Buffalo Soldiers Memorial

[Pat Holscher]

An act singed into law on December 30, 2005.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Buffalo Soldiers Commemoration
Act of 2005''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF BUFFALO SOLDIERS MEMORIAL.
(a) AUTHORIZATION.--The American Battle Monuments
Commission is authorized to establish a memorial to honor the
Buffalo Soldiers in or around the City of New Orleans on land
donated for such purpose or on Federal land with the consent
of the appropriate land manager.
(b) CONTRIBUTIONS.--The Commission shall solicit and accept
contributions for the construction and maintenance of the memorial.
(c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.--The Commission may enter
into a cooperative agreement with a private or public entity for
the purpose of fundraising for the construction and maintenance
of the memorial.
(d) MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT.--Prior to beginning construction
of the memorial, the Commission shall enter into an agreement
with an appropriate public or private entity to provide for the
permanent maintenance of the memorial and shall have sufficient
funds, or assurance that it will receive sufficient funds, to complete
the memorial.
SEC. 3. BUFFALO SOLDIERS MEMORIAL ACCOUNT.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.--The Commission shall maintain an
escrow account (``account'') to pay expenses incurred in constructing
the memorial.
(b) DEPOSITS INTO THE ACCOUNT.--The Commission shall
deposit into the account any principal and interest by the United
States that the Chairman determines has a suitable maturity.
(c) USE OF ACCOUNT.--Amounts in the account, including pro-
ceeds of any investments, may be used to pay expenses incurred
in establishing the memorial. After construction of the memorial
amounts in the account shall be transferred by the Commission
to the entity providing for permanent maintenance of the memorial
under such terms and conditions as the Commission determines
will ensure the proper use and accounting of the amounts.
S. 205--2
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may
be necessary to carry out this Act.

Pat

[JV Puleo]

Why New Orleans?
Seems like an odd choice unless there is some need for a local "pork barrel" expenditure.
I remember from reading the tables in Dusan's book that they spent pratically all of their time on the western frontier fighting Indians etc. I'd think that Texas or the Indian Territory would be more appropriate.
JV Puleo

[Pat Holscher]

Originally posted by JV Puleo
Why New Orleans?
Seems like an odd choice unless there is some need for a local "pork barrel" expenditure.
I remember from reading the tables in Dusan's book that they spent pratically all of their time on the western frontier fighting Indians etc. I'd think that Texas or the Indian Territory would be more appropriate.
JV Puleo

I wondered why New Orelans was chosen also. Is there a connection with New Orleans of some sort?

They saw a lot of service all over the West, but I've never associated them with New Orleans.

Pat

(I'll note that black cavalry regiments were stationed at varying times at, at least, two Wyoming forts. They were stationed at Ft. Washakie in the early 1900s and at Ft. D. A. Russell at one time.)

[Couvi]

The 9th Cav was formed in Louisiana, but considerably north of New Orleans.

Couvi

<i>"Cavalier sans Cheval"</i>

[Pat Holscher]

Not really on topic here, but an interesting website on the 54th Massachusetts memorial. You can click on various portions of the memorial to enlarge the details.

http://www.nga.gov/feature/shaw/home.shtm

Pat

[JV Puleo]

I've seen it many times and it is impressive. It's right across the street from the Bulfinch dome - the original Massachusetts State House - on the corner of Boston Common.
Of course, the sculpture was Augustus St. Gaudens.
JV Puleo

[Todd]

Originally posted by JV Puleo
I've seen it many times and it is impressive. It's right across the street from the Bulfinch dome - the original Massachusetts State House - on the corner of Boston Common.
Of course, the sculpture was Augustus St. Gaudens.
JV Puleo

Indeed, anything by St. Gaudens is worthy of study - amazing, gifted sculptor.

Todd

[Harve Curry]

Interesting. The 9th was here in New Mexico at Ft.Bayard just east of Silver City. There is a battle site nearby to my place locally known as "Beyer's Run". The canyon within the Black Range is now named that.
Cpt. Beyer(s) was CO. In May 1879 they got in a fight with Apaches led by Victorio. 3 to 5 Buffalo soldiers were killed there. Crosses were carved in the tall yellow pines that grow there when the Buffalo soldiers returned to take care of their dead. So 3 to 5 crosses, one for each man killed. Only one remains standing. I keep the brush cleared away in case of fire and put my own sign up marking the site. I can find little written about it. One story is Private Frank Dorsey was KIA and is buried there?
A fact is Sgt.Thomas Boyne receieved the Medal of Honor for his actions there and at another battle in across the small valley in the Cuchillo Mountains in September 1879.
I have tried to contact Veterans and Buffalo Soldiers associations but have been unsuccesful in raising interest for a official memorial marker. So anyone that can add more history reference and/or contact for me is greatly appreciated. You can see more here:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... as%20Boyne



yours,
Bill Weddle
Black Range Mnts.of New Mexico

[Pat Holscher]

Originally posted by Harve Curry
Interesting. The 9th was here in New Mexico at Ft.Bayard just east of Silver City. There is a battle site nearby to my place locally known as "Beyer's Run". The canyon within the Black Range is now named that.
Cpt. Beyer(s) was CO. In May 1879 they got in a fight with Apaches led by Victorio. 3 to 5 Buffalo soldiers were killed there. Crosses were carved in the tall yellow pines that grow there when the Buffalo soldiers returned to take care of their dead. So 3 to 5 crosses, one for each man killed. Only one remains standing. I keep the brush cleared away in case of fire and put my own sign up marking the site. I can find little written about it. One story is Private Frank Dorsey was KIA and is buried there?
A fact is Sgt.Thomas Boyne receieved the Medal of Honor for his actions there and at another battle in across the small valley in the Cuchillo Mountains in September 1879.
I have tried to contact Veterans and Buffalo Soldiers associations but have been unsuccessful in raising interest for a official memorial marker. So anyone that can add more history reference and/or contact for me is greatly appreciated. You can see more here:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... as%20Boyne



yours,
Bill Weddle
Black Range Mnts.of New Mexico

Doesn't New Mexico have some sort of monuments commission?

