10th Cavalry Regiment (United States)

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10th Cavalry Regiment
Image:10 CAV COA.gif
10th Cavalry Regiment coat of arms
Active 1866 - 1944
1958 -
Country United States of America
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Army
Type Cavalry
Size Regiment
Nickname Buffalo Soldiers
Motto Ready and Forward
Engagements Indian Wars
War with Spain
Philippine-American War
World War II
Vietnam War
Iraq Campaign
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
U.S. Cavalry Regiments
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9th Cavalry Regiment 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

The 10th Cavalry Regiment is a unit of the United States Army. Formed as a segregated African-American unit, the 10th Cavalry was one of the original "Buffalo Soldier" regiments and served in combat during the Indian Wars of the western United States and the Spanish-American War. The regiment was later relegated to non-combat duty and served in that capacity through World War II until its deactivation in 1944.

The 10th Cavalry was reactivated as an integrated combat unit in 1958. Portions of the regiment served in conflicts ranging from the Vietnam War to the current Iraq War. The current structure is by Squadron in each Brigade with the U.S. 4th Infantry Division and will be split between Ft Hood and Ft Carson upon return from Iraq.

Contents

Early history

1866 - 1874

The 10th Cavalry was formed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1866 as an all- African-American regiment. High standards of recruitment were set by the regiment's commander and Civil War hero Benjamin Grierson. As a result, recruitment and organization of the unit required slightly over one year. By the end of July 1867, eight companies of enlisted men had been recruited from the Departments of Missouri, Arkansas, and the Platte.

Life at Leavenworth was not pleasant for the 10th. The fort's commander, who was openly opposed to African Americans serving in the regular army, made life for the new troopers difficult. Grierson sought to have his regiment transferred, and subsequently received orders moving the regiment to Fort Riley, Kansas, later that summer. Within two months of the transfer, the final four companies were in place.

For the next eight years, the 10th was stationed at numerous forts throughout Kansas and Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). They provided guards for workers of the Kansas and Pacific Railroad, strung miles of new telegraph lines, and to a large extent built Fort Sill. Throughout this period, they were constantly patrolling the reservations in an attempt to prevent Indian raids into Texas. In 1867 and 1868, the 10th Cavalry participated in Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's winter campaigns against the Cheyennes, Arapahos, and Comanches. Units of the 10th prevented the Cheyenne from fleeing to the northwest, thus allowing Custer and the 7th Cavalry to defeat them at the decisive battle near Fort Cobb, Indian Territory.

1875 - 1884

In 1875, the 10th Cavalry moved its headquarters to Fort Concho in west Texas. Other companies were assigned to various forts throughout the area. The regiment's mission in Texas was to protect mail and travel routes, control Indian movements, provide protection from Mexican revolutionaries and outlaws, and to gain a knowledge of the area's terrain. The regiment proved highly successful in completing their mission. The 10th scouted 34,420 miles (55,390 km) of uncharted terrain, opened more than 300 miles (480 km) of new roads, and laid over 200 miles (320 km) of telegraph lines. The scouting activities took the troops through some of the harshest and most desolate terrain in the nation. These excursions allowed the preparation of excellent maps detailing scarce water holes, mountain passes, and grazing areas that would later allow for settlement of the area. These feats were accomplished while the troops had constantly to be on the alert for quick raids by the Apaches. The stay in west Texas produced tough soldiers who became accustomed to surviving in an area that offered few comforts and no luxuries.

The 10th Cavalry played an important role in the 1879-80 campaign (Apache Wars) against Chief Victorio and his band of Apaches. Victorio and his followers escaped from their New Mexico reservation and wreaked havoc throughout the southwest on their way to Mexico. Col. Grierson and the 10th attempted to prevent Victorio's return to the U.S., and particularly his reaching New Mexico where he could cause additional problems with the Apaches still on the reservations. Knowing the importance of water in the harsh region, Grierson decided the best way to intercept Victorio was to take control of potential water holes along his route.

The campaign called for the biggest military concentration ever assembled in the Trans-Pecos area. Six troops of the 10th Cavalry were assigned to patrol the area from the Van Horn Mountains west to the Quitman Mountains, and north to the Sierra Diablo and Delaware Mountains. Encounters with the Indians usually resulted in skirmishes; however the 10th engaged in major confrontations at Tinaja de las Palmas (a water hole south of Sierra Blanca) and at Rattlesnake Springs (north of Van Horn). These two engagements halted Victorio and forced him to retreat to Mexico. Although Victorio and his band were not captured, the campaign conducted by the 10th successfully prevented them from reaching New Mexico. The 10th's efforts at containment exhausted the Apaches. Soon after they crossed the border, Victorio and many of his warriors were killed by Mexican troops on October 14, 1880.

1885 - 1898

In 1885, the regiment was transferred to the Department of Arizona. Once again the 10th was involved in the arduous pursuit of Apaches who left the reservations under the leadership of Geronimo, Nana, Nachez, Chihuahua and Magnus.

After twenty years of service in some of the most undesirable posts in the southwest, the regiment, now under the command of Colonel John K. Mizner, was transferred to the Department of Dakota in 1891. The regiment served at various posts in Montana and Dakotas until 1898.

The 9th and 10th cavalry in the Battle of Las Guasimas, Cuba, 1898.

The regiment served during the Spanish-American War in 1898, alongside Roosevelt's Rough Riders, and fought in the Battle of Las Guasimas, the disastrous Battle of Tayacoba (where all four members of the last rescue party were awarded the Medal of Honor), and the Battle of San Juan Hill.

Twentieth Century

The Punitive Expedition, officially known in the United States as the Mexican Expedition, was an abortive military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Francisco "Pancho" Villa from 1916 to 1917. The expedition was retaliation for Villa's invasion of the United States and attack on the village of Columbus, New Mexico in Luna County during the Mexican Revolution.

