- 10th Cavalry Regiment (United States)
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 10th Cavalry Regiment
caption=10th Cavalry Regiment coat of arms
dates=1866 - 1944
1958 -
country= United States of America
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Army
type= Cavalry
role=
size= Regiment
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname="Buffalo Soldiers"
patron=
motto="Ready and Forward"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Indian Wars War with SpainPhilippine Insurrection World War II Vietnam War Iraq Campaign
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=Cavalry
previous=9th Cavalry Regiment
next=11th Armored Cavalry RegimentThe 10th Cavalry Regiment is a unit of theUnited States Army . Formed as a segregatedAfrican-American unit, the 10th Cavalry was one of the original "Buffalo Soldier " regiments and served in combat during theIndian Wars of the western United States and theSpanish-American War . The regiment was later relegated to non-combat duty and served in that capacity throughWorld 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 currentIraq War . The current structure is by Squadron in each Brigade with theU.S. 4th Infantry Division and will be split betweenFt Hood andFt Carson upon return fromIraq .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 heroBenjamin 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 convert|34420|mi|km of uncharted terrain, opened more than convert|300|mi|km of new roads, and laid over convert|200|mi|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 ChiefVictorio and his band ofApaches . 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.
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 ofFrancisco "Pancho" Villa from 1916 to 1917. The expedition was retaliation for Villa's invasion of the United States and attack on the village ofColumbus, 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 theBattle 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; [Stout, Joseph Allen. "Border Conflict: Villistas, Carrancistas, and the Punitive Expedition", 1915-1920, page 1] the most serious was on June 21, 1916 at Carrizal, where a detachment of the 10th Cavalry was nearly destroyed. [ [http://www.army.mil/cmh/reference/mecmp.htm Named Campaigns - Mexican Expedition] ]The 10th Cavalry spent
World War I in the United States. InWorld 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. [http://www.americanthinker.com/2005/11/how_the_able_danger_method_bag.html - Retrieved 21 September 2008]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. [http://www.americanthinker.com/2005/11/how_the_able_danger_method_bag.html - Retrieved 21 September 2008]
In addition, C Troop 10th Cavalry, the Brigade Reconnaissance Troop for 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, served with distinction in Operation Iraqi Freedom II, noted for its substantially large area of operations. Upon its activation, it became the first BRT in the 1st Cavalry Division. The Troop informally adopted the motto "Be Right There" from SGT Blankenship of 2nd platoon ROUGH RIDERS (RIDE OR DIE), due to the fact that it served as the Brigade's Quick Reaction Force. It was at this time that 2nd platoon set the tempo for battle operations in the northeastern section of Baghdad and, along with 1st platoon OUTLAWS (SCOUTLAWS), ran 24 hour route recon missions for one year. 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, natural born leaders such as Sgt. Blankenship stepped up to bring the fight to the enemy. The hard work of both platoons coupled with the dedication of its elite sniper teams brought law and order to the area and truly won the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. Upon its activation, it became the first BRT in the 1st Cavalry Division. Upon returning from Iraq, the Troop was deactivated and reflagged as C Troop/1 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.Campaign Credits
*
Indian Wars
*Spanish-American War
*Philippine-American War
*World War II
*Vietnam War
*Iraq War 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". [ [http://www.pbs.org/weta/americanvalor/history/ History of the Medal] ]Indian Wars
One African American, 10th Cavalry Regiment, earned the
Medal of Honor during theIndian Wars . [ [http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/indianwars.html Medal of Honor Recipients Indian Wars Period] ]panish-American War
Five African Americans, 10th Cavalry Regiment, earned the
Medal of Honor during theSpanish-American War . [ [http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/warspain.html Medal of Honor Recipients War With Spain] ]Notes
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 0812551052External links
* [http://www.hood.army.mil/4ID/units/4ID%20Div%20HQ%20and%20BCT-CAB%20Depiction.pdf 10th Cavalry] -Divided by Brigade/
U.S. 4th Infantry Division
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-10cav.htm 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry] -part of 2nd Brigade/U.S. 4th Infantry Division
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/d-trp-10cav.htm Delta Troop, 10th Cavalry] -part of 3rd Brigade/U.S. 3rd Infantry Division
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/7-10cav.htm 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry] -part of 1st Brigade//U.S. 4th Infantry Division
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/8-10cav.htm 8th Squadron, 10th Cavalry] -part of 4th Brigade/U.S. 4th Infantry Division
*List of African American Medal of Honor recipients
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