Courtesy of US Army Combined Arms Center (CAC)

Fort Leavenworth was founded in 1827. It has served the military for more than 170 years, and is now the oldest active Army post west of the Mississippi River.

One of this installations claims to fame was the establishment of the 10th cavalry. The 10th cavalry was one of the first all-black regiments in the Regular United States Army. The regiment was formed on 21 September 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas by Colonel Grierson. This regiment got the nickname of “buffalo Soldiers” by the Kiowa indians. It was a term of honor for being worthy opponents. Eventually the term was used to refer to any of the black soldiers within the four all-black regiments.

The Buffalo Soldiers were instrumental in the Battle of Santiago in Cuba, defended our borders along the US-Mexico line prior to W.W.I, and finally served as peacetime troops in Kansas until 1940.

Source: US Army


Additional Learning Links

Fort Leavenworth History and Tour
Study the history and heritage of this National Monument of Kansas.
Source: US Army

Buffalo Soldiers & Indian Wars
This online book takes a look at the history of these all-black regiments, and at a number of the individuals that made it into the annals of history as a Buffalo Soldier.
Source: Stanford L. Davis, M.A.

Leavenworth National Cemetery
Originally part of a Delaware Indian Reservation, this cemetery houses the remains of a few Medal of Honor recipients, as well as a group of Native Americans who are believed to be the Munsees, a small band of Christian Indians.
Historical Information
Notable Burials