U.S. Army

Quick Facts SIGNIFICANCE:Buffalo Soldier, Medal of Honor recipient PLACE OF BIRTH:Carrollton, Orleans Parish, Louisiana DATE OF BIRTH:October 10, 1845 PLACE OF DEATH:Vancouver, Washington DATE OF DEATH:August 23, 1899 PLACE OF BURIAL:Vancouver, Washington CEMETERY NAME:Vancouver Barracks Post Cemetery

From Illiteracy to Immortality

Moses Williams entered the world on October 10th, 1845 in Carrolton, Louisiana.

Like the thousands of other African Americans in the south at the time, he would grow up illiterate.

Shortly after the Civil War in 1866, Congress established the six segregated African-American regiments that would become known as the Buffalo Soldiers.

That same year, 21 year old Moses Williams enlisted in the Army by signing an “X” on his enlistment papers since he was unable to read or write.

Five years later at the end of his first enlistment, he re-enlisted and this time his official documents show a penned signature as “Moses Williams.”

Williams took advantage of the opportunity given to him by the Army and learned how to read, write and do mathematics.

Moses Williams was originally assigned to the 9th Cavalry, Company F. Initially stationed in Louisiana, Williams and his fellow troopers would also serve in Texas and then in New Mexico.

By 1876 he was transferred and assigned to Company I (Eye). In 1881, Williams and his fellow troopers of Company I (Eye) were ordered to pursue and capture renegade Apaches in New Mexico.

On August 16th, Company I (Eye) engaged a band of spirited Apaches in the foothills of the Cuchillo Negro Mountains.

During the ferocious battle, Williams led multiple flanking attacks and personally rallied his fellow troopers to reorganize and continue fighting.

Upon the company’s withdrawal under intense fire, Williams and his Lieutenant exposed themselves to draw enemy fire which enabled the company to rescue three other troopers who had been cut-off by the Apache renegades.

Williams would go on and enjoy a storied Army career as he achieved the coveted and distinguished position of Ordnance Sergeant by 1885 at Fort Niobrara in Nebraska.

While stationed there, he learned that two other troopers who were involved in the Cuchillo Negro Mountains battle had been awarded the Medal of Honor.

Williams decided to petition the Army for the honor as well. His former commanding officer concurred in his decision to petition the Army for the honor and provided a detailed letter of recommendation of his valiant actions that day.

In 1896, six years after Williams petitioned the Army, and 15 years after the battle, the Army immortalized him by awarding the Medal of Honor for his valiant and selfless actions that fateful day in New Mexico.

The citation for William’s Medal of Honor reads as follows:

“Rallied a detachment, skillfully conducted a running fight of 3 or 4 hours, and by his coolness, bravery, and unflinching devotion to duty in standing by his commanding officer in an exposed position under a heavy fire from a large party of Indians saved the lives of at least 3 of his comrades.”

Sergeant Moses Williams would continue his military career until 1898 when he retired after 32 years of honorable service to the country.

Only one year after his retirement though, Moses Williams died on August 23rd, 1899 at age 52.

He was buried at the Vancouver Barracks Post Cemetery at Fort Vancouver, Washington (now known as Fort Vancouver Military Cemetery).

In 1991, a monument to Moses Williams and three other Medal of Honor recipients was dedicated by General Colin Powell on the Vancouver National Historic Reserve.

Above sketch drawings by Frederick Remington

Buffalo soldiers in Cuba

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TRUE REASON FOR THE SEMINOLE WARS IN FLORIDA

“The first slaves of African descent who set foot on what is now the United States of America (USA) was in Florida.

Not the first people of African descent who came to this land; but the ones who were slaves.

Because men of African descent had earlier visited this country; but they were free men.

Some were sailors and others were soldiers who came with Spanish explorers.

So that story about the first people of African descent coming to the Americas in 1619 to Jamestown Virginia, is false.

The first slaves of African descent went to the Spanish territories; not to the English colonies.

Our history of the USA consistently leave out the early history of the Spanish, and the French in our country.

Only the history of the English and England is taught in our schools.”

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AFRICAN AMERICANS SOLDIERS SAVED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DURING THE CIVIL WAR

“The American Civil War

It is unfortunate that an historical event, that is so very important in the history of African Americans, and in which their ancestors played a very significant military role; which led to the defeat of the Confederate States of America; has been so neglected by the majority of African Americans today.

Not only African Americans, but the majority of Americans don’t know anything about the American Civil War; other than, the North fought against the South, and President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves by signing the Emancipation Proclamation (EP).

By the end of the Civil War, roughly 179,000 men of African descent (10% of the Union Army) served as soldiers in the U.S. Army and another 19,000 served in the Navy. Nearly 40,000 African American soldiers died over the course of the war—30,000 of battle related infections.