Military
(b. July 1, 1877, Washington, D.C., U.S.–d. Nov. 26, 1970, North Chicago, Ill.), soldier who became the first black general in the U.S. Army.
After serving as a volunteer in the Spanish-American War (1898), Benjamin Davis, Sr., enlisted as a private in the 9th Cavalry of the U.S. Army. He rose to sergeant major within two years and earned a commission as a second lieutenant in 1901. In the next four decades he served in Liberia and the Philippines and taught military science at the Tuskegee Institute and at Wilberforce University. All of his duty assignments were designed to avoid a situation in which Davis might be put in command of white troops or officers. He rose slowly through the ranks, becoming the first black colonel in the army in 1930. In 1940 he was promoted to brigadier general by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After commanding the 2nd Cavalry Division in 1941, he was assigned to the office of the inspector general of the army. During World War II he headed a special unit charged with safeguarding the status and morale of black soldiers in the army, and he served in the European theatre as a special adviser on race relations. He retired in 1948 after 50 years of service.
Military
Black soldiers fought in Washington’s army during the War of Independence, and served with Andrew Jackson at New Orleans in 1815. Late in 1861, Colonel T. W. Higginson took command of the First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers, the first Black regiment in the service of the United States.
On June 28, 1866, an Act of Congress authorized the creation of two cavalry and four infantry regiments, “which shall be composed of colored men.” They were organized as the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 38th through 41st Infantry. The 9th and 10th Cavalry would go on to play a major role in the history of the West, as the “Buffalo Soldiers.”
On September 21, 1866, the 9th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Greenville, Louisiana under command of Colonel Edward Hatch and the 10th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas under command of Colonel Benjamin Grierson.
The term “buffalo soldiers” came from Cheyenne warriors who first encountered these black men in blue uniforms, whose dark skin and thick hair resembled the buffalo. The initial strangeness turned to respect buffalo soldiers participated in most of the campaigns against hostile tribes, earning themselves battle honors and no less than 18 Medals of Honor for individual heroism.
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.
After the Indian campaigns, the buffalo soldiers continued their outstanding service during the Spanish-American War and along the Mexican border. For three years during the Philippine Insurrection, portions of all four black regiments and two black volunteer regiments saw action. They were distributed among army posts throughout the archipelago, the black soldiers, both regulars and volunteers, participated in military operations from Northern Luzon to Samar.
Elements of the 9th and 10th went on to fight in Cuba, and took part in the charge up San Juan Hill. The 10th Cavalry took part in the expedition against Pancho Villa, with General Pershing.
In addition to their fine combat record, the buffalo soldiers steadfastly performed the other duties. They 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.
Despite its dreariness, hardships, boredom, and fatigue, they had the lowest desertion rate of the frontier Army; on $13.00 a month, meals, and a roof, if available.
The two regiments were formed into the 4th Cavalry Brigade in 1941, commanded by General Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., at Camp Funston, Kansas. The horse cavalry regiments were disbanded in 1944, and with them, the long and proud history of The Buffalo Soldiers.
Military
Hannibal Barca was one of the greatest military leaders in history. His most famous campaign took place during the so-called Second Punic War (218-202), when he caught the Romans off guard by crossing the Alps using elephants.
Jona Lendering has a GREAT SITE about Hannibal Barca.
