Brent Woods, Buffalo Soldier, Medal of Honor Recipient

Brent Woods (1855 - March 31, 1906) was a Buffalo Soldier in the US Army. He was born a slave and freed at the age of 8. He joined the Army in 1873 and was assigned to Company B of the 9th Cavalry Regiment. On August 19, 1881, he participated in an engagement in New Mexico against Chief Nana and a small band of Apaches. After the deaths of six men in his cavalry, including his lieutenant, Woods took command and fought to save the lives of his comrades. On July 12, 1894, Sergeant Woods was awarded America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the engagement. He retired from the army in 1902 and died in 1906 at the age of 50 or 51. Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the US 10th Cavalry Regiment of the Army, formed on September 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This nickname was given to the Negro Cavalry by the Native American tribes they fought in the Indian Wars. The term eventually became synonymous with all of the African American regiments formed in 1866: 9th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 24th Infantry Regiment, and 25th Infantry Regiment. The Buffalo Soldiers were established by Congress as the first peacetime all-black regiments in the regular US Army. No photographer credited, 1900

Picture No

12698701

Media ID

48540582

Size

3079px x 4500px (1.7MB)

Credit

LOC/Science Source/Mary Evans