The brave 10th United States Colored Cavalry of the famed "Buffalo Soldiers"

8 1/2 x 11, imprinted form, filled out in ink.

Invoice Of Subsistence Stores at Fort Pike, La., this 7th day of August 1867, by Lieut. Lucius Crooker, 10th Reg't of U.S. Cavalry, A.C.S., to Lieut. Geo. L. Faxon, 10 Reg't of U.S. Cavalry, A.C.S., viz: imprinted list of subsistence stores that are individually printed on this form; barrels of Pork, pounds of Bacon, pounds of Ham, One barrel of Salt Beef, (200 lbs @ 8 cents Per Pound), barrels of Flour, pounds of Hard Bread, pounds of Beans, pounds of Peas, pounds of Rice, pounds of Hominy, pounds of Rio Coffee, green, pounds of Rio Coffee, roasted and ground, pounds of Tea, pounds of Brown Sugar, pounds of White Sugar, gallons of Vinegar, pounds of Sperm Candles, pounds of Adamantine Candles, pounds of Soap, pounds of Salt, and pounds of Pepper. Signed at the bottom right, Lucius Crooker, 1st Lieut. 10th Reg't of U.S. Cavalry, A.C.S. Docket on the reverse. Light age toning and fold wear. Very fine. Very desirable document regarding the brave African American "Buffalo Soldiers."

WBTS Trivia: Founded in 1866, the 10th U.S. Cavalry, was formed as a segregated African-American unit, and they were one of the original "Buffalo Soldier" Regiments, in the Regular U.S. Army. Their motto was "Ready and Forward!" The regiment saw action in the Indian Wars in the western U.S., the Spanish American War in Cuba, Philippine-American War, the Mexican Revolution, World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and many more fields of honor. The name "Buffalo Soldiers" was given to them in the 1860's by the Plains Indians."

Lieutenant Lucius Crooker served in the Civil War as 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 77th U.S. Colored Troops. The 77th U.S.C.T. were organized on April 4, 1864, at New Orleans, forming from the 5th Corps de Afrique, and they were attached to the defenses of New Orleans until October 1865. The 5th Corps de Afrique was organized at Fort St. Phillip, on December 8, 1863, and attached to the defenses of New Orleans.

The document comes with an autographed Xerox copy photograph of Adjt. Lucius Crooker, 77th U.S.I. (C.C.) with a New Orleans, La. back mark.

Fort Pike, Louisiana: is a decommissioned 19th-century United States fort, named after Brigadier General Zebulon Pike. It was built following the War of 1812 to guard the Rigolets Pass in Louisiana, a strait from the Gulf of Mexico, via Lake Borgne, to Lake Pontchartrain bordering New Orleans. It was located near the community of Petite Coquille, now within the city limits of New Orleans.

Brief Early History of the 10th U.S. Colored Cavalry

Indian Wars 1866-74:

The 10th U.S. Cavalry was formed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1866, as an all-African-American regiment. The 10th U.S. Cavalry regiment was composed of black enlisted men and white officers, which was typical for that era. By the end of July 1867, eight companies of enlisted men had been recruited from the Departments of Missouri, Arkansas, and the Platte. Life at Leavenworth was not pleasant for the 10th Cavalry. The fort's commander, who was openly opposed to African-Americans serving in the Regular Army, made life for the new troops difficult. Civil War hero, Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson, sought to have the regiment transferred, and subsequently received orders moving the regiment to Fort Riley, Kansas. This began on the morning of August 6, 1867, and was completed the next day in the afternoon of August 7th.

One of the first battles of the 10th Cavalry was the Battle of the Saline River. This battle occurred 25 miles northwest of Fort Hays in Kansas near the end of August 1867. After a railroad work party was wiped out, patrols from the 38th Infantry Regiment (in 1869 reorganized into the 24th Infantry Regiment) with a 10th Cavalry troop were sent out to locate the "hostile" Cheyenne forces.

Captain George Armes, Company F, 10th Cavalry, while following an active trail along the Saline River was surrounded by about 400 Cheyenne warriors. Armes formed a defensive "hollow square" with the cavalry mounts in the middle. Seeking better defensive ground, Armes walked his command while maintaining the defensive square. After 8 hours of combat, 2,000 rounds of defensive fire and 15 miles of movement, the Cheyenne disengaged and withdrew. Company F, without reinforcements, concluded 113 miles of movement during the 30 hour patrol, riding the final 10 miles back to Fort Hays with only one trooper killed in action. Captain Armes, wounded in the hip early in the battle, commented later, "It is the greatest wonder in the world that my command escaped being massacred." Armes credited his officers for a "devotion to duty and coolness under fire."

You can find much more information about the 10th U.S. Colored Cavalry's military service record on line or in various reference books.