A Short History of the Buffalo Soldiers

 A Short History of the Buffalo Soldiers

By Curt Smothers

Army General “Black Jack” Pershing knew good soldiers when he saw them. During 1895-96 he served with the U.S. Army’s 10th Cavalry, an all-black unit in the wilderness of Montana. 

Later, while on U.S. border duty and running after Pancho Villa, Pershing also commanded a group of “Buffalo Soldiers,” whom he praised and treated with professionalism, courtesy and concern for their welfare.  (He got this nickname "Black Jack," which was really a racial slur at the time, from his close association with segregated black soldiers.)

Who were the Buffalo Soldiers and how did they get their name?

The Buffalo Soldiers were four regiments of all-black infantry and cavalry (two each). After the Civil War in 1866, Congress reorganized the U.S. Army and expanded the number of regiments to include these segregated units commanded by white officers. 

Where they got the name “Buffalo soldiers” is somewhat in dispute. Some say that the term comes from the Cheyenne Indians who called them “fearless buffalos,” a tribute to their fighting ability. Others say the term came from their thick, curly black hair, which reminded the Native Americans of the thick pelt of a buffalo. (The name is probably a combination of both sources.)

Black soldiers' role in the U.S. Army was doing menial work

Before they came west as organized units, Black soldiers had been part of the U.S. Army since the Revolutionary War, where they hauled wagons and artillery and did other support work.

It took the Civil War and Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 to formally organize Union regiments of black soldiers, who were sent south to fight the Confederacy. One of the most famous was the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, whose exploits were the subject of the 1989 motion picture Glory.

Black soldiers were sent west

The post-Civil War reorganization established the Buffalo soldier regiments and dispatched the troops to the western frontier for garrison duty, road construction, and protecting railroad workers and settlers. Buffalo soldiers fought the Chiricahua Apaches in Arizona when the last of the Apache holdouts (after Geronimo) surrendered, finally bringing peace to Arizona.

The Spanish-American War and Philippine occupation

In 1898, Buffalo soldiers from the 10th Cavalry fought in the Spanish-American War and were part of Teddy Roosevelt’s charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba. After Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States, Buffalo soldier troopers were part of the U.S. occupation forces and fought against Philippine insurgents during the uprising of 1899-1900. 

Patrolled new U.S. national park system

Buffalo Soldiers also played a role in the growth of our national park system out west, where in 1903 they became the first African American soldiers to patrol Sequoia National Park for an entire summer season. Buffalo soldiers also patrolled Yosemite National Park. Read more about their role at the National Park Service website.

Role in World War I was under French command

Fourteen years later America’s attention would be directed outward. General Pershing would go on to become the commander of the Expeditionary Force during World War I in Europe (1917-1918). 

Yielding to public sentiments and the pressures of racism and bigotry, Pershing chose not to include African Americans in his command; however, a segregated unit of the U.S. Army, the 93rd Infantry Division, fought under the command of the French Army and, among other things, fought in the Second Battle of the Marne in the summer of 1918.

World War II reactivation

The all-black 93rd Infantry Division was reactivated in Arizona in 1942 and shipped overseas to the Pacific in 1944. The division’s soldiers mainly served as construction workers and service companies. However, the 92nd Infantry Division, known as the “Buffalo Division,” saw combat in Italy during the allied push up the Mediterranean.

As World War II wore on, the Army began experiencing a shortage of men. After the Battle of the Bulge in early 1945, General Eisenhower called for volunteers from all-black service units to volunteer for combat infantry. More than 4,500 volunteered, some actually taking demotions in rank. 

World War II black combat soldiers were absorbed as companies in the 6th and 12th Armies. Their honorable and brave service helped overcome much of the prejudice against black combat troops and set the stage for the eventual integration of the U.S. armed forces.

President Truman orders Army desegregation

The last all-black regiment, the 24th Infantry, saw combat duty in the Korean war. The Army disbanded this segregated regiment in 1951 when President Truman ordered the U.S. armed forces to desegregate.

Where to find out more about the Buffalo soldiers

Learn more about our country’s Buffalo soldiers at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum site. Also, visit these sites for photos and descriptions of the Buffalo soldier monuments:

Buffalo Soldier Monument, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

Buffalo Soldier Memorial, Junction City, Kansas

Buffalo Soldier Monument, El Paso, Texas