The
nickname "Buffalo Soldiers" was originally given to the 10th Cavalry
by Cheyenne warriors out of respect for their fierce fighting in 1867. The Native-American
term used was actually "Wild Buffaloes", which was translated to "Buffalo
Soldiers." In time, all African-American Soldiers became known as "Buffalo
Soldiers"; the troopers accepted the title and wore it proudly. To be associated
with the fighting spirit of the Indian's sacred buffalo was a measure of respect.
Despite second-class treatment these soldiers made up first-rate regiments of
the highest caliber and had the lowest desertion rate in the Army.
The
9th and 10th Cavalries' service in subduing Mexican revolutionaries, hostile Native
Americans, outlaws, comancheros, and rustlers was as invaluable as it was unrecognized.
It was also accomplished over some of the most rugged and inhospitable country
in North America. A list of their adversaries (Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Victorio,
Lone Wolf, Billy the Kid, and Pancho Villa) reads like a "Who's Who"
of the American West.
Lesser known, but
equally important, the Buffalo Soldiers explored and mapped vast areas of the
southwest and strung hundreds of miles of telegraph lines. They built and repaired
frontier outposts around which future towns and cities sprang to life. Without
the protection provided by the 9th and 10th Cavalries, crews building the ever
expanding railroads were at the mercy of outlaws and hostile Indians. Buffalo
Soldiers built forts and roads, strung telegraph lines, protected railroad crews,
escorted stages and trains, protected settlers and cattle drives, and fought Cheyenne,
Arapahoe, Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache warriors, among others. Dangers such as
cholera and rabid wolves sometimes took more lives than Indian warfare.
The
Buffalo Soldiers consistently received some of the worst assignments the Army
had to offer. They also faced fierce prejudice to both the colors of their Union
uniforms and their skin by many of the citizens of the post-war frontier towns.
Despite this, the troopers of the 9th and 10th Cavalries developed into two of
the most distinguished fighting units in the Army.
Colonel Charles Young
was the third black
American to graduate from West Point, he spoke six languages (including Latin
and Greek) and became a professor at Wilberforce University in Ohio.
Colonel
(Captain at the time) Young and his Buffalo Soldiers protected Yosemite, Sequoia,
and Kings Canyon National Parks in the late 1890s and early 1900s. There was no
Park Service until 1916, so the US Army was in charge in the few parks that existed.
Duties included building trails and chasing out sheep and cattle herders and poachers.
Young
and his comrades, who patrolled on horseback, made contributions that so impressed
the local community that they demanded that Captain Young be honored with a giant
sequoia named for him. Young refused, asserting that these lofty beings should
bear the name of no man. (He later relented and named a giant sequoia in honor
of his contemporary, Booker T. Washington.)
In
the late 1800's Captain Young and his Buffalo Soldiers were garrisoned at the
Presidio (San Francisco). Los Banos was a stop on their route from San Francisco
to the Sequoia National Park in Bakersfield. ( It was a 16 day journey from San
Francisco to Bakersfield. On day 7 of the journey the Buffalo Soldiers rested
in Los Banos!) Our community was honored to have Captain Young and the 10th Cavalry
rest themselves and their horses here.
When
Colonel Young died in 1922, every African American school in the country closed
to honor him. Colonel Charles Young's funeral service was one of the few ever
held at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. He is buried
in Section 3 of the cemetery.
Today, Colonel
Charles Young's home is scheduled to become the future site of the National Museum
of African American Military History. Its unique history relives the days when
it was a way station for the Underground Railroad.
We Los Banosans are proud our town played a part,
even a small part, in the history of the great and mighty Buffalo Soldiers as
well as the very respected Colonel Charles Young. Today we are delighted and honored
to provide Buffalo Soldier information, education and entertainment to our community.
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