Nearly sixteen months after the end of the Civil War, Section 3 of the Act of Congress entitled "An Act to increase and fix the Military Peace Establishment of the United States" authorized the formation of the two regiments of cavalry composed of "colored" men. The Act was approved on 28 July 1866. On September 21, 1866, the 9th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Greenville, Louisiana and the 10th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Fort Leavenworth, Kans

Yet, the men of the black regiments, often finding themselves in the forefront of action, never shirked their responsibilities. For more than twenty-five years they not only engaged in battles with Indians, but they built forts and escorted wagon trains, mail stages and railroad crews. They mapped and charted areas and located sources of water. Black soldiers were responsible for opening millions of square miles of western lands to peaceful settlement and development.

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