Buffalo Soldiers

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Comment by Captain D. A. Bova on November 29, 2009 at 9:10am

Welcome to the group Stephan

Comment by Gay Mathis on November 21, 2009 at 12:32pm

History of Sully County compiled in 1939 by Sully County Old Settlers' Association

pgs 18 & 19

The expedition of interest to us was organized at Sioux City, Iowa, in 1863 by Gen. Alfred Sully, for whom the county was named. Mr. G. W. Kingsworth, a resident of Sioux City since 1853 recalls this expedition well and gives the following information concerning the same:

"I was in the government service and on duty at the head at the quartermaster's department, being a member of the Sioux City Cavalry Company, afterwards known as Company I, Seventh Regiment, Iowa Cavalry. This company served as Gen. Sully's bodyguard during his 1863 campaign. I did not, however, accompany him on this expedition.

The other forces were made up as follows: 6th Iowa Cavalry, ten companies; Major Brackett's Battalion mounted; Capt. Miner's Cavalry Company of Vermillion; and Capt. Tripp's company of Yankton; four companies of the 7th Iowa Cavalry under Col. Pattie, and a detachment of the 2nd Nebraska.

With these forces, Gen Sully left Sioux City in June 1863, proceeding up the country to White Stone Hill, where he engaged a large band of hostile Indians; capturing and killing a large number, and destroying much of their property. His own casualties were 23 killed, 19 wounded, died of wounds, 8." (The location of this battlefield is given as 130 miles from the Little Cheyenne River, between Elm Creek and James River.

Upon his return, he located Old Fort Sully (Sept 16) and detailed Lieut. Col. Pollock and five companies of the 6th Iowa Cavalry to build and garrison the same until the spring of 1864. During the summer of 1864, it was variously occupied. In the spring of 1865, it was garrisoned by a detachment of the 1st Regiment of the Volunteers U. S. Infantry, consisting of enlisted southern prisoners of war from Rock Island Prison, Illinois. The officers were Union Men appointed from the north. These troops were in turn replaced by regulars after the Civil War.

The exact location of Old Fort Sully, as first established by Gen. Sully, was opposite the upper end of Farm Island, near Pierre, about three miles east of the present state capitol. In 1866, the post was abandoned, and a new site selected thirty five miles up the river in what later became Sully County.

Comment by Captain D. A. Bova on November 21, 2009 at 11:14am

there were two fort Sully's the first was built and then abandoned shortly afterward due to being built to close to the river and to far from other resources.. not to mention the Mosquitos and rats and other pests made it very uncomfortable.. another Fort was built about 31 miles up river, and sported the same name, It doesnt matter which Sully they were at I just need to know if they were there... Thank you again Gay!

Comment by Captain D. A. Bova on November 21, 2009 at 11:09am

Gay, thank you for the info.. it gives me a direction to look again.

Comment by Gay Mathis on November 20, 2009 at 8:28pm

I do not know if this will help about Fort Sully or not.. I scanned this book trying to find what histories it contained whether Buffalo Soldiers or not and typed up some excerpts....If it's not what you need, feel free to delete..

History of Sully County compiled in 1939 by Sully County Old Settlers' Association

New Fort Sully--pgs 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 31

pg 20

Established 7/26/1866--Excerpts

There were Companies of C, E and H of the 2nd Battalion of the 13th Regiment commanded by its Lieutenant Colonel George E. Andrews

9/21/1866--The 2nd battalion of the 13th Infantry became the 22nd Regiment of Infantry, Col. Andrews remained Lieut. Colonel of the 13th Infantry and was continued in command of Ft Sully.
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pg 21

On 5/12/1867 Fort Sully became the headquarters of the 22nd Infantry, and its Colonel, General David S. Stanley, took command of the fort and remained there until July 1874
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pg 23

The 17th Regiment of Infantry came up the Missouri in 1869 or 1870 to garrison Fort Rice and the Indian Agencies at the the mouth of the Cheyenne River and Grand River (opposite Mobridge). For several months, the headquarters and band of the regiment were at Fort Sully, and also, its colonel, General Thomas L. Crittenden

Major R. E. A. Crofton was in command of the companies of the 17th at Cheyenne River agency, the post there not being named Fort Bennett until sometime after 1888.
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pg 24

In September 1871, troops were sent to Fort Rice to protect engineers of the Northern Pacific Railroad

Major J. N. G. Whistler, of the 2nd Infantry, was sent from Fort Sully to command these troops among which were Captain Irvine's company, and another from Fort Sully. 2 companies of the 22nd from Fort Randall, several companies of the 17th Infantry, a detachment of artillery and a company of Indian Scouts.

