The Texas Story of the 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers The Texas Story of the Buffalo Soldiers begins with the formation of the 9th U.S. Cavalry in New Orleans. August 3, 1866, General Grant telegraphed General William T. Sherman, Commander of the Gulf Division, to organize a regiment of Negro Cavalry. A recruiting office was established in New Orleans, Louisiana and later that fall, a second office was opened in Louisville, Kentucky. Of the original recruits, the majority came from these two states and were veterans of the Civil War. Enlistment was for five years, with recruits receiving thirteen dollars a month, plus room, board, and clothing. General Grant also recommended that Colonel Edward Hatch command the 9th Cavalry. Colonel Hatch had a distinguished Civil War record and was able, decisive, ambitious, and personable. He served admirably in this position until his death in 1889. Col. Hatch wasted no time in proceeding with the organization of his Regiment. Headquarters was established in New Orleans, Louisiana. Recruitment of white officers proved to be a serious problem for both the 9th and 10th Cavalries. Despite enticements of fast promotion, many officers including George Armstrong Custer and Frederick Benteen, refused commission with African American units. The following advertisement from the Army and Navy Journal illustrates the dilemma: A first Lieutenant of Infantry (White) stationed at a very desirable post.....desires a transfer with an officer of the same grade, on equal terms if a white regiment: but if in a colored regiment, a reasonable bonus would be expected. Officer procurement was slow. While there was a flood of recruits enlisting, there were far too few officers to train, educate, and discipline so many green recruits or even to keep them busy at routine tasks. There was constant unrest from gambling, drinking, and fighting. There was over crowded conditions in the camp and poorly cooked rations over open fires led to disease and illness. Cholera struck the camp in October and November of 1866. Despite difficulties and shaky discipline, Colonel Hatch organized 12 Companies by February 1867. The authorized strength for the Regiment was 1200 men, but only 11 Officers had reported at that time. March 1867 Colonel Hatch received orders transferring the Regiment to Texas; June of 1867 the Companies L and M left by steamboat to take station at Brownsville, on the Rio Bravo. The other 10 Companies left by steamship for Indianola, Texas and marched overland to encamp near San Antonio, Texas. Marching orders had come too soon, the stage was set for violence and tragedy. Enroute to San Antonio, mutiny flared in Company K and was suppressed only with great difficulty. When the 9th Cavalry reached the San Antonia Camp, there were no brass bands to welcome Negroes in blue uniform. The Texans felt that they were being subjected to a particularly harsh form of post-war reconstruction by Washington, and saw the assignment of the Black Troopers as a deliberate attempt by Union to further humiliate them. As such the relationship between the troopers and locals was often at or near the boiling point. In April, mutiny broke out in A, E, and K Companies. Lieutenant Seth Griffin of A Company received a mortal wound. Lieutenant Fred Smith of K Company was forced to shoot two of his troopers. Troopers from the other Companies of the 9th Cavalry assisted in quelling the unrest. Hatch blamed the tragic affair on a shortage of officers and Captain Albert of the 6th Cavalry, assigned to investigate, agreed. Captain Albert added that many of the men were too light, too young, and have weak constitutions. The recruiters for the Regiment were responsible in part for this incident. They selected and enlisted men who were unfit for military service. Colonel Hatch appealed for more officers. He stated that little could be expected of the Regiment until this shortage was corrected. The War Department responded and within a month both morale and discipline were improved. The 9th Cavalry was charged with protecting stage and mail routes, building and maintaining forts, and establishing law and order in a vast area full of outlaws, Mexican revolutionaries, and raiding Comanche’s, Cheyenne’s, Kiowa’s and Apaches. Conditions along the Rio Bravo and West Texas were fast becoming intolerable and Troops were needed badly. In May of 1866, Colonel Hatch received orders to march west and occupy Fort Stockton and Fort Davis. Before midsummer all ten Companies had reached these Posts. Despite prejudice and the almost impossible task of maintaining some semblance of order from the Lano Estacdo (Staked Plains) to El Paso to Brownsville, the 9th established themselves as one of the most effective fighting forces in the Army. The 9th was transferred to the District of New Mexico during the winter and spring of 1875 and 1876.
Posted on: Sat, 10 May 2014 03:22:18 +0000
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