The History of the Tenth Cavalry

Small quarto, original black keratol with title gilt on front cover, illustrated from photographs and drawings,with tipped in frontispiece, [1], 141, [4] pp. Some rubbing to spine and extremities, endpapers a little brittle, front endpaper loose, joints cracked, but still holding, a little soiling within; otherwise very good. Privately printed with only 100 copies published, this is probably the scarcest of the regimental histories. The Tenth Cavalry is the story of the famed "Buffalo Soldiers" regiment consisting of African-American soldiers. They were called the "Buffalo Soldiers" by the Indians because of their dark curly hair. The unit was formed in 1866, and served with much distinction in the 19th and early 20th centuries, fighting Indians in Montana, Texas, and Arizona, pursuing Pancho Villa's men in Mexico, and fending off mosquitoes in Cuba. They served with General Cook in the Indian campaigns, including the surrender of Geronimo in 1876. They also participated in the charge up San Juan Hill with Teddy Rosevelt. Henry O. Flipper, who was the first African American to graduate from West Point, was the first African American officer assigned to this regiment. General John J. Pershing, who is pictured in this book, represents another significant military leader that figures importantly in the history of this regiment.In fact, Pershing earned his nickname, "Black Jack", from serving with this unit. This copy formerly belonged to Congressional Medal of Honor winner Cornelius C. Smith, with his ink signature on the front flyleaf. Smith won the Medal of Honor in 1891 for bravery in action against the Sioux. He served with the Tenth at Fort Huachuca, Arizona in 1918-1919, which was his third tour of duty.