More than 5,000 US troops of General John J. Pershing's forces, including elements of the 7th Cavalry and the African-American U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment, attacked Mexican Federal Army troops in an engagement in the Battle of Carrizal, Chihuahua. The campaign consisted primarily of dozens of minor skirmishes with small bands of insurgents. There were clashes with Mexican Army units, General Pershing failed;[1] the most serious was on June 21, 1916 at Carrizal, where a detachment of the 10th Cavalry was nearly destroyed.[2]

The 10th Cavalry spent World War I in the United States. In World War II the 10th Cavalry was relegated to caretaker duties at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Then in 1944 the 10th Cavalry was deactivated.

In 1958 the Tenth Regiment was reactivated, and today the unit wears the Buffalo symbol.

The 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry served during the Vietnam War (1969-1972) and was awarded the Valorous Unit Award for its actions while operating in the II Corp Area as part of the 4th Infantry Division.

E-Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry was detached from the Squadron in October 1976 and deployed as part of “Brigade 76” to Wiesbaden, Germany as the Reconnaissance Troop for the 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

3rd Battalion, 10th Cavalry (3/10 Cav) was activated in the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas in December 1981.

The 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, served during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003-2004 (In which it earned it's second Presidential Unit Citation) and again from 2005-2006. The squadron is currently serving as the Armored Reconnaissance Squadron of the 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 1rst Squadron, 10th Cavalry played an instrumental role during Operation Red Dawn, providing security for the air corridor.[3]

G-Troop 10th US Cavalry also during this operation provided secured the inner and outer cordons of the AO (Area of Operation) for Operation Red Dawn.[3] C Troop 10th Cavalry served as the Brigade Reconnaissance Troop (BRT) as well as the brigade's quick reaction force (QRF) for 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. served with distinction in OIF II, noted for its substantially large area of operations. Second platoon set the operations tempo (OPTEMPO) for battle operations in the northeastern section of Baghdad and along with 1st platoon Outlaws, ran 24-hour route reconnaissance missions. C Troop was reportedly the only unit in Baghdad at the time clearing routes in light vehicles. With a reported 4,800 different forms of contact over the course of the year. After returning to Fort Hood, Texas, the C Troop was deactivated and reflagged as C Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry.

In fiction

In Tom Clancy's The Sum Of All Fears, the 10th Cavalry Regiment is reformed to serve as the Army component of the American forces defending Israel.

Sergeant Rutledge (1960) deals with a 'Buffalo soldier', the sergeant of the title, who is accused of the rape and murder of a white woman. In the film the regiment was inaccurately described as the 9th, but in fact the 10th were serving in Arizona at that time. The song included - 'Captain Buffalo' refers to the little-known western legend of a black cavalry officer.

In Chris Bohjalian's The Buffalo Soldier, the 10th Cavalry Regiment is quoted in between chapters with George Rowe and his views on the Civil War.

Campaign Credits

Medal of Honor citation

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. It is often colloquially referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor because the President presents the award "in the name of the Congress".[4]

Indian Wars

One African American, 10th Cavalry Regiment, earned the Medal of Honor during the Indian Wars.[5]

Name
Unit at time of action Rank at time of action Final rank achieved
Place of action Date of action Date of award
William McBryar (February 14, 1861—March 8, 1941)
Army, 10th Cavalry Regiment Sergeant First Lieutenant
Salt River, north of Globe, Arizona March 7, 1890 May 15, 1890

Spanish-American War

Five African Americans, 10th Cavalry Regiment, earned the Medal of Honor during the Spanish-American War.[6]

Name
Unit at time of action Rank at time of action Final rank achieved
Place of action Date of action Date of award
Edward Lee Baker, Jr. (December 28, 1865—August 26, 1913)
Army, 10th Cavalry Regiment Sergeant Major Captain
Battle of San Juan Hill, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba July 1, 1898 July 3, 1902
Dennis Bell (December 28, 1866—September 25, 1953)
Army, 10th Cavalry Regiment Private Corporal
Battle of Tayacoba, Cuba June 30, 1898 June 23, 1899
Fitz Lee (June 1866—September 14, 1899)
Army, 10th Cavalry Regiment Private Private
Battle of Tayacoba, Cuba June 30, 1898 June 23, 1899
William H. Thompkins (October 3, 1872—September 24, 1916)
Army, 10th Cavalry Regiment Private Private
Battle of Tayacoba, Cuba June 30, 1898 June 23, 1899
George Henry Wanton (May 15, 1868—November 27, 1940)
Army, 10th Cavalry Regiment Private Master Sergeant
Battle of Tayacoba, Cuba June 30, 1898 June 23, 1899

Notes

  1. ^ Stout, Joseph Allen. Border Conflict: Villistas, Carrancistas, and the Punitive Expedition, 1915-1920, page 1
  2. ^ Named Campaigns - Mexican Expedition
  3. ^ a b http://www.americanthinker.com/2005/11/how_the_able_danger_method_bag.html - Retrieved 21 September 2008
  4. ^ History of the Medal
  5. ^ Medal of Honor Recipients Indian Wars Period
  6. ^ Medal of Honor Recipients War With Spain

References

  • Schubert, Frank N. On the Trail of the Buffalo Soldier II: New and Revised Biographies of African Americans (1866-1917), Rowman & Littlefield, (2004) - ISBN 0842050795
  • Stout, Joseph Allen. Border Conflict: Villistas, Carrancistas, and the Punitive Expedition, 1915-1920, TCU Press, (1997) - ISBN 087565200X
  • Tom, Willard, Buffalo Soldiers. Tor/Forge, (1997) - ISBN 0812551052

External links

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Predecessors
Units
Soldiers
Notable battles
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