Buffalo Soldier Monument and the Circle of Firsts

During the American Civil War, the U.S. government formed regiments known a the United States Colored Troops.  In 1866 Congress reorganized the Army and authorized the formation of two regiments of black cavalry soldiers as the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry and four infantry regiments designated as the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry Regiments.

The 10th Cavalry was organized on September 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas with Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson as Commanding Officer.

The 10th Cavalry served in the following campaigns: Indian Wars, War with Spain, Philippine Insurrections, and World War II. They were inactivated March 20. 1944.

The American West has fascinated people the world over since settlers first crossed the Mississippi, however, unless it includes the contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers, any story about “how the West was Won” is incomplete without their story.