Western Frontier

 Spanish-American     War

 Philippine War

 Presidio Garrison

 Patrolling Sequoia    National Park

 Pursuing Pancho    Villa

 World War One

 The Final Years

 Charles Young

 Footnotes

 Presidio Buffalo
   Soldier Sites

The qualities of courage and patriotism are not restricted to any single group of people or culture. The exploits and achievements of the African American 9th Cavalry, 10th Cavalry, 24th Infantry, and 25th Infantry regiments clearly indicates their selfless and dedicated participation in the settling of the American frontier and the development of the United States as a world power. The courage of the men of these Black units meant not only valor in the face of physical danger, but also the spirit to stand in service to the United States despite discrimination, segregation, and repressive Jim Crow laws.

The legendary name, "Buffalo Soldier," is said to have originated with Native Americans of the western plains, who thought the hair of the Black soldiers resembled the fur of the buffalo and that the soldiers fighting spirit made them worthy opponents. The name caught on after it was first mentioned in a letter from a frontier army wife, to The Nation magazine in 1873. Referring to the 10th Cavalry, Mrs. Frances M.A. Roe wrote, "The officers say that the Negroes make good soldiers and fight like fiends … the Indians call them 'buffalo soldiers' because their woolly heads are so much like the matted cushion that is between the horns of the buffalo."(1) The name Buffalo Soldier would be used by writers and journalists to describe all African American troops. The soldiers seldom used the name amongst themselves, but they did accept the name as complimentary. The symbol of the buffalo was eventually incorporated into the crest of the 10th Cavalry Regiment.

Service for the Buffalo Soldiers took them from the American Plains and Southwest to duty in Cuba, the Philippines, Hawaii, and Mexico. Troops of all four regiments assigned to Pacific commands embarked and returned through San Francisco. At the end of the 19th century and early 20th century, soldiers of the 24th Infantry and 9th Cavalry were garrisoned at the Presidio of San Francisco. No matter where their duty station was located, the Buffalo Soldier regiments remained segregated, and with only a few exceptions, the officers in charge were Caucasian. During the history of their service, the soldiers of these four Black regiments overcame adversity and established themselves as among the most effective military units in the United States Army.

Select a link at the left to learn more about the history of the Buffalo Soldiers

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