It  all began with a headline to a brief story in the Burlington Free Press in July of 1909: “Prejudice Shown to Colored Troops.” The notion that a northern city in a state that had been famous for its abolitionist sympathies during the Civil War would now espouse segregationists’ beliefs related to the 10th Cavalry Regiment, an African American unit, being posted to Fort Ethan Allen, was beyond the sensibilities of most Vermonters—and most Americans.

The short piece attracted national attention, with southern newspapers sneering at the glaring hypocrisy rearing its ugly head in northern New England.

ECHOES OF BROWNSVILLE

The affair reminded many of an incident in Brownsville, Texas, that had occurred three years earlier, when another regiment of Black soldiers—nicknamed Buffalo Soldiers by the Apache warriors because of their combat prowess, bravery, tenaciousness, and looks on the battlefield—was falsely incriminated in a disturbance that resulted in the murder of a white bartender and a police officer. Although white residents planted evidence to incriminate the Black soldiers, they were completely exonerated.

The 10th Cavalry Regiment, one of the original Buffalo Soldiers regiments in the post-Civil War Regular Army, had fought in Cuba and the Philippines during the Spanish American War, where they joined Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders in the charge up San Juan Hill.

 Modern-day re-enactors celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 10th US Calvary at Fort Ethan Allen Living History Day. 

 The 10th US Cavalry on horseback at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester, where they were stationed from1909 to 1913.

A FIRST FOR THE FORT

Their posting to Fort Ethan Allen was their first assignment in New England. In fact, according to the Montpelier Argus, it was “the first time Negro soldiers will occupy a northern fort.” By the end of July, the regiment was at full strength, with seven hundred fifty Black troops—the largest such community ever seen in Vermont.

When the 10th Cavalry returned from the Philippines by ship, the troops were feted at a celebration in New York City’s Harlem, including a ticker-tape parade down Wall Street, then up Broadway, and on to City Hall Park. The day ended with a banquet, speeches, and a vaudeville show, and early the next morning, the 10th Cavalry proceeded to its new post in Burlington, Vermont, Fort Ethan Allen.

 The Buffalo Soldiers of the 25th Infantry in Ft. Keogh, Montana, circa 1890.

  Re-enactors honoring the 10th Cavalry during Fort Ethan Allen Living History Day,held to mark the 100th Anniversary of the BuffaloSoldiers. 

A COMMUNITY DIVIDED

However, the arrival of the cavalry troops was just half of the African-American contingent arriving in the Queen City that July. Wives, children, and other relatives, as well as businessmen, gamblers, prostitutes, and the usual assortment of disreputable characters, made up the other half.

In a public backlash at having the Buffalo Soldiers in Burlington, it was suggested that the city introduce segregated streetcars. The suggestion produced an immediate hostile response from residents, such as Lucius.

 Visitors tour a Vermont Historical Society exhibit related to the Civil War-era Buffalo Soldiers.

NORTH AND SOUTH RESPOND

Burlington’s other newspaper, The Daily News, pushed back, saying that Lucius Bigelow’s letter had caused more harm than good in that it had attracted unwanted attention from the major northern and southern newspapers due to the allegation of racism in the heart of northern New England.

The Brooklyn Eagle published an editorial, shaming the people of Burlington, saying that opposition to having the Buffalo Soldiers stationed in Burlington was “preposterous.” The Savannah Morning News followed suit, mocking the town that had been so much in favor of equal rights for Blacks for now wishing to establish “Jim Crow” streetcars.

The New Orleans Times Democrat joined in. “Burlington, once the “hotbed of abolition sentiment,” is now demanding Jim Crow streetcars. Winooski, a little town nearby, is seething with race antagonism, grown up almost overnight.”

 Part of the parade celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Buffalo Soldiers.

REALITY VS RUMOR

Surprisingly, one Burlington newspaper came to the defense of the opposition to the Black troops, writing, “If the government officials, after their trouble with Brownsville and other posts, thought the extreme north would make no objection to the presence of so large a body of Negroes, they were in error.”

This particular quote was repeated ad nauseum in the southern press. But upon closer examination, it appears that the original article in the Free Press about the controversy was not based on fact. In fact, at the time of publication, very few Buffalo Soldiers had arrived in Burlington, and the reports of racial animosity in the Queen City were, very likely, overblown.

EMBRACED BY VERMONT

However, as the number of African-American troops increased and their presence became more common, Vermonters throughout the state embraced the soldiers of the 10th Regiment. In 1911, the regiment made an appearance at Montpelier’s Labor Day celebration. As five thousand spectators watched with rapt attention, the cavalrymen demonstrated their equestrian skills, culminating in Roman riding, where a horseman stands astride two mounts while galloping around a show ring. The Argus noted that the troops conduct was “gentlemanly.”

FAREWELL AND VALOR

The regiment left Fort Ethan Allen in 1913, summoned to the southwestern states to take up arms in the Mexican-American War. In 1916, the 10th cavalry suffered severe casualties in a battle with a leader of Mexico’s Revolutionary Army, Venustiano Carranza.

Upon hearing this news, the citizens of Winooski sent this letter of condolence to the unit’s commander: “As neighbors of Fort Ethan Allen, we citizens of Winooski, Vermont, have a peculiar and personal interest in the welfare of the officers and men of the 10th Regiment of US Cavalry who were stationed at this post for four years.

“It was therefore with the deepest emotion that we read the dispatches telling of the treacherous ambush and attack on the troops of this gallant regiment by the Mexicans of Carranza’s army at Carrizal in northern Mexico, in which Captain Charles Boyd and Lieutenant Henry Adair, and a large number of their men, were slain. The valor displayed by officers and men in the face of almost certain death is in keeping with American traditions and unsurpassed in the annals of heroic deeds of all ages.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED