More than 33,000 African Americans died in the Civil War. After the After the Civil War the future of African-Americans in the U.S. Army was in doubt. Then in 1866 Congress passed legislation establishing two cavalry and four infantry regiments (later consolidated to two, the 24th and 25th) whose enlisted composition was to be made up entirely of African-Americans. The majority of the new recruits had served in all Black units during the war. The mounted regiments were the 9th and 10th Cavalries and until the early 1890s they constituted 20 percent of all cavalry forces on the American frontier.
In 1866, Gen. Phillip Sheridan, commander of
the Military Division of the Gulf, was authorized to raise one regiment
of "colored" cavalry that was to be designated the 9th Regiment. A
recruiting office was established in New Orleans, Louisiana and a second office was opened in Louisville, Kentucky. Of the original recruits,
the majority came from these two states and were veterans of the Civil War.
Enlistments were for five years, with recruits receiving thirteen dollars a month,
plus room, board, and clothing.