In July and August 1873, the engineers of the Northern Pacific Railway again surveyed the route for the railroad from Bismarck to the Yellowstone

General Stanley was ordered to command the large military escort, which included 8 or 10 escorts of the 7th Cavalry under General Custer

During 1869-1870, Colonel George Meade was a captain in the 22nd Infantry and on duty at Fort Sully
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pg 26

The famous Seventh Regiment of Cavalry, in the spring of 1873, marched from Yankton, north along the eastern side of the Missouri, arriving at Fort Sully in May
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pg 31

In July 1874, the 22nd Infantry went to "The Lakes" to garrison the forts at Detroit, Buffalo and Mackinac

It was relieved by the 1st Infantry under Colonel Thomas G. Pitcher, its headquarters being Fort Sully

The 1st Infantry left Fort Sully in 1879 being relieved by two companies of the 11th Infantry under Major Charles G. Bartlett

January 1, 1880, another company and the headquarters of the 11th Infantry were moved from Cheyenne River Agency, where they had gone in October 1876 to Fort Sully, Colonel William Henry Wood commanding.

The 11th Infantry left Fort Sully in August 1887, being relieved by the 12th infantry of which E. F. Townsend had become Colonel

Comment by Captain D. A. Bova on November 20, 2009 at 7:44pm

Interesting fact... we were asked by a historian / story teller here in Az. what the heart on the breast collar meant? ... After alot of research by myself and our 1st sergeant it was determined that the heart on the breast collar signified a horse that had been in battle and carried himself through unharmed.. not sure about the riders though, I assume the riders also survived..lol

Comment by Captain D. A. Bova on November 20, 2009 at 7:10pm

The picture is Awsome! it is old west up to the current day and is fine... it is one of my favorites.. notice the guideon is 10th cav troop C, totally coincidence but if you look at our logo we are 10th cav troop C as well.

Comment by Ginny Morgan on November 20, 2009 at 6:49pm

Forgive me if this is not totally "old West" but I thought it was a neat picture. If you do not want it, I will delete it..let me know.

Comment by Ginny Morgan on November 20, 2009 at 6:45pm

I found this interesting bit of info!
After the Indian Wars ended in the 1890s, the regiments continued to serve and participated in the Spanish-American War (including the Battle of San Juan Hill), where five more Medals of Honor were earned. They took part in the 1916 Mexican Expedition and in the Philippine-American War.

A lesser known action was the 9th Cavalry's participation in the fabled Johnson County War, an 1892 land war in Johnson County, Wyoming between small farmers and large, wealthy ranchers. It culminated in a lengthy shootout between local farmers, a band of hired killers, and a sheriff's posse. The 6th Cavalry was ordered in by President Benjamin Harrison to quell the violence and capture the band of hired killers. Soon afterward, however, the 9th Cavalry was specifically called on to replace the 6th. The 6th Cavalry was swaying under the local political and social pressures and were unable to keep the peace in the tense environment.

The Buffalo Soldiers responded within about two weeks from Nebraska, and moved the men to the rail town of Suggs, Wyoming, creating "Camp Bettens" despite a racist and hostile local population. One soldier was killed and two wounded in gun battles with locals. Nevertheless, the 9th Cavalry remained in Wyoming for nearly a year to quell tensions in the area.[9][10]

Another little-known contribution of the buffalo soldiers involved eight troops of the 9th Cavalry Regiment and one company of the 24th Infantry Regiment who served in California's Sierra Nevada as some of the first national park rangers. In 1899, Buffalo Soldiers from Company H, 24th Infantry Regiment briefly served in Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park and General Grant (Kings Canyon) National Parks.[11]

U.S. Army regiments had been serving in these national parks since 1891, but until 1899 the soldiers serving were white. Beginning in 1899, and continuing in 1903 and 1904, African-American regiments served during the summer months in the second and third oldest national parks in the United States (Sequoia and Yosemite). Because these soldiers served before the National Park Service was created (1916), they were "park rangers" before the term was coined.

Comment by Captain D. A. Bova on November 20, 2009 at 6:34pm

Welcome to the group Two step

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