U.S. Army
After the creation of the Buffalo Soldiers from the Army Reorganization Act of 1866, many of the regiments were garrisoned on the western frontier where settlers were forging new paths and homesteads. Encouraged by the prevailing belief of "manifest destiny," settlers trekked west to claim lands in Indian territories. With that came the need for security, which ultimately was provided by the U.S. Army and its western frontier regiments, including the Buffalo Soldiers. In addition to providing security to settlers, the Buffalo Soldiers would spend countless hours training and helping to build some of the infrastructure in the plains at the time. Here you'll find the stories of these men and their time in the west.
Read more about the story of the Buffalo Soldiers On the Western Frontier.
Showing results 1-6 of 6
- Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
Black Seminole Indian Scouts
- Type: Article
- Locations: Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
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.
- Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Davis
- Type: Article
- Locations: Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
Fort Davis, in Texas, and the all-Black Buffalo Soldiers played important roles on the Texas frontier. Various groups of Buffalo Soldiers called Fort Davis home for almost 20 years, from 1867 to 1885. Today Fort Davis is a national historic site under the aegis of the National Park Service.
- Type: Person
George Jordan came to the Army like many other African American young men of the time, illiterate and in search of meaning in their lives. Jordan would go on and become a well-respected leader among his men in his storied military career that spanned three decades.
- Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
John Denny
- Type: Person
- Locations: Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
John Denny enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1867 in Elmira, New York and served with the Ninth Cavalry. In 1879 at Las Animas Canyon, New Mexico, Sergeant John Denny saved a fellow comrade in battle. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.
- Type: Person
He entered the Army as an illiterate ex-slave, but Moses Williams took advantage of the opportunities presented to him to become educated and also became a Buffalo Soldier who achieved one of the Army's highest honors during his military service career.
- Type: Person
Sgt. Thomas Shaw was one of several Buffalo Soldiers who would wind up receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during the Indian Wars on the frontier.
Last updated: May 31, 2018