Pat

[dallas Φ]

There is a Buffalo Soldier statue at Fort Leavenworth. I don't have a photo of it or I would post it.
Dallas

[Pat Holscher]

Originally posted by dallas
There is a Buffalo Soldier statue at Fort Leavenworth. I don't have a photo of it or I would post it.
Dallas

I'm sure this photo doesn't do justice to it, but here it is:

http://garrison.leavenworth.army.mil/si ... uffalo.asp

Pat

[Hobie]

You have to see it in person but it is pretty impressive. You don't see such a nice sculpture at most mosts. Seems there was something at FT Riley but early onset senior citizen's disease clouds my recall of what it was.

Sincerely,

Hobie
"Duty is the rent you pay for life." The Queen Mother
"Do your duty in all things. You can not do more, you should not wish to do less." T. J. Jackson

[dallas Φ]

As I recall, the statue at Ft. Riley is of Old Bill.
Dallas

[Philip S]

Originally posted by Hobie
Seems there was something at FT Riley but early onset senior citizen's disease clouds my recall of what it was.

Sincerely,

Hobie

You are thinking of the very impressive Buffalo soldier memorial in nearby Junction City. It accurately represents colored cavalrymen between the world wars. It is adjacent to the segregated residences of the 9th Cavalry which were assigned as school troops at the Cavalry School prior to WWII.

http://www.blackhistoryreview.com/visit ... rMemKS.php

[Pat Holscher]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Philip S</i>
<br /><blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Hobie</i>
<br /> Seems there was something at FT Riley but early onset senior citizen's disease clouds my recall of what it was.

Sincerely,

Hobie
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You are thinking of the very impressive Buffalo soldier memorial in nearby Junction City. It accurately represents colored cavalrymen between the world wars. It is adjacent to the segregated residences of the 9th Cavalry which were assigned as school troops at the Cavalry School prior to WWII.

http://www.blackhistoryreview.com/visit ... rMemKS.php
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It's nice that person noted the statue on their website, but their discussion kind of makes the history minded want to cringe. They seem a bit befuddled by the trooper being depicted with a M1903, but correctly note that means he's not a frontier soldier. They didn't take note of the cut of his service coat, nor his boots, which would have revealed him to be a soldier from the 30s or early 40s, but all in all I'm hoping for too much.

On the other hand, it's nice to see a statue that shows a cavalryman from the late period, which there are not too many of.

Pat

[Philip S]

You get the feeling that the writer had no knowledge of their activity after the frontier period. The service of the 9th and 10th cavalries as school troops at Forts Riley, Leavenworth, and West Point between the two world wars was actually rather important and they had an excellent reputation.

[dallas Φ]

I e-mailed the editor of the Black History Review and told him about the M1903 Springfield, 1926 lapel collar coat and the 1931 laced boots being correct for the 1930 period. I was surprised to receive a reply from him today acknowledging my e-mail and asking if he could quote me.
Dallas

[Pat Holscher]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by dallas</i>
<br />I e-mailed the editor of the Black History Review and told him about the M1903 Springfield, 1926 lapel collar coat and the 1931 laced boots being correct for the 1930 period. I was surprised to receive a reply from him today acknowledging my e-mail and asking if he could quote me.
Dallas
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Good for you, and for him. I'm glad that the correction will be noted.

The black units of the US Army had just as long of history in the 20th Century, as in the 19th, and that should not be forgotten

Pat

[Pat Holscher]

Some great photos sent in by Dallas Freeborn.







Pat

[Pat Holscher]

Text from Dallas about his recent visit to Ft. Leavenworth and these photos:

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
I was at Fort Leavenworth last Saturday for a meeting and before leaving, I stopped to photograph the Buffalo Soldier statue which was discussed on the Forum some time ago.

The trooper is using a hodge-podge of equipment which was probably standard for the early Indian War period. The hat is undetermined. It doesn’t appear to be the 1872 with folding brim and it doesn’t have the metal ventilators of the 1880s. It may be private purchase. The hat cord would have to be Civil War. The coat appears to be the 1874 undress model with 5 buttons and colored piping on collar and cuffs. The sleeves bear sergeant stripes and the trousers have the stripe for noncoms. The boots are probably the 1876 pattern. The spurs are Civil War. The cartridge belt is 1876 or later. The revolver holster is the Civil War pattern designed for the 1860 Colt Army although he is probably carrying the 1873 Colt Single Action Army. The carbine sling is the 1855 pattern used until the 1880s. The carbine is the 1879 model with the buckhorn sight. It is not possible to determine the saddle, although zooming in on the left side makes me think it is probably the 1872 or 1874. The bridle and halter are the 1859 as is the bit. The bit still has the curb chain which was replaced in 1872 with the curb strap. The saddlebags, carbine socket and feedbag are 1859. The canteen appears to be the 1858 pattern and still has the bottom sling keeper which was removed in 1878. The saber is the 1860 pattern and the saber knot is the Civil War type. Probably this trooper is very representative of the Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry of the 1870s.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Pat