of sleep! Sleep well friend. Member Since: 6 mai 2008 Posts: 152 Comments: 16717

23. Alleyoops 12:30 GMT le 04 août 2012
Good morning everyone. Just had a nice hot shower and am now ready to face the day. My lad should be here soon to cut the lawn so that will be a blessing for me. I will get him to do both the back and front for me. Just can't cut it myself anymore. PROS, sorry to hear you were not getting much rest last night either. It was after 3 AM before I finally settled down and went to sleep for about an hour then got up, fed my babies then went back to bed. One good thing, seems I have a creative mind at that time of the night and was able to add to my short story. A little each day when the creative juices flow, is a great way to get it done. It's a police story with a twist...LOL Anyway time for a good cup of coffee to get the old brain firing on all 4 cylinders. Have a great day. Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

24. GardenGrrl 09:59 GMT le 05 août 2012
Good Morning it's 5am here and I imagine your up. I'm heading out to work after a little breakfast, coffee and blogging. Have a great day. Member Since: 25 Mars 2007 Posts: 217 Comments: 7244

25. Ylee 21:35 GMT le 05 août 2012
Good afternoon, Alley! Looks like you have the perfect day to prop your feet up and do nothing! :) Glad you got some rain! Good luck on your story; I'm looking forward to reading it! Sorry to hear that your best progress is at 3AM. Maybe you are thinking too hard earlier in the evening, and your brain has to relax before your creative side kicks in. I know I've some of my best thinking at that time of night! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! Member Since: 3 février 2011 Posts: 65 Comments: 11298

26. plapman 12:21 GMT le 06 août 2012
Good morning Alley. Yesterday i finished the box for the daughters clock and came up with an idea for another quartz clock I have in the horde. I also think my computer is working right again. The main probablem was me. A bit of time away from it seemed to fix a lot of problems I was having. It looks like were in for another warm week. Enjoy the day. Member Since: 18 août 2006 Posts: 2300 Comments: 7008

27. Alleyoops 13:07 GMT le 06 août 2012
Good morning folks. Just sitting back enjoying the civic holiday here. Had to check the C-K calendar to see if there was going to be any trash pick up, nope not until tomorrow. I could have stayed in bed another hour....ROFLMBO Coffee is a brewing and I will soon be making some breakfast so I can take my meds. I think today's project will be cleaning out the fridge. Now that is a scary job, you never know what is in there hiding at the very back....but it's gotta be done. Anyway have a great day, try to stay out of trouble. A little cooler start to the day, really a great day to go fishing...LOL Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

28. Alleyoops 16:59 GMT le 07 août 2012
Good afternoon folks. Hope you are enjoying your Tuesday. Have a wonderful day. Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

29. Ylee 23:30 GMT le 07 août 2012
I don't know about enjoying working, but being here on the blogs is nice! :) How's the writing coming along? Hope you're making progress, and I'm looking forward to reading it when you're done! Member Since: 3 février 2011 Posts: 65 Comments: 11298

30. Alleyoops 08:07 GMT le 08 août 2012
Had lights out at 10 PM last night and got a decent sleep before I had to get up to feed the kitties this morning. Just going to grab a coffee and take some of my meds. My diabetic med I must eat first and I am not hungry yet. Maybe in an hour or so. Hot here today before the cold front moves in. Sure will be nice to see daytime highs in the 70s. Have a great day. Off to do some grocery shopping this morning before it heats up. Gotta keep the kitties happy. Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

31. plapman 11:27 GMT le 08 août 2012
Good morning Alley. I'm still doing spme work on the new blog yesterday and just came up with a new theme for the next one. It looks like it's going to be warm here for the next couple of days and I have to get out this morning and cut the front lawn befor it gets too warm. Enjoy you day. Member Since: 18 août 2006 Posts: 2300 Comments: 7008

32. Alleyoops 19:52 GMT le 08 août 2012
Just saw it was 88F out not counting the humidex reading. No wonder I was feeling sick when I went grocery shopping earlier. I decided to go after lunch. Bad move. Now I will take it easy, have something to eat then go and lay down for a bit. Kitties have their food now so that is one good thing. May take a run to Canadian Tire tomorrow when it cools down to a lovely 70F. Don't mind the rain if its cool. Gotta see if I can pick up some Purina cat chow. The grocery store has not had any in for a month and they got told off today for advertising something they are always out of...Who ever is ordering the stuff only gets the high end costing stuff that the cats don't even like. I refuse to pay 26.00 a bag for dry food. Purina is only l9.00. Anyway have a great afternoon everyone. Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

33. Ylee 21:23 GMT le 08 août 2012
Hi, Alley! It's still hot down here too, but we're supposed to have a major cooldown for the weekend! 58 on Sunday morning sounds mighty fine! Not sure what size bag you have to pay $19 for, but that still seems high! It's under $12 for 16 lbs. here! If i could, I'd bring you a trunk full of it! Cat food smuggler, that'd be me, lol! Hope you have a relaxing evening! Member Since: 3 février 2011 Posts: 65 Comments: 11298

34. Alleyoops 08:52 GMT le 09 août 2012
Good morning. Sitting here watching the radar for this area. Seems all the good rain is going north of me again and what is left seems to be petering out before reaching us. Oh well. Maybe as the day progresses, some good storms will pop up. Temps at the moment are at 72F. Suppose to be our high for the day, lets see if it remains there or if it cools once this front goes through. Anyway, have a great Thursday. Ylee....those bags are the 9.1 kg bags.The big ones. Member Since: 18 avril 2007 Posts: 185 Comments: 29162

35. plapman 13:40 GMT le 09 août 2012
Good morning Alley. Member Since: 18 août 2006 Posts: 2300 Comments: 7008

36. Ylee 08:37 GMT le 10 août 2012
Hi, Alley! The rain pretty much missed us on this go-around, but at least it'll start cooling off soon! I hope, lol! Have a good day! Member Since: 3 février 2011 Posts: 65 Comments: 11298

37. plapman 13:17 GMT le 10 août 2012
Good morning Alley. I'm off to the vampires this morning. got a call from my doctor saying my INR levels were borderline and he wanted to recheck the results. Enjoy your day. Member Since: 18 août 2006 Posts: 2300 Comments: 7008

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