Ft. Hauchuca Military Base

We were very lucky to be able to visit Ft. Huachuca today and are very grateful to our friends Nels and Betty who offered to escort us as the Fort is closed to non-US citizens at this time and the only way we could tour Fort Huachuca was to have an escort. Thank you so much Nels and Betty as the Fort was so worth touring and we were so happy to have you both as our tour guides and so enjoyed your company as well. Nels was very informative, as he had previously worked at the base.

Fort Huachuca is a product of the Indian Wars of the 1870s and 1880s. In February 1877, Colonel August B. Kautz, commander of the Department of Arizona, ordered that a camp be established in the Huachuca Mountains. This camp would offer protection to settlers and travel routes in southeastern Arizona while simultaneously blocking the traditional Apache escape routes through the San Pedro and Santa Cruz valleys to sanctuary in Mexico. A temporary camp was established at the post’s current location on March 3, 1877, by Captain Samuel Marmaduke Whitside with two companies of the 6th Cavalry. The site was selected because it had fresh running water, an abundance of trees, excellent observation in three directions, and protective high ground for security against Apache tactical methods. Camp Huachuca was re-designated a fort in 1882.
For more information if you are interested click on the link below:
http://www.us-army-info.com/directory/Installations/Fort_Huachuca,_Arizona/index.html
Entrance to the main museum, you may visit this museum at no charge, a donation is greatfully accepted if you so choose to leave one.

Above and right are rooms that that are set behind glass, depicting life as it was in the 1800's.

The lady with the broom is trying to kill a scorpion which is laying on a bear rug on the floor.

The Fort was home to Buffalo Soldiers.

There is some controversy as to where the name "Buffalo Soldier" originated. Some sources assert that the nickname was given out of respect for the fierce fighting ability of the 10th cavalry. Other sources assert that Native Americans called the black cavalry troops "buffalo soldiers" because of their dark curly hair, which resembled a buffalo's coat. Still other sources point to a combination of both legends. The term Buffalo Soldiers became a generic term for all African-American soldiers. It is now used for U.S. Army units that trace their direct lineage back to the 9th and 10th Cavalry, units whose bravery earned them an honored place in U.S. history.

During the American Civil War, the U.S. government formed regiments known as the United States Colored Troops, composed of black soldiers led by white officers. After the war, Congress reorganized the Army and authorized the formation of two regiments of black cavalry with the designations 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry, and four regiments of black infantry, designated the 38th, 39th, 40th and 41st Infantry Regiments (Colored). The 38th and 41st were reorganized as the 25th Infantry Regiment, with headquarters in Jackson Barracks in New Orleans, Louisiana, in November 1869. The 39th and 40th were reorganized as the 24th Infantry Regiment, with headquarters at Fort Clark, Texas, in April 1869. All of these units were composed of black enlisted men commanded by white officers such as Benjamin Grierson and Ranald S. Mackenzie and, occasionally, black officers such as Henry O. Flipper.

From 1866 to the early 1890s, these regiments served at a variety of posts in the Southwestern United States (Apache Wars) and Great Plains regions. They participated in most of the military campaigns in these areas and earned a distinguished record. Thirteen enlisted men and six officers from these four regiments earned the Medal of Honor during the Indian Wars. In addition to the military campaigns, the "Buffalo Soldiers" served a variety of roles along the frontier from building roads to escorting the U.S. mail.
If you are interested you can read more at the links below:
http://www.buffalosoldiers.com/AAChronology.htm
http://www.buffalosoldier.net/















A monument to the Buffalo Soldiers.

The Fort has the main museum and an annex which was set up in an old theatre.

When you enter the annex there is this awesome scene set up.

The whole camp is set up, campfire and all the details, very realistic.

The barracks are still being used today with some upgrades.

We cannot thank Nels and Betty enough for giving us the opportunity to visit Fort Huachuca, we would recommend a visit to this Fort if you are in the area.