today we're looking at Buffalo Soldiers
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you'll find more resources that go with many of the bellringer videos Buffalo soldiers were
African-American soldiers that were members of the 9th and 10th U.S Cavalry and 24th and
25th U.S infantry that served in the wake of the American Civil War after Abraham Lincoln
issued the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War African-American regiments of soldiers
were formed that aided in the Union's effort to defeat the Confederacy among these regiments was
the famous 54th Massachusetts Infantry as the war came to an end in 1865 these regiments like
many others were disbanded but also as the war ended Americans began to turn their attention
to the west and follow what they believed to be their Manifest Destiny to control and settle the
Western frontier of North America in 1866 Congress passed the Army organization Act which called for
the creation of all African-American regiments to protect settlers heading west their orders
included capturing cattle rustlers and protecting stage coaches wagon trains and railroad Crews as
they built Rail lines heading into the Western Plains also among their duties was fighting off
any threats posed by Native American groups in the area and removing Native Americans that resisted
interestingly many of the men recruited to serve in these regiments were formerly enslaved people
themselves and now they were ordered to remove another minority group by the government in 1867
the ninth U.S Cavalry was formed in New Orleans Louisiana and then trained in San Antonio Texas
they would be tasked with protecting the road from San Antonio to El Paso at the same time at
Fort Leavenworth Kansas the 10th U.S Cavalry was being formed shortly after forming the 10th was
ordered to Fort Riley Kansas to provide protection for the Pacific Railroad which was being built
soon both the 9th and 10th cavalries would see action fighting against tribes such as
the Comanche Cheyenne and Apache as these Native American groups attempted to protect their lands
the African-American troops soon were given the name Buffalo Soldiers by the Native Americans as
they likened these soldiers black hair to that of the Buffalo and two they saw How brave and
tenacious these soldiers were again comparing them to the Buffalo from 1867 to 1890 Buffalo
Soldiers made up about 20 percent of the entire U.S force fighting in the west against Native
American forces during this time Buffalo Soldiers would be involved in over 170 battles not all
being against Native Americans as many times they were assigned to keep the peace between settlers
moving into the West in all 23 Buffalo Soldiers would receive the Medal of Honor for their bravery
as I mentioned earlier Buffalo Soldiers did not only fight Native Americans but they also served
in many other capacities especially after the conflict with Native Americans began to subside
in the mid-1890s during this time some of the first national parks were being established in
America and the Buffalo Soldiers took on the task of protecting the parks fighting wildfires chasing
out poachers and building roads through the parks they were among the first Park Rangers at Yosemite
and Sequoia National Parks in California in fact the hat that you see National Park Rangers wear
today as well as by Smokey the Bear is patterned after the hats worn by the Buffalo Soldiers this
style of hat is known as a pinched top or Montana Peak and helped to keep rain water from sitting on
top of the hat at Yosemite Buffalo Soldiers would be responsible for building Trails including the
trail to the top of Mount Whitney the highest mountain in the contiguous United States at
Sequoia they would build wagon roads that are still the pathways today leading through the
park in addition to protecting the national parks Buffalo soldiers were also involved in
conflicts overseas in the late 1890s they saw action during the Spanish-American War fighting
in many battles including the Battle of San Juan Hill they also were dispatched to the Philippines
and saw action there shortly after the turn of the century many came under the command of Fame
General John J Pershing who commended them for their discipline and bravery unfortunately during
World War One racism and discrimination relegated the Buffalo Soldiers to basically serving along
the Mexican border rather than going to Europe to fight just prior to World War II the 9th and
10th Cavalry were basically disbanded however many Buffalo Soldiers still in the Infantry units saw
action in Italy and the Pacific Theater of the war in 1948 President Harry Truman desegregated the
U.S military and the Buffalo Soldiers regiments were disbanded and members of these regiments
were assigned to other units today the Buffalo Soldiers are remembered as a symbol of bravery
and resilience as they fought for the nation they loved and overcame the challenges that they faced
so with that hopefully you learned something and thanks for watching