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Origins of the Buffalo Soldiers -

The origins of the Buffalo Soldiers are rooted within the United States Colored Troops (USCT) regiments of the Union Army composed of African-American recruits that saw action during the American Civil War.

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1st Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment -

The 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment was the first black regiment to be organized in a northern state and the first black unit to see combat during the conflict.

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54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment -

The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was the second African-American regiment formed. During its service, the 54th Massachusetts saw action at the famous Second Battle of Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863. The bloody engagement is depicted in the 1989 film 'Glory.'

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United States Colored Troops -

In May 1863, the Bureau of Colored Troops was established to facilitate the recruitment of African-American soldiers to fight for the Union Army. The USCT regiments were precursors to the Buffalo Soldiers.

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Army Organization Act -

After the end of hostilities, Congress passed the Army Organization Act in 1866. This saw the creation of four all-black cavalry and infantry regiments.

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Early deployments -

Early tasks for these newly-formed segregated regiments—which included the 9th Cavalry Regiment and the 10th Cavalry Regiment— included helping control and monitor the Native Americans of the Great Plains during the Indian Wars.

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Protecting the Western Front -

All-black regiments were also tasked with capturing cattle rustlers, thieves, and killers, and protecting settlers, stagecoaches, wagon trains, and railroad crews from attack along the Western Front.

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The "Buffalo Soldiers" -

It was during this period that Native Americans began dubbing black troops as "buffalo soldiers," a nickname likely given because their dark, curly hair was thought to resemble the fur of a buffalo. The soldiers might also have been ascribed the term because of the bison coats they wore in winter, or for the way they fought like fierce and brave buffalo, according to Cheyanne warriors. The illustration depicts an African-American soldier of the 10th Cavalry speaking with a Native American through sign language.

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New regiments -

By the end of 1866, the 24th Infantry and 25th Infantry Regiments had also been formed. All told, these units played a major role in developing the Western part of the United States throughout the latter part of the 19th century.

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Ironic role -

Notable exploits involving the 9th Cavalry included securing the road from San Antonio to El Paso in West Texas in 1867 to prevent raids by Native Americans. Ironically, the black troops, who still suffered discrimination from the US government despite their elevated status, were tasked with quelling and removing another minority group in the government's name.

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Cathay Williams (1844–1893) -

One extraordinary episode in the history of the Buffalo Soldiers is the enlistment by Cathay Williams into the US Army during the Indian Wars as William Cathay. She successfully masqueraded as a man to join the Buffalo Soldiers to become the first and only documented woman to serve in the United States Army while posing as a male combatant.

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Indian Wars and the Johnson County conflict -

Both the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments took up arms during the Indian Wars. The 9th also took part in the violent Johnson County Wars from 1889 to 1893.

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Roundup duties -

Meanwhile, the 10th Cavalry and 25th Infantry continued to round up Native Americans, deploying to Montana to keep the Cree in check. This photograph taken in the winter of 1890 at Fort Keogh in Montana shows Buffalo Soldiers of the 25th Infantry, some wearing buffalo coats.

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The Spanish–American War -

With the effective end of the Indian Wars in 1890s, the Buffalo Soldiers⁠—the 9th and 10th Calvary and the 24th and 25th Infantry⁠—headed south towards a new conflict, the Spanish–American War.

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Fighting in Cuba -

The Buffalo Soldiers assembled in Florida as the United States prepared to intervene in the Cuban War of Independence.

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Courage and determination -

Buffalo Soldier regiments were the only African Americans that fought in Cuba during the war, where they earned a reputation for serving courageously.

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Battle of San Juan Hill -

The July 1, 1898 Battle of San Juan Hill was a decisive encounter in deciding the fate of the United States Army campaign in Cuba. The Buffalo Soldiers fought alongside the famed Rough Riders, whose commanding officer was Theodore Roosevelt.

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The Philippine–American War -

The 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments served in the Philippines in the early 1900s with equal valor, as did the 24th Infantry Regiment, pictured here at drill in Camp Walker, Cebu. Black combatants, however, were still being victimized racially, which led many to sympathize with their Filipino foe.

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Park Ranger duties -

As well as combat duties, Buffalo Soldiers were assigned to protect America's national parks. Troops from the 9th Cavalry Regiment and the 24th Infantry Regiment were deployed as some of the very first park rangers, stationed at Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. Duties included tracking down poachers and fighting wild fires.

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First World War -

The biggest enemy of the Buffalo Soldiers remained prejudice and discrimination. During the First World War, black troops were mostly relegated to defending the US-Mexico border. Buffalo Soldier regiments saw action in the June 21, 1916 Battle of Carrizal and the August 27, 1918 Battle of Carrizal.

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Segregated units -

Though Buffalo Soldier regiments didn't participate directly with American forces during the Great War, many combat-experienced NCOs (non-commissioned officers) and troops joined other segregated units. Here, officers of the United States Army's segregated 366th Infantry Regiment are pictured onboard RMS Aquitania, en route home from active service.

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Homecoming -

Pictured: men of the segregated 92nd Infantry Division in a rain-soaked victory parade on New York's 5th Avenue following the First World War.

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US Army 92nd Infantry Division -

The 92nd Infantry Division comprised African-American soldiers from all states, and adopted the nickname "buffalo soldiers" by way of honoring 19th-century black combatants. The division's shoulder sleeve insignia depicted a buffalo from the all-black 366th Infantry, one of the first units organized in the division.

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Victory parade -

African-American soldiers are seen marching through Harlem, New York, on March 23, 1918, during a victory parade.

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Peacetime duties -

Peacetime duties post-WWI required regiments of Buffalo Soldiers to guard remote outposts of the American West, such as this unit based out of Fort Huachuca at Sierra Vista, Arizona, pictured in 1928.

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Second World War -

The Second World War saw black combatants serve alongside their white counterparts, for example in the 24th Infantry Division, which saw action in the Pacific Theater. By May 1944, the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments had been deactivated. The dissolution of the original 24th Infantry Regiment took place in 1951. The 25th Infantry Regiment served until 1957.

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Captain Charles Young (1864–1922) -

A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Captain Charles Young exemplified what members of the Buffalo Soldier could achieve. Young became the first black US national park superintendent, the first black military attaché, the first black man to achieve the rank of colonel in the United States Army, and the highest-ranking black officer in the regular army until his death in 1922.

Image: US Federal Government. 

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Last Buffalo Soldier -

Mark Matthews (1894–2005), the nation's oldest living Buffalo Soldier, died in 2005 at the ripe old age of 111. He is buried at Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

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Legacy -

Several monuments and historical markers located across the nation commemorate the Buffalo Soldiers, including this one at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where members of the 10th Cavalry Regiment were formed on September 21, 1866. For its part, the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas, is dedicated to the history and achievements of Buffalo Soldiers and African-American soldiers from all of the branches of the United States military. 

Sources: (United States Army) (History) (Military.com) (WyoHistory)

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