Buffalo Soldiers in the 1900s

Augustus Walley was born enslaved in 1856 in Maryland. He enlisted in the Ninth Cavalry in 1878. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions on August 16, 1881. He fought at the Battle of San Juan Hill during the Spanish American War in 1898. He died in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 9, 1938.

Brent Woods, who became a sergeant in the Buffalo Soldiers, was born enslaved in 1855. He earned the Medal of Honor for his valor in New Mexico on August 19, 1881. He is buried in Mill Springs National Cemetery in Nancy, Kentucky.

Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of the most respected leaders of his time. From leading men in combat on foreign soil to leading men domestically in our country's national parks, Young led by example and inspired a generation of new leaders. He was posthumously promoted to Brigadier General on November 1, 2021.

Benson enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 25, 1875. Caleb Benson served with the 10th Cavalry in Companies D & K. During his service, Benson participated in the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine American War. On July 6, 1905, he received a relinquished homestead claim from Captain Whitehead near Fort Robinson. Soon Benson’s company was called to the Philippines for 18 months. Once he returned he married and lived on his homestead.

Dennis Bell was born on December 28, 1866, in Washington, D.C. He enlisted in the Army in 1892. On June 30, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Bell along with three other soldiers, voluntarily went ashore to rescue wounded comrades during the Battle of Tayacoba. The following year, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions that day. He is buried is Arlington National Cemetery, Section 31, Site 349.

Edward Lee Baker, Jr., was a Buffalo Soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Spanish American War in Cuba on July 1, 1898. He served in numerous units including the Forty-ninth Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. He was commissioned a captain in the Philippine Scouts in 1902. He died on August 26, 1913, at the age of 47 and was buried in Los Angeles, California.

Edward Bordinghammer was a soldier in the segregated military for nearly 30 years. He served his country from New York to Alaska to Texas. During his time at Camp Skagway, Alaska, he was a musician for Company L, 24th Infantry.

Charles Faulkner had a thirty year career with the 10th Cavalry. He travelled to Cuba and the Philippines, and retired at the Presidio San Francisco.

Charles Terry was a Buffalo Soldier whose military career lasted almost 30 years.

George Henry Wanton was born on May 15, 1868, in Paterson, New Jersey. He earned the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Spanish American War on June 30, 1898. He retired from the Army in 1925 as a master sergeant. He died on November 24, 1940, at the age of 72.

Black Seminoles were descendants of self-emancipated formerly enslaved people from Coastal Carolina and Georgia who partially assimilated with the Seminole people of Florida. In 1870 a group of Black Seminoles who had migrated to Texas from Mexico formed the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts. They scouted for the U.S. Army on the Texas frontier. Four Black Seminoles received the Medal of Honor.

The Buffalo Soldiers played baseball from Alaska to Hawaii and everywhere in between. Baseball was a welcome diversion from the monotony of camp life. It also gave the Buffalo Soldiers an opportunity to connect with local communities through playing area teams. Discover the role Buffalo Soldiers played throughout baseball’s history.

Charles Young’s first overseas deployment in a combat zone happened during the Philippine-American War. He successfully led I Troop, Ninth Cavalry, through numerous engagements and performed well under fire without losing a man to the enemy during this tour of duty. Young and I Troop returned to the United States on October 31, 1902.

From 1899 to 1900, "Buffalo Soldiers" from Company B of the 24th U.S. Infantry Regiment were stationed at Vancouver Barracks. This marked the first time in the history of the post that a unit from one of the Army's four African American regiments comprised the post's regular garrison of troops.

Captain Charles Young and members of the Ninth Cavalry spent the summer of 1903 in Sequoia and General Grant national parks. Captain Young was the first African American superintendent of a national park. Young and the Ninth Cavalry accomplished more that summer than the army units that served there during the previous three summers combined.

Arriving in May of 1899, the men of Company L, 24th Infantry, United States Army served their country from northern Lynn Canal. These Buffalo Soldiers fought a war on two fronts: protecting the community of Skagway while facing discrimination from the same people